A Neighborhood Update: I’m Not Nosy, They Are Noisy

/ Ally Bean

NOW that we’re beginning to have a few warmer spring days, I’ve been opening the windows in some rooms.  The sounds of nature drift into the house.  Often it’s birds.  In fact we have a loud hoot owl that does his thing late evening, early morning.

Totally expected.

AND we’re hearing our young neighbors again.  Kids playing on a jungle gym, for instance.  Kids bouncing basketballs.  Kids riding bikes up and down the street while talking or singing.

Again totally expected.

PLUS there are two new February babies on either side of our house.  A boy on one side, a girl on the other, both with well-developed lungs and a tendency to be unhappy in the afternoon. I know this to be a fact– and I’m sure their parents know this as well.

So there’s that.

BUT the biggest news vis-à-vis noise around here is that Crazy Bird Lady, a fifty-something woman who lives across the forested ravine from us, is no longer standing on her deck yelling “f*ck you” at the birds.  And she’s stopped hitting a metal soup pot with a metal spoon while cursing at them.

I don’t want to sound judgy but I believe this might be a good thing.

Instead of the loud cursing she has taken to dancing what I’d describe as the Flamenco on her deck.  This involves her stamping her feet in a rhythmic way while clapping her hands over her head.  She swirls around, kind of hums a tune, then yells ¡Olé! every so often.

I’m mesmerized by this woman’s eccentric behavior, I admit it.  Which brings me to what I want to ask you, my little cherry blossoms:

Who’s the wackiest person in your neighborhood?

Now that spring [Northern Hemisphere] or fall [Southern Hemisphere] is here what’s going on outside your windows?

Any fun plans for the weekend?

~ ~ 🌸 ~ ~ 

218 thoughts on “A Neighborhood Update: I’m Not Nosy, They Are Noisy”

  1. Wacky neighbors? I’m not sure we have anyone who can top the Wacky bird lady, but we do have a couple “car guys” who can certainly make some noise. I’d take a crying baby any day.

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    • Dan, Crazy Bird Lady is an institution in this neighborhood. We don’t have any car guys around here, which surprises me now that I think about it. Babies crying don’t bother me at all.

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  3. Wacky neighbors? Pull up a chair. We once had the wackiest. My kitchen window faced an empty lot where the house had been razed. This woman (a granddaughter who hoped to inherit her grandmother’s house two houses across from us) would pull her car into the empty lot faing our kitchen window, turn her radio up full blast and dance diving in and out of the car windows. all 30 feet from my windows. While she was at her grandmother’s house, she took the artwork off the walls and put them in the windows facing the outside. It was not unusual to walk by her car and see the car windows closed on the Barbie dolls’ necks with their naked plastic bodies suspended outside the car. A few police calls ensued. I remember the police officer coming to our house and telling us this was a real “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” situation. It was a relief when she moved although I always felt sorry for her new neighbors whoever they were and hoped she got some help for whatever she was dealing with. This went on for months.

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    • Maggie, I LOVE this! That chick was bonkers. The noise is one thing but the Barbie doll thing is nuts– scary nuts. I’m sure the police were doing their best but I’d have let out a sigh of relief too when she was gone. I wonder if she ever got mental health care… She needed it.

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      • I hope so, Ally. She often parked her car directly in front of our house. My husband went out to ask her to move the car and the conversation was bizarre. I can not imagine what her life must have been like – and how was she given a driver’s license?

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        • Yes, the fact that she drives a car [with or without a legal driver’s license] is concerning. I’ve had some odd conversations with a few people who were off their noodle, but none with someone so blatantly weird. 😳

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  4. I’m currently getting used to useless cop neighbor’s new Australian Shepherd–they hardly ever walk the dog or give her good exercise and so she barks ALL. THE. TIME. It’s not her fault, but it is really aggravating. Luckily my dogs are as good at ignoring her as you are the bird-hating woman. I wonder why she doesn’t get a cat if she hates them so much? Oh, wait, that would be rational.

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    • AutumnAshbough, we’ve lived by neighbors with barking dogs. You’re right it’s not the animal’s fault, but it wears on your nerves. I’m glad your dogs are able to the high road and ignore the noisy dog. As for why no cat? No idea, nor do I know why you’d move to a subdivision know for wooded lots… with trees… in which birds nest… 🤷‍♀️

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  5. Ally, count your blessings. I live in a typical suburban neighborhood. The wackiest person in our neighborhood pointed a gun at a young couple who were out walking and had the temerity to tell him to slow down when he barrelled by in his huge pickup. He forced them to apologize to him at gunpoint. I guess he is not actually a neighbor anymore. He is in jail!

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    • Laurie, THAT’S AWFUL! What the heck was wrong with the guy with the gun? I want to say that I cannot imagine that happening, but I know it does all too frequently. I’m glad the jerk is in jail. Of course, will he be released on his own recognizance… which I venture to say might not be worth much? 🤨

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        • I’m relieved to know he’s gone permanently. I agree about crazies with guns. I’ve seen men with guns in the grocery store and know a woman who buys purses that allow her to discreetly keep a handgun with her at all times. They’re out there…

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  6. You are going to get wacky, fun stories with that question. I remember assigning a topic “My Strange Neighbors” to composition students and was royally entertained reading their essays. . . for a change!

    Right now we have a baby boy and baby girl a few doors down. I never hear so much as a whimper, but I do see parents happily strolling the cooing babes in their carriages. The wackiest neighbor lives next door and NEVER leaves her house. There is a Kia in the driveway, but no one drives it, not even her live-in grandson, who at 29 rides his bike to work because he doesn’t have a driver’s license. Lots of pathology under that roof!

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    • Marian, you’ve figured out my ploy! I’m hoping to read lots of entertaining stories here. I figure everyone has a story about some unusual neighbor who made an impression on them. So tell me it.

      I see our neighbors with the new babies in strollers too. But when I’m outside on the deck and they both cry, I get stereophonic sound & it makes me smile every time.

      You’re right about your hermit neighbors. I don’t know what to make of that. Harmless, but odd?

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  8. Oh, you can’t tease us with crazy bird woman dancing a rude flamenco without some video. That’s just cruel.
    We had a crazy hermit neighbor a few years back who started building a boat in the living room. Granted it was a big house, but still. He went undisturbed for years and then simply disappeared. Seeing the boat come out in pieces when the house was sold was quite interesting.

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  9. Oh, I would love to have a Flamenco dancing neighbor! Ours is a rather boring neighborhood—not that I’m complaining; it’s quiet and safe. We don’t tend to see one another from mid-October ‘til about now. But people are starting to emerge from hibernation to putter in their gardens. Until quite recently, it’s been a lot of older couples who raised their children here, but the kids are long gone. Now, sadly, some of those older folks are dying, and others are downsizing or otherwise leaving. So younger families with kids are moving in, which may bring us some variety and welcome sounds. Maybe we can organize some Flamenco classes. Ole, Ally!

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    • Donna, I like Crazy Bird Lady because she adds some flair to the ‘hood. At first she bugged me, but now I look forward to seeing her. We have the same demographic shift going on here, too. Original neighbors are moving on, younger families with loads of energy are moving in. I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next. Heaven knows, I’ll be hearing it when the windows are open.

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  10. LOL about the neighbor!!! We have one who feels the need to feed the raccoons and squirrels. Outside of that, most of our neighbors are ‘normal’. All’s quiet in the hood right now – most of our neighbors are on spring break. Hiking with friends this weekend – probably a brewery or 2! Have a good one AB!

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    • Pam, feeding outside critters happens around here, but the seems normal to me. I don’t do it, but I expect that some people will do it. Our neighborhood is ALIVE right now. After a dreary winter I’m jazzed about it. I like your idea about going to a brewery. Might need to do that this weekend, too. 🍻

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  11. I don’t think I’ve ever had a neighbor as wacky as the one you have who doesn’t like the birds. I wonder why she doesn’t like birds. Poop on her deck? Too much glorious singing in the morning?

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    • Robin, I don’t know why she hates birds. Either of the reasons you mention, her own personal antipathy to all things that fly, a kind of game? Beats me. I haven’t seen that the birds take her too seriously. 🙄

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  12. We’re in a normal phase here after managing to get rid of the crotchety old guy Sam a few years ago. He was mostly just mean, but he did spit in my flower bed trying to curse me. Around the same time a few houses down a 7/8 year old boy was routinely allowed to leave his house, stand in the middle of the street and scream. Pretty regular schedule as I remember. I now have neighbors who ask to borrow my vacuum to suck up what they describe as huge spiders hiding under their fridge.

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    • Deb, Sam sounds like a character, harmless but annoying. I take it his curses didn’t work on you? Don’t know what to make of the kid screaming in the middle of the street. How do these neighbors know there are huge spiders under their fridge? And how do you feel about YOUR vacuum being used to get rid of them [the spiders not the neighbors]?

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      • I don’t know about Sam’s curse-perhaps it’s on some sort of delayed reaction? The spider story- really young couple apparently both terrified of anything with legs. They must have an easy entrance somewhere in their apartment for bugs. Anyway things crawl in and they freak out, even though they have a cat. We all have hardwood floors but I think they saw me vacuuming my car not long ago so yesterday after a loud knock I was informed of the latest dinner plate size intruder and could they suck it up with my vacuum? Either they or the cat chased this one back under the fridge. They ended up not using my device but have now involved another neighbor who was willing to come in, move the fridge and likely stomp on the arachnid. You have to wonder how some people are able to function at all…

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        • What a story! I’m laughing here. I feel sorry for the young couple on the one hand, BUT there are going to be bigger much worse problems in their future and if a spider can do them in– well, you said it: “You have to wonder how some people are able to function at all…” 🤔

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  13. No wacky neighbors here. Although for a short time we had neighbors who had a new luxury car in their driveway every day. Like, a Cadillac SUV one day, a Lexus sedan the next, etc. I wondered if they might own a car dealership, but my husband suspected something more sinister. Now I worry that my neighbors talk about ME. Not that I am particularly wacky.

    Your Crazy Bird Lady sounds fascinating. But flamenco dancing sounds a bit less disruptive than screaming at the birds? Maybe?

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    • Suzanne, I don’t know what I’d make of a new ritzy car in the neighbor’s driveway every day. That sounds hinky, I’m with your husband on that.

      Crazy Bird Lady, while decidedly weird, no longer bothers me. Of course we don’t have kids who overheard her language– and that seems to be an issue about her. As for dancing the flamenco, I’m charmed by her enthusiasm to explore new hobbies. 😊

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  14. My neighbourhood is very peaceful by comparison. We have fantastic neighbours. Very lucky. I do recall that when I was out for a walk one day, I passed by a house a few streets over just as a young man walked out of his front door, headed over to his neighbour’s lawn and lopped off the head of the kids’ snowman with one brutal swing of a machete (a legit machete). It was chilling. I walked away from there very quickly.

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  15. Our previous house was on a pretty steep hill, 20 steps to the front door and another 30 or more the the back lane. The kids in the neighbourhood used to love to climb the stairs and run as fast as they could down the front yard, laughing and screaming all the way. I didn’t mind much but was worried that one would get hurt. I said this to a parent and suggested they try it to see if I should be worried. After the parent tried to run down our front yard, the kids never did it again! Not sure I’d like your flamenco dancer. Maggie

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    • Maggie, oh that’s a story that rings true on all levels. [No pun intended.] I’d worry about the kids getting hurt too. Funny how one adult doing what the kids did put an end to it. I prefer the flamenco to the cursing so I consider it improvement! Also, much more interesting…

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  17. “yelling fuck you to the birds” omg. I would also be mesmerized. No one is dancing flamenco around here – that I know of – but there is a young man who swears at the birds and also goes around asking if anyone has a barbeque or a lawnmower they don’t need anymore, and if so, can he have it? He likes to take things apart. He has my old, non-working Roomba. I like to imagine his parents shaking their heads as he brings more things into their backyard, which may or may not be full of old barbeques.

    We live in a pretty eclectic neighbourhood, with lots of interesting folks. Maybe one day *I’ll* be the lady yelling ole and dancing flamenco. I won’t be swearing at the birds though, I like them.

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    • Nicole, I’ve no idea what the birds have ever done to Crazy Bird Lady, but she gets on rants. I consider the flamenco dancing a more refined, upscale, version of her usual cursing. People change. You could take up the flamenco.

      I like this kid with your non-working Roomba. If you’re going to have a hobby why not let your neighbors contribute to it! It does make me wonder how much stuff he gets just for the asking.

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      • I do know that when we had a neighbourhood electronic recycle day, that young man was front and centre, and I’m pretty sure made off like a bandit with everyone’s old electronics! Whatever floats your boat, I say, and also, I’m glad we don’t have anyone in our house who collects old non-working items.

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        • I agree with you on both points. Good that someone can get something out of old electronics and good that you don’t have any non-working stuff in your house. Well, other than Barkley… 😄

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  18. To be honest, when you first mentioned your crazy bird lady, I felt embarrassed because I talk affectionately to the birds in my yard. However, after reading what you said about her, I realized that she is truly offbeat. Our neighbors are rather boring and don’t do anything exciting.

    Perhaps I AM the offbeat neighbor after all…

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    • Kari, loving on the birds I understand and approve of. BUT Crazy Bird Lady doesn’t like the birds and we all know it. I’m fond of offbeat, weird, wacky when it channelled toward positive things. Which maybe her flamenco dancing is, I dunno.

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  19. I suppose her dancing is better than yelling at the birds daily. Sounds like she is a very ‘special’ person.
    Where we live, everyone is very far apart and I think everyone is pretty normal.

    Growing up though, we had a neighbor across the street and I recall she used to wear underwear on her head while working in the yard. I probably wouldn’t have known they were undies if not for my brother impersonating her while we were folding laundry. 😳

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  20. Lots of birds outside my window and lately (at night) coyotes howling in the green belt. Very loudly! I too would prefer the dance to the swearing and pot pounding. Eccentric neighbors? Maybe me? 🙂

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    • Margaret, we’ve lots of birds around here, but there hasn’t been a coyote in a while. The dancing is a nice change from the cursing and I shall enjoy it for as long as it lasts. So you’re the eccentric one? Good for you

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  21. My new neighborhood is the place where people move to when they get older and quirky. Mostly it’s full of chatty people that take you prisoner for an hour when you say “hi” because they are starved for socialization. Wonder if I’ll be come that person. My neighbor thinks I’m quirky but that’s a cat thing.

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  22. Your post and many comments have me wondering about the line between eccentric/quirky and mentally ill. Your neighbor cursing the birds reminds me of some of the houseless people who live a few blocks from what I think of as my neighborhood–but in truth, where they live is my neighborhood, too. They are most likely mentally ill. I think of a man who used to live on my street, but is now gone. I only saw him once; his house was sort of barricaded, with his truck always pulled up right to his front steps, front facing the street, ready (I suppose) for a quick escape. In addition to many signs warning others to stay away, there was also a POW/MIA flag hung prominently in the front.

    I’m glad it’s spring, as two doors down and across the street there is a Russian family with three young boys. As soon as the weather warms, they come outside to play. We love to sit on our front porch and hear them on warm evenings. We used to have two other houses with kids, but those families both moved away since last summer. I’m going to miss seeing them this year.

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    • Rita, yours is a good question. I’ve no answer to where the line is. I’d say Crazy Bird Lady isn’t mentally ill, just odd and noisy. As for anyone with a barricaded house and a vehicle parked in such a way as to flee on a moment’s notice, that seems closer to mentally ill. Or maybe doing something illegal. A meth house?

      I like to hear the kids play outside, too. We have lots of them around here and they PLAY like it’s their job. Lots of noise which is a delightful backdrop to a summer evening. I’m sorry some of your neighbor kids are gone but maybe some new families will move it.

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      • It was not a meth house, and I don’t think there was any illegal activity going on. Never saw much activity there, and only saw the owner once. He was an older man, and I assume he either died or is living elsewhere. The house is being fixed up now by a younger man; I guess because we never saw it go up for sale, we assume it’s a family member.

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        • That’d would explain the new owner. I know there are real estate transfers like that around here, one day you just have new neighbors. No for sale sign, no warning. Just waving “hello” to someone new.

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  23. Here we don’t have a wacky neighbor, but one next door neighbor plays his guitar in the evening on his patio when it warms up. I’m looking forward to that but do hope he learned another song over the winter.

    In the 90’s at our old house we had a neighbor across the street and up 3 houses that was owned and lived in by a senior couple who were so quiet and nice, then their adult son moved back in. He was in late 20’s or early 30’s I couldn’t remember how old he was, but all was good for years then one year out of the blue it seemed to us he went off the rails. He started coming out the house naked screaming at nothing anyone could see…well, after this happened a few times some neighbors would call the cops, they’d come talk to him and things would be quiet again for months then one evening he got on the roof with a shotgun…yelling at aliens and threatening to shoot them. Oh man, did the cops come! Swat team, helicopters, cops all over the place, we had orders to stay indoors away from the windows and the front of the house and the whole neighborhood was blocked off. We thought we’d be getting evacuation orders. Finally someone talked him down and they carted him off never to be seen again. The parents so mortified put the house on the market sold up and they too were never seen again.
    We did have few wacky neighbors over the 35 years we owned that house but that was the craziest thing to have happen. Thankfully it’s quiet here so far.

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  24. Who doesn’t like birds? Bizarre! We have a barred owl that returned to his spot outside our bathroom window. Love him or her!

    The wackiest here is an older lady (late 70’s) who walks her three identical little dogs. She’s very, very skinny and wears leggings that look like flower power clothing from the hippie era. Her entire outfit befuddles me because I’ve never seen such obnoxious patterns in nylon workout gear. But the stories….apparently she had a vendetta against a previous neighbor and she put letters in everyone’s mailbox saying the guy shot squirrels. He moved to get away from her! At least that’s the story a reliable neighbor told me.

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    • Bijoux, I like our owl, too. I encourage him to feast on any mice he might see near the house. Our treat!

      I like the image you describe of flower power hippie leggings on a scrawny older lady. We had a neighbor, a retired Army colonel, who used to make squirrel traps, then dangle the dead ones from his gutter. Given my druthers I’d have preferred if he’d just shot ’em. Much less macabre. My point being this older lady’s letter writing campaign would not have swayed me in the least. Still, that’s kind of weird…

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  26. If I’m being totally honest I am pretty sure that I would fit the description of the wackiest neighbor. I say that because I’m the one that my neighbors laugh and wave at while I’m running down the road chasing my donkey, or taking a walk and have my son, three cats (of the 6) cats strolling behind me, my two dogs wiggling around my legs, and possibly a stray duck, chicken, or even a goose following as well. There was even a hilarious post by one of my neighbors about witnessing such an event involving me not too terribly long ago 🤪. That being said I think they’ve come to realize that it could always be worse… I could be a drug addict, or a felon. I could be a thief, or just a really terrible person… instead I’m just the crazy animal lover with an entourage 🤷‍♀️

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    • LaShelle, oh you sound wacky in the best way possible. I’d love to see you chasing a donkey, or strolling with your cats & son. Harmless, unique things are great. And like you said, you could be someone much worse, so let your neighbors watch you.

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  28. Maybe the bird lady was the leading actress in Hitchcock’s movie – was it called The Birds? I don’t have a funky tale to tell … do I wish that I had? I know I must be careful what I wish for. There was a time, long ago, when I kept rotten uncooked eggs and threw them from my balcony onto the car when the driver hooted … if there’s one thing I cannot stand, it’s hooting. He was a hooter of note. It was a long time ago – maybe I can re-implement that and be known as the crazy egg lady? Provide some amusement to the small town I now live in? Have a lovely weekend Ally Bean.

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    • Susan, I’d forgotten about that movie. Maybe watching The Birds as a child did some kind of mind game with Crazy Bird Lady. As for you being Crazy Egg Lady, I find that hilarious. You were intentional with your displeasure in a way that is inspired, albeit messy. Carefully planned, though. If you decide to reclaim your title of Crazy Egg Lady, I do hope you’ll write about it. Happy Weekend to you, too.

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  29. Dancing is better than cursing, so I guess you’re getting an improvement of sorts.

    We’re fortunate that most of our immediate neighbors act normal and are also polite. One older gentleman, however, fall under the “eccentric” label nicely: He’s from Alabama and has one of those EXTREMELY thick accents in which one has to follow his words carefully to understand what he’s saying. He worked on oil rigs and has one of those classic sailor tattoos on his arm of a pretty woman. But what I love about him is that while cleaning and waxing his car in the parking lot, without fail he’ll play opera music softly on a portable cassette player. – Marty

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    • Marty, oh your eccentric neighbor sounds perfect. He’s unique but not threatening. I grew up with family in the South. I know about trying to understand a deep Southern accent. It’s lyrical but difficult to discern. I do like the idea of opera on a portable cassette player. If there’s such a thing as win-win, then what he’s doing is old school-old school.

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  30. So, there is this woman who lives across the forested ravine from me who is always staring at me when I am on my deck doing my dance exercises. And, she is always taking a picture of her tree line from THE EXACT SAME position. Weird.

    Hahahaha! I couldn’t resist. This reminded me of the quote that goes something like: “Every family has one weird relative. If you don’t know who it is, it’s probably you.”

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  33. Who’s the wackiest person in your neighborhood? It’s probably me. I’ve gotten hairy eyeballs from neighbors and some sarky smack talk (backhanded snippy comments) from others. Because when I moved here to Quaintberg Utah; I expected to find a rural QUIET. Maybe a cow mooing or a horse whinnying or whatever. To my shock and utter dismay I got big rig (semi) truck noises morning, noon and night. I wasn’t going to let that pass unchallenged because %$@# this is a residential zone. And the truck company owner is an asshole of immense proportion. I used to go and stalk the damn drivers who’d show up at midnight, clanging and banging their damned rigs around or using their air brakes in the yard and so forth, and I’d ask them (politely) to move their truck to the other side of the building where the office is. It’s been an almost ten year battle too. Finally that a-hole has seen the wisdom of parking on the other side of the building and directs most of the trucks to park over there. The reason I’m labeled as ‘wacky” is that I used to scream at those idiot drivers over the back fence and use the extensive vocabulary of cuss words at my disposal. Especially if the rig pulled in at 2:30 or 3 a.m. This behavior did not endear me to the neighbors.
    Now that spring [Northern Hemisphere] or fall [Southern Hemisphere] is here what’s going on outside your windows? Birds, truck clanging (in the daytime) and the smell of varnish from the countertop shop west of me, plus their fork lift banging slabs of granite or marble around. Ziggy enjoyed the open screen door though.

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    • Melanie, I’m sorry your neighborhood is so noisy, unexpectedly noisy obviously. If I moved somewhere rural I’d expect quiet, too. I am impressed with you single-minded pursuit of hushing the trucks. We used to live in a house where we heard trains screeching to a halt all night long. I understand how that kind of noise can drive you batty. At least you’ve made some progress if most of the trucks park by the office now. You’d think your neighbors, who also now experience more quiet, would appreciate your efforts.

      As for moving slabs of stone around, they only do that during the day? You’d think moving expensive countertops around would be a quiet thing, but I guess not. You have your noise woes, that’s for sure.

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  35. I’m not sure there is a wacky person in this neighborhood. This probably means that it’s me.

    But we are mostly a neighborhood of retirees. Old people. The people on either side of me and across the street are disabled. We’re old. There is one family with young children and loud dogs down the road a bit. They are probably the most different people in our immediate neighborhood. There is also the empty house behind me. They’ve been empty since before I moved here. That’s kind of eccentric and I plan on stealing their patio furniture.

    I really like your tiny buddha quote.

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    • Zazzy, I’m laughing about your realization that it is possible you’re the wacky person. Congratulations, it’s you!

      That house has been empty for a long time then. You moved in years ago. I’d watch for security cameras before you go stealing their patio furniture. Of course if caught you could claim old people amnesia and from the sound of your neighborhood the cops would believe you! 😁

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  36. I’m going to have to say me for the first question. but I’m nowhere near your wackadoodle neighbor. She sounds lovely.

    To the second, I’m delighted my in-the-ground orchids are blooming once again. I’m also enjoying the breeze through the open windows and the sun when I go out to feed the chickens and check for eggs.

    This weekend my oldest returns from her high school trip to Portugal! I’m looking forward to hearing all about it.

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    • Betsy, I’m glad to know you’re the wacky neighbor. In truth I like my neighbor even if she is a little off her noodle. Plus I’ll take dancing over swearing.

      I’ve never seen in-the-ground orchids, to my knowledge. They’ve always been from a hothouse in a pot in my experience. Your fresh breeze sounds pleasant.

      Portugal! I’ve always wanted to go there. How exciting and fun that your daughter had the chance. I love how kids see the world now.

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      • We had a section of yard when we moved in which we referred to as “the jungle.” It was a tangled mess of shrubbery and grass that has since been cleared out. But, before we cleared it out, I looked out the window one day and saw yellow poking out from among the rabble. That’s how I discovered a glorious wild orchid growing in the yard! It was delightful. I took a few years off, so I’m glad it’s blooming again. 🙂

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  37. I have a feeling I might be the wackiest pereson in the neighborhood, because I don’t know who else it could be.

    I don’t really see much of anything going on outside my house. Usually just the occasional car going by or cross-country kid from one of the nearby high schools. There aren’t many kids in the neighborhood. It’s a subdivision of starter homes, and my neighbors and we seem to be the type that finish what we start.

    No real plans on the agenda. It’s my birthday, and we’re celebrating inside…

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    • John, you, like many commenters, admit to being the wackiest person in your neighborhood. Good job.

      We get those high school cross-country kids through here, too. I know for us this house is our final one, but I remember when we built a house down the street was being built by two young doctors… as their starter home. It’s all about perspective.

      Happy Birthday! Congrats

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  38. Bizarre behavior, indeed. We just got new neighbors who appear normal. Anything would be better than the previous experience. We had a cordial relationship with the parents. However, after they divorced, they kept the house, but it was inhabited by one or two of their sons. People were constantly coming and going. The boys and their friends did many irresponsible things (i.e., building a bonfire in 45 mph winds, shooting off mortars in the middle of the night.) Trying to reason with them was no use. We started calling the police, but that didn’t help either. Most of it was just stupid kid stuff, but eventually, they had a home invasion in which one of the intruders fired a gun.

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  39. Hi, Ally – Great closing question. In our neighbourhood, we have a long-grey-haired, 70-somthing, hippy-dude, who for three of our four seasons, does his daily walk in a speedo and flipflops. And I don’t believe that he’s headed to the beach. I kid you not! 😀

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    • Donna, oh that is trippy. Is old hippie dude stoned when he goes for his walks? I’m wondering if he thinks he’s reliving his youth dressed like this. I have a feeling he and Crazy Bird Lady could become fast friends if they ever met.

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    • Nice link. I agree that witnessing a murder is more dramatic than dancing the flamenco on your deck. Thankfully the murder was on TV and the dancing is in my backyard. So all is well here

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  41. Oh to be able to open the windows here…alas, allergies. So our windows stay firmly shut. Our wackiest neighbor lives directly across the street. The wife and children seem lovely but he…is just weird. I wish I could explain it better. It’s just the vibe he gives off – makes you want to leave the conversation as quickly as possible.

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    • Gigi, I understand your allergies, I have them too. Still I open the windows when I can. Today we have snow again, so spring is kind of half here now. I’ve met people who give off a *strange* vibe that you can’t put your finger on, but you know to avoid them.

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  42. What great questions. I can’t think of anything that weird in our neighbourhood (maybe people secretly think WE’RE the wacky ones?)
    Outside my window tonight was a beautiful pink/purple sky – it was GORGEOUS. And then a rainbow. And lots of brown grass (ugh). I tried to look up at the sky and not at the ground today. That in-between winter/spring phase can be kinda depressing at ground-level…though my son found a crocus on our walk the other day and that was beautiful!
    My daughter is having a sleepover for her birthday tonight (the party was today and one friend stayed over); errands; church; we’re invited out to lunch on Sunday at friends. Nothing too exciting but after a busy week of work + life stuff…I’m beat!

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    • Elisabeth, I know all about that depressing winter/spring phase when it’s best to look up. [Sound like an inspirational sign, don’t I?] We have few crocuses around here. For some reason they don’t grow– but when the time is right we have daffodils.

      Your weekend plans sound wonderful and normal to me. It’s fun to know that people are beginning to do basic things again. I hope you enjoy every moment of it.

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  43. Your bird lady reminds me of a customer I had at a local yacht club. He had a big, expensive boat that lived inside a shed. Doves and sparrows roosted in the rafters, and he constantly was on the warpath trying to get the club to “get rid of the birds.” Everyone tried to explain to him that birds fly around and roost pretty much where they please, but he wouldn’t let it go. They didn’t make a mess on his boat with their droppings, he just didn’t like having them there. Eventually, he moved to a different marina, and spent the next months complaining because other boat owners’ cats wouldn’t stay off his boat. Karma!

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  46. Wow, nothing here on the crazy scale and your example’s at the far end! I like having the windows open but I do try to be careful what I say when they’re open because I’ve heard plenty interesting things while walking past homes with open windows. 🙂 I’m not sure how many people open their windows in Arizona but unless it’s really hot even at night, I at least like to open them in the morning to get whatever cool air possible. I like to have them open at night (if not too hot/cold) but we get some loud traffic behind the house and then there are the people who let their dog out late (after 10 is late for me but sometimes even at 11 or so) and early (before 6 more times than I can count)…and she barks and barks and barks. So I have a white noise app which helps. Plans for the weekend? Picking my husband up at the end of his morning bike ride, spending time at Dad’s after that, working on taxes (sigh), AND Facetiming with our best friends from back in Illinois. Cheers!

    janet

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    • Janet, I hadn’t thought about being overheard when our windows are open. Good point. I know that because of weird acoustics in the wooded ravine we hear people talking [and dancing] when they’re out on their decks. Of course, adult libations may be involved so they’re talking loudly.

      Your weekend plans sound nice. It’s pleasant to do normal things again. I keep trying to get out and do more things but our weather has other ideas. You remember spring in the Midwest, right?

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  47. No way can I compete with you or your readers. Wow – good thing all these unique personalities don’t live in one neighborhood. 🙂 My one neighbor is a divorced woman in her late 50’s. She’s pretty much a recluse but owns two cars which is kind of interesting since she probably doesn’t leave the house more than once a week. She also only speaks to me about every three years. She will suddenly come out, have a logical conversation about yards and gardens (which she hires out), and then she won’t speak again. During one of these conversations years ago, she told me she had videotaped me working on a garden project and sent it to a coworker. I didn’t like the sound of that so I’m always aware now that it’s a possibility.

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    • Judy, this woman videotaped you doing your gardening? OH THAT IS CREEPY. I’d not be comfortable knowing that either. To me it sounds like you’re better off only talking with her every three years. As for one person, two cars, seems excessive but maybe she likes paying for more insurance. 😉

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  48. I would be mesmerized by Crazy Bird Lady’s eccentric behavior, too. Let’s see… There’s the woman with a loud and piercing voice which carries across the parking lot (even when our windows are closed) and her poor hapless husband. We know ALL of his so-called faults. And the man who smokes cigars on his balcony (the smell wafts into our unit) and sprays the birds away with water from a garden hose… But when these neighbors aren’t active we get lots of beautiful birds singing and flitting about in our trees. Hoping to take a walk before it rains today and thinking we might go to the Mystic Irish Parade on Sunday…

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    • Barbara, at first I didn’t like Crazy Bird Lady but I’ve come to appreciate the spice she adds to the neighborhood. I don’t think I’d enjoy hearing someone with a loud piercing voice. I feel for you about that. I know that cigar [or pot] smoke tends to linger which would be annoying, but whatcha gonna do? I hope you get to do some outside things this weekend. The parade sounds like fun. 🍀

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  51. The wackiest person in my neighborhood is very likely me. I was just out in the woods stomping, dancing, twirling, and singing. The birds don’t seem to mind too much. Every now and then, a couple of deer will show up and roll their eyes at me. I have no idea what the trees might think of my antics. 😀 Your Crazy Bird Lady and I might have much in common except I’m not trying to scare away the birds. In fact, I invite them over.

    We’re pretty isolated. Most of the noise we hear outside of our windows is nature related until the farmers get their big machines up and running. I did have to close the windows the other day because it was obvious by the smell that they’ve been fertilizing the fields with chicken poop. Chicken poop smells much worse than the cow poop I was used to in Ohio and Pennsylvania. It’s pretty bad.

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    • Robin, I like how you attempt to befriend the birds and all creatures in the forest. I’ve come to like Crazy Bird Lady. I don’t share her hatred of birds, but I appreciate the *texture* she brings to the neighborhood. Perhaps you are the wackiest person in your neighborhood and your neighbors feel the same way about you.

      I’m familiar with cow poop being born and bred in Ohio, but never encountered chicken poop. I’ll take your word for it about how awful it smells.

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  52. I’ll never forget being in my kitchen, washing dishes, listening to my kids playing upstairs when the doorbell rang. I was busy so I figured it was a package being delivered and ignored it. But then in rang and rang and rang. When I got to the door, my neighbor, a very kind woman said “I don’t know if you’re okay with this, but your kids are playing on the roof.” My kids were 5 and 3. They had popped the screen out of a bedroom window and asI could hear them just fine, I thought they were in the room. But nope. They had climbed onto the front porch roof, used that to climb onto the garage roof, and then onto the roof of our second story home. When I got them back in the house and asked them what they were doing I was told they were playing flood. Suffice it to say, my neighbor thinks I’m the weird one.

    As for scaring off birds, my neighbors have taken to loosely tying old CD’s in their trees/bushes along the property line so that they fly around scaring them. It makes me mad as I’ve worked rather hard to welcome them.

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    • Katie, OH MY GOODNESS yours is a story and a half. I’m glad your neighbor came over to tell you what your kids were doing, but no doubt it scared you to the bone. On the roof? At those ages? I do like that they had a reason for what they were doing, but still… I imagine you’re right that you are the weird one in the neighborhood. Congrats

      I know that Crazy Bird Lady puts metallic streamers on her trees to try to chase away birds, but I have yet to see her use CDs. She probably is listening to the CDs as background music when she does her Flamenco dancing. ¡Olé!

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  53. I have been crazy robin lady. If they would stop flying at my windows and peeking at them endlessly I would quit taking tennis racket action. Happened 2 years in a row in the city. Then we moved to the country where the only neighbours are cows in the summer, AND 2 years ago a flipping robin spent days flying at the window and shitting on the patio furniture. So yeah I guess I am crazy bird lady but only when provoked. Otherwise it’s all quiet in my rural area. Weekend plans – 32 mins to read your blog and the 148 comments to see what types of comments were posted. There are all kinds out there!! Now off to help install the new dishwasher. Bernie

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    • BernieLynne, it’s hilarious that you relate to Crazy Bird Lady’s fight against the birds. I’ve had robins and cardinals do what you’re talking about. They fly into windows over and over again, thus earning the moniker “bird brains.” Does taking a tennis racket against a bird stop it? Some of the stories commenters have told here are amazing about their wacky, not so harmless, neighbors. Enjoy… or I guess be glad your only problem neighbors are birds.

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  54. I live in a friendly neighborhood, lots of ordinary people. No crazy bird lady. Does that make us boring? The most eccentric thing I can think of comes from Jules, a good friend down the street who is in her sixties. She has planned a trip for Apr. and May, visiting 7 or 8 cities from one end of the country to the other, following her favorite band. It does sound sort of eccentric, but more power to her.

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    • Nicki, I like what Jules has planned. I wouldn’t want to do that but I understand how it could be fun for her. It’s kind of eccentric but in a good way. It’s one step above ordinary. 😉

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  55. I wonder if the children in the neighborhood are scared of her. There are children’s books about a old crazy lady in town. We have a quiet neighborhood, more rural than suburban. The crows decided to move in last year, which is not popular, as they drove out the beautiful red tailed hawks. Best to you, Ally.

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  56. Oh my! What an eccentric neighbor-character! We are lucky here in the woods, there aren’t too many close neighbors. There are two dogs that live on one side, and they do tend to bark at times, so there’s that. I find it very interesting to visit my mom’s house downstate and hear children laughing, shouting, talking, carrying on. And dogs barking nearby. There’s a sweet feel to it because it reminds me of my childhood, maybe.

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    • Kathy, Crazy Bird Lady is one of a kind. I’ve come to like her, especially since she’s started her dancing. I like hearing the noises around this neighborhood for the reason you mention, it reminds me of my childhood, too. Plus it’s nice to know that kids are still kids. Loud and joyful, that is.

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  57. Our neighborhood has its share of eccentrics, but nothing like your Crazy Bird Lady! I’m glad she’s taken up dancing and left of yelling and banging, for your sake. I like to hear my neighbors, but not to the extent that I can’t hear myself think!

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    • Ann, I don’t know Crazy Bird Lady personally, wouldn’t know her if I stood in line behind her at Kroger. I’ve come to accept her loud ways, but I admit I prefer her Flamenco dancing to banging on a metal pot. It takes all kinds, I suppose.

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  59. hahaa my sister says I have a staring problem and she’s not wrong… I have a very weird tendency to stare (like hard stare, can’t look away stare) at people in public places… I honestly don’t mean to me but I get so entangled in what they’re doing trying to figure out where in their day/life they are and I can’t look away sometimes LOL so I would totally but enamored with your cuckoo lady too LOL

    My neighborhood is quite diverse (in ethnicity which I enjoy) but we have some quintessential colourful characters too lol… there’s the man who always has an immaculate drive way (like no stray leaf or random wind-flung garbage), he’s always out shoveling the snow off his property before it can even stick… then there’s our neighbour to our left who is so kind and always gets their son to help us clear the sidewalk if they are out first (I get my husband to return the favour when he goes out), buttt there is a wacky kid on our street… he definitely takes the cake for staring contest if we ever had one… like he doesn’t stop staring… I’m honestly certain he has some mental health issues (in a non-joking away) or at least I hope that’s what it is because his stares are menacing sort of it and he doesn’t stop until you’re out of view…. ;/

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    • Jen, I’m sure you’d stare at Crazy Bird Lady. I’m fascinated by her, but because of all the trees between our deck and hers, I only see her for about 5 months a year. BUT I hear her! ¡Olé!

      Your driveway guy reminds me of a neighbor man who was obsessed with keeping leaves, twigs, snow off his deck. He was never going to win, but he tried. He’s moved away and I enjoy the quiet now that he’s gone.

      As for a kid with the evil stare that’s creepy. I wonder if he’s off his rocker or pretending to be off his rocker because he thinks it is cool to intimidate people. Some kind of power trip? Still, that’s wacko.

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  60. Oh, my, that’s quite the neighborhood to listen to. It’s nice to be able to open the windows. I bet the lady dancing is kind of fun to watch? I wonder what she’d do if a flock of birds landed in her yard? Would she run for cover like in the movie BIRDS?

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  61. Ally, I can say with 100% certainty that I am the wackiest person in the neighborhood. When roomie Natasha and I were still sharing space, we were the wackiest people in the neighborhood. No, we did not cuss at the birds or dance on the patio, but we both have a weird and wacky sense of humor and although you may expect some of it from my humorous posts, not too many people see the full extent of our madness. It’s a close friendship thing that might make others look at us like we may need the loony bin rather than the nursing home when we get old. I wouldn’t have it any other way, really, but at least the neighbors don’t have to listen to strange noises or view anything that would require brain bleach.

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  62. Wow! Not just to your wonderfully wacko flamenco dancing neighbour, but to some of the stories shared in your comments. I have many annoying neighbour tales (currently two with puppies who use the communal lawn space immediately outside our living room patio doors as their preferred toilet area) but nothing crazy. Other than Himself shaking a bottle of vinegar over said lawn space trying to put them off it perhaps 😉 Shared space living can have its challenges.

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    • Deb, I knew commenters would have interesting stories to tell, BUT maybe not this interesting. There are some real nuts people out there. 😳

      Does vinegar chase off dogs? I’ve never lived with communal lawn space but have lived on a private drive where we all had to get along. Sort of the same thing I guess.

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      • Doctor Google suggests that it does. I can’t say the evidence supports it. The first dog to arrive for its morning’s (ahem) excretions, did seem to avoid the immediate vicinity, but the second dog displayed no such squeamishness sadly. Himself is investigating other alternatives.

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  64. Oh good grief. I’m surprised nobody has called the white coats on her!
    Now, if you ask my neighborhood who is the wackiest, I’m afraid they might point to me. Nobody goes outside their homes that often, but usually it is walk a dog in a dignified manner or to power walk in the appropriate power-walking clothes. They look like soldiers or even ramrods. Then on the rare occasion I venture out, I’m wearing some goofy combination of whatever and snapping pix with my camera or staring full on at the sun or standing under a saguaro listening to baby birds crying. I might even pick up a stray twig or stone. Or a piece of garbage a la Marie Bailey. 🙂

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    • Luanne, if nothing else Crazy Bird Lady keeps it interesting around here. I’m like you in that I go outside wearing whatever I happen to have on. No formal walking clothes, often in sandals instead of walking shoes. I also stop to stare, usually at beautiful pots that have been planted with flowers. If it weren’t for our flamenco dancing neighbor I could well be the wackiest one on the street. 😉

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  65. Pingback: A Spring + Summer Fling: The One About Simplifying My Blog Posting Schedule | THE SPECTACLED BEAN

  66. Now that I’ve moved, I lost the wacky neighbours (no tears from me, tell you what). However, this past winter, on Sundays, especially – you know, that day when you can potentially sleep in? – well, the neighbour guy starts his car to warm it up. Great, have no problem with that. What I DO have a problem with is his leaving his radio on full-blast for… who? He’s in his house while said car is warming and radio is blaring… which I can hear through the door of his car and through the wall of my bedroom, which unfortunately is facing his car… So, Not. Cool.

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  67. A house down the street seems to attract the most interesting neighbors, though I’ve never met any of them. The previous owners of the house had a full-sized suit of armor on the front porch; shortly before they moved it was joined by a child-sized suit of armor. The current owners have red Adirondack chairs on the porch, which in and of itself isn’t that unusual. However, the backs of these chairs look like skulls – one of which is wearing a bow.😂

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    • Linda, I like both of these neighbors. I’m fascinated by the suits of armor on the front porch. Wouldn’t they rust shut? And a child size one? Different.

      I like Adirondack chairs but with a skull motif… well that’s unique. I wonder what there is about the house that draws unique people to it. Kind of fun to have something like that in your neighborhood.

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  68. So far we haven’t discovered any super wackos in this neighborhood except the lady who is often drunk and falls down in the parking lot, but is on the HOA Board and plays in the Prescott Symphony. Very strange combo. Our wackiest neighbor from before was one who could listen in to the conversations we had inside our house. We pulled a trick on him one day. “Did we get that check in the mail we were expecting?” I asked my husband. “The one for $200,000,” he answered. “Yes, that check.” “Yes, we got it.” About five minutes later our phone rang. It was our neighbor. “Have you guys checked your mail yet?” he asked. Whether it was real or coincidental, it was definitely weird.

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  69. First of all, I love the quote Ali. I agree with that quote and, as I read the descriptions, I mentally checked off a few for myself. I think I’m a tad eccentric and a loner, but I’m not a crackpot and I like my own company. 🙂 The Flamenco-dancing woman who has graduated from the metal pot and metal spoon makes me think of two neighbors, the latter now deceased. First, the neighbors across the street go out on their front porch, the whole family, each with a metal pot and spoon and ring in the new year, every year since they moved here about 20 years ago. My mom once quipped I did this too, as a toddler, but because it was something kids did on Romper Room. I wonder if every neighborhood has a bird lady? Our neighborhood bird lady, now deceased, took a huge bag of bread and dumped it out – in the middle of the street daily. The birds, eager for their treat, raced for a morsel and usually met their demise. I never knew – was she stupid or sadistic?

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    • Linda, I don’t remember much about Romper Room. Were we little children encouraged to hit pots with a spoon? That might be where Crazy Bird Lady got her inspiration. I’ve not lived by people who hit a metal pot with a spoon to ring in the new year. Our neighbors prefer fireworks and gun shots which I am not fond of, but whatcha gonna do?

      Feeding the birds like your neighbor did is sadistic. And messy. Why for the love of all this is good would anyone do that? 😳

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      • I don’t remember much about Romper Room either Ally. My mom would describe me going to the kitchen cabinet and rooting through the pots and pans to find one to my liking, then marching around the house banging it with a spoon or the pot lid. It must have been a “thing” on that show. We have the fireworks and gun shots as well, none which I’m fond of. I thought that woman was cruel and sadistic too – who does these things?

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  70. I will come back here and read more of the comments which must be so entertaining. Neighbours make such good fodder for stories and creative writing. I don’t seem to have eccentrics here in the new neighbourhood but I could easily embellish a few personalities that do live here.There’s Jim who believes spraying the weeds is “back-breaking” work, Big Bev who believes her pet dogs should be free to roam and defecate on other people’s lawn and Debbie the born again Christian who talks like combine harvester and inserts becuase we are Christian at the end of every sentence. The neighbourhood facebook group is both vicious and a hoot! Your metal pot banging flamenco dancer must make for great evening entertainment! Can’t wait to hear more.

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  71. I think I may have misophonia, because your descriptions totally triggered me, and I can’t stand noisy neighbours. But your final question reminds me of this one neighbour I used to have in a previous home—she’d just stand on her porch every day yelling obscenities, at no one or nothing in particular. Sometimes she just screams a la ‘a murderer is going to stab me’. Definitely something mental going on there, but she still drives around like it’s nothing so…

    Anyway, thanks to your post for dredging up this memory!

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    • Stuart, what a wacko! Not you, the neighbor. I wouldn’t like that kind of behavior either. I like quiet. At least our Crazy Bird Lady is specific in her hatred. Sorry that I took you down a path back to something not so great, but thanks for commenting here.

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  72. Oh God! I have a crazy bird lady in the apartment right below mine. She hates us because we have kids that walk around the house (they seldomly scream much). She also hated her downstairs neighbors, because they invited friends over sometimes. She bullied them out, but it turned out that they kept her in line somewhat. The moment they moved out, this woman took up opera singing and playing bongos. Every day for as long as the downstairs apartment was empty. The new tenants are three police officers stationed nearby. She hates them already, but what can she do? Call the cops?

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    • Robin, if we were giving one out you’d win the award for worst neighbor ever. Opera AND bongos? Oh that is awful. I enjoy the fact that her [your] new neighbors are cops. That might keep her quiet. People do make you wonder sometimes…

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  73. This is very real. I loved every bit of this post, and those wonderful comments. Just reading the quote up there alone, it’s an experience of many lives. Thank you for sharing.

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  74. Crikey, the crazy bird lady sounds quite unpredictable 😄 I’m glad she’s dancing now, sound like she’s in a better mood!! I’m probably yet to discover who the wacky one’s are in my area, but I do have a neighbour with some true to life size fake flamingos in her garden if they counts 🤗

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