It’s been one hell of a week, my friends. And it ain’t over. Already today I’ve had my windshield repaired, although the guy couldn’t tell me if it’ll pass inspection. I gave him the international sign for WTF? but he would not abandon the company line. We’ll see tomorrow, I guess. What a bunch of turd jugglers.
Today I need to go to work early (again) so I’m just gonna share some quick links. But there’s some good stuff here; no reason to despair.
- Firstly… our friend Metten has started blogging at the old Mockable domain and posted his first update on Boxing Day. Check it out: A Glove Compartment Full of American Cheese Food. Welcome back, Metten! This is going to be fun.
- I saw an interesting article linked somewhere recently and wanted to get the feedback of Surf Reporters on it. Here it is: 75% Of Adults Aren’t Friends With Any Of Their Neighbors. I’m just curious, are you part of the 75 or the 25? I’m definitely part o’ the former. But I have the Half-Shirts on one side… and the owners of a ludicrous high-stepping killer poodle on the other. I’m not taking all the blame here. Although I am fairly reclusive and antisocial. Oh well. Let me know where you stand.
- A few nights ago I re-watched a highly-entertaining 17-minute documentary from 1986, called Heavy Metal Parking Lot. Are you familiar? Two guys went to the parking lot of a big music venue in Maryland, before a Judas Priest/Dokken concert, and spoke to some of the folks there. It’s one of those concepts that’s so simple and pure it makes me jealous. If you haven’t seen it, and have even the tiniest amount of curiosity, check it out. It’s a lot of fun. It’s EXACTLY like it was when I was in high school. There’s also an interesting Where Are They Now? follow-up, during which they show up unannounced at the home of the so-called “Zebra Man.” Yeah, that’s some good, awkward stuff.
- Last night I watched the first three episodes of a show on Netflix called You. It’s possibly the worst title for a TV show in history, but that’s neither here nor there. It’s some wild shit so far, and I’m already invested. Have you watched the show? It’s twisted! Don’t spoil it for me, but I’d like to know your thoughts on it. And by the way… the lead character is VERY reminiscent of Nostrildamus. For what it’s worth.
- And finally… in the new episode of the podcast, I explain why this has been one hell of a week. I tell you about my car trouble (which featured a mouse nest under the hood!), my first visit to a doctor in seven years, and how I’m apparently going to be shitting in a box soon. Listen here. It’s a fun episode! Please check it out.
And I’m going to work now. Urgh. This tweaked-out schedule is taking its toll on me. I crave normalcy! When will the normalcy return?
Have a great day, boys and girls.
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I know some of the people around me. But I don’t talk to them very much. It’s odd there – as it’s a mix of home owners, renters, and long time renters.
I’m in the 25%, but it’s because I knew a bunch of my neighbors before we moved on the street, and since I live on an historic street, the neighborhood is invested in having get-togethers every so often. Also, it was nice to have a Nostrildamus sighting, even in passing.
I don’t actually have any neighbors. I live in a small(and getting smaller)town-city, and the lots on either side are empty. Across the street there’s one house at the end of the block. Can’t say I’ve really been friends with any neighbors anywhere I’ve lived as an adult, though. A few acquaintances here and there. I grew up in a really small town(pop. 400)where you literally knew *everybody* and were friends with at least half of them.
I’m definitely in the 25%. My next-door neighbor has become a very good friend, we share a beer together quite regularly and watch our share of football together. The other-side neighbor….no, not at all. I do prefer being neighborly though, even if it’s just to chat at an annual barbeque or something.
I live in the rural heartland. I know several neighbors but I wouldn’t call them friends.
I know my neighbors next door, and the ones across the street. I wouldn’t say we’re friends, but we know each others’ names and have been in each others’ houses (exactly once).
Heavy Metal Parking Lot… 1986, but it sure looks like the 1970s! I didn’t realize Big Hair had penetrated so far south. The Burnout Boy crew are dead ringers for many of my high school classmates, a number of whom are still alive.
Re: car trouble, a few years ago I had an issue with the car running very poorly. I took it in to the shop, and a couple of hours later they guy called and said exactly that: “you got a mouse”. It turned out that the local rodent population had a taste for plastic. The mice had eaten the insulation off my wiring harness, causing all kinds of misfires. Since this was not a manufacturing defect, it wasn’t covered under warranty. $1300 please.
Friends with the neighbors on either side of the house but none of the other people in the other 250 houses in our development.
250 is a staggering number, and I am not unaccustomed to staggering; see also: Malvina Reynolds.
jtb
Our current neighbors… My wife’s cousin right next door. More family on the other side of him. Across the street from cousin, my father-in-law (great drinking partner btw). Up about 300 feet my wife’s Godparents. We’re visiting each other constantly. Another great drinking partner AND we home brew beer at his place with the FIL. The neighbor on the other side is a fireman/paramedic/organic farmer. So yeah, we pretty much know everyone except for the neighbors down the private road right across from us. I’ve met the creepy teenager and recently met a woman that reeked of smoke, but looked down her nose at the FIL because he drinks. We all watch out for each other.
I’ve always had a history of knowing my neighbors personally. I usually keep to myself, but I somehow get sucked into knowing them for reasons that bring us together. The positive kind where there are no dog attacks or half-shirt hostility.