The cranky old cat lady

You remember that old spinster lady that lived down the street when you were a kid? You know, the one with all the cats who was always yelling at kids for walking on her grass or being too loud on their way home from school. I have become her. I don't have any cats (nor will I ever), and I'm still not that old, but boy do I hate my neighbors. More importantly I hate the people that are not my neighbors but are always coming into my neighborhood.

It first started last March when, right after taking my last winter quarter final. I hollered out the window at a guy who was walking away after letting his dog leave little brown surprises on the sidewalk right outside our front door. Keep in mind, not only is this incredibly rude, inconsiderate, and disgusting, it is also against the law. Just the night before a lovely evening had been ruined by having to dodge sidewalk piles on the walk home from a nice romantic dinner. I felt justified and blamed it on the release of finals stress.

But then this morning it happened again. I got up bright and early to be productive and went out to my car to bring some things in from the trunk. I noticed a big parking spot right in front of the apartment and was going to move my car closer to carry things in, but by the time I got outside, there was a little car parked right in the middle of this giant spot that could have easily held two sedans. Parking is always tight in my neighborhood, so this really ticks me off. I understand not wanting your car to get bumped as people parallel park, but this is Chicago, get over. I stared down this woman the whole way to my car and we met on the sidewalk as she was leaving to go to the shops around the corner and I was headed back to my apartment. She's staring back now, even as she's past me, so I say, "did you really need both of those parking spots?" She asked why, did I need one. I said no, but parking is always difficult on this street. She starts to cop attitude with me - "Well, you don't need to tell me that, I've worked on this street for 19 years. And YOU need to mind your own business." I offered that, as I live on this street [and I am the one that will have to walk an unreasonable distance to my car after dark when the armed muggers are out], it is my business. She attempted to make an obscene gesture at me and I came into my apartment building.

What is wrong with people? She didn't even have a nice car that she needed to protect. Oh, I hate when people park straddling a line in parking lots too. It's just a car - not your child! Fortunately Mythbusters was just starting and I've been able to relax while watching them lift a 4 year old off the ground with helium balloons (it only takes 3500) and raise a sunken sailboat with pingpong balls. Ok, now I'm off to begin my day again. I think I'll just try to avoid people, things always seem to go better that way.