A Fly on the Wall
Viewing comments for Chapter 12 "On Being Pushed To The Limit"A journal musings and assessments about situations
26 total reviews
Comment from Bill Pinder
That is a funny story. I like that comparison to Mr. Rogers and his imaginary neighborhood. I never could relate to Mr. Rogers. He was way too syrupy. Thanks for this jaunt into the real world where sometimes you can tell somebody to "shut up!" If they are that nil to bothering somebody else, then I think they earned it.
Bill
reply by the author on 18-Jun-2019
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That is a funny story. I like that comparison to Mr. Rogers and his imaginary neighborhood. I never could relate to Mr. Rogers. He was way too syrupy. Thanks for this jaunt into the real world where sometimes you can tell somebody to "shut up!" If they are that nil to bothering somebody else, then I think they earned it.
Bill
Comment Written 18-Jun-2019
reply by the author on 18-Jun-2019
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I guess I do, too, Bill, though I did feel bad about it for a fleeting second. (and less bad when my husband shared his similar exchange with the guy!)
I never got into Mr. Rogers, either.
Thanks for the fun review. xo
Comment from Rhonda Allan
I love stories about the pet peeves of life that we frequently joke about, but seldom have the courage to invoke change. This is a great example of one of those peeves. Further, what a fun topic for a book. Great writing. Thanks for sharing.
reply by the author on 17-Jun-2019
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I love stories about the pet peeves of life that we frequently joke about, but seldom have the courage to invoke change. This is a great example of one of those peeves. Further, what a fun topic for a book. Great writing. Thanks for sharing.
Comment Written 17-Jun-2019
reply by the author on 17-Jun-2019
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This pet peeve we may have done better expressing BEFORE we got to this point, however!! Yikes. It was definitely not one of our best moments as humans.
Thank you very much for your fun review. I liked it a lot. xo
Comment from Michele Harber
Hi FSBFF. I really enjoyed this story, and got a particular kick out of your humorous parenthetical side comments (to Mr. Rogers, about your arguments and, particularly, that the phone truly WAS the phone).
I do want to mention one thing that affected me in a way I'm sure wasn't what you had in mind. I don't blame you or your husband for telling the obnoxious neighbor to shut up but, when you mentioned that he gaped at you and his shoulders slumped, it actually made me feel badly for him and give him my sympathy. It made him sound like someone who truly didn't realize the effect his behavior was having, and who was broken by the news. Much more so than by the gape, I was affected by the slumped shoulders. As much as I understand why you did what you did, it made me think that there might have been an alternative. I personally think you'd benefit from dropping the reference to the slumping shoulders, so other softies like me won't be likely to sympathize with your neighbor.
reply by the author on 17-Jun-2019
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Hi FSBFF. I really enjoyed this story, and got a particular kick out of your humorous parenthetical side comments (to Mr. Rogers, about your arguments and, particularly, that the phone truly WAS the phone).
I do want to mention one thing that affected me in a way I'm sure wasn't what you had in mind. I don't blame you or your husband for telling the obnoxious neighbor to shut up but, when you mentioned that he gaped at you and his shoulders slumped, it actually made me feel badly for him and give him my sympathy. It made him sound like someone who truly didn't realize the effect his behavior was having, and who was broken by the news. Much more so than by the gape, I was affected by the slumped shoulders. As much as I understand why you did what you did, it made me think that there might have been an alternative. I personally think you'd benefit from dropping the reference to the slumping shoulders, so other softies like me won't be likely to sympathize with your neighbor.
Comment Written 17-Jun-2019
reply by the author on 17-Jun-2019
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Thanks for the suggestion. Would it help to know that every time Bobby and I went outside and he came over, OUR shoulders slumped?
xo
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Actually, it would. It certainly ups your sympathy quotient!
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We did LOTS of slumping!!! A thousand times to his once!
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Oh, I don't doubt it, and I don't doubt what a pain he was. It's just that I can only go by that one chapter and, in that chapter, his one slump got sympathy. (What can I tell you? I'm a marshmallow when it comes to people's feelings.)
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Keep hanging around me; I'll cure you of that in NO time!!! xo
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Says the person who canceled three classes and cried for an hour-and-a-half in her car because a father was selling his son's piano, and who would, if she had unlimited money, donate large sums of it to any organization that helps children?? I don't think so. If I'm a marshmallow, you're a gummy bear.
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Now you're being a batch. I hate it when you're right.
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Don't worry, it won't happen often. From now on (for a little while, anyway), you'll be my FSBFFGB.
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Omg. I'm just calling you M.
Comment from Jannypan (Jan)
What a fun little story, Rachelle. I enjoyed reading it. You did a great job telling it. The ending was unexpected and so Perfect! You know what they say about great minds, right? The dialogue between you and your husband was great, too. Thanks for sharing. Jan
reply by the author on 16-Jun-2019
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What a fun little story, Rachelle. I enjoyed reading it. You did a great job telling it. The ending was unexpected and so Perfect! You know what they say about great minds, right? The dialogue between you and your husband was great, too. Thanks for sharing. Jan
Comment Written 16-Jun-2019
reply by the author on 16-Jun-2019
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Well, I don't know if we're great minds (though I certainly do appreciate your thinking so!) but I do know we're compatible. Thanks for the very fun review. xo
Comment from juliaSjames
Tut Tut. Daniel Tiger would be flabbergasted. How could you turn on your neighbour after you'd enabled his behaviour. The poor man probably thought you were friends!
I studied your requirements for the perfect neighbour and snickered. My family has an untidy yard, littered with bikes and other paraphernalia. There are three kids under 10. And the cars are dirty. My son is mixed black and white, a mutt ( to use Obama's description of himself) and his wife is of Indian (sub continent,) heritage. Of course they're referred to as "that Arab couple". There may be some distant competition, but I think we can proudly claim the prize of the neighbours from hell.
Blessings Julia
reply by the author on 16-Jun-2019
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Tut Tut. Daniel Tiger would be flabbergasted. How could you turn on your neighbour after you'd enabled his behaviour. The poor man probably thought you were friends!
I studied your requirements for the perfect neighbour and snickered. My family has an untidy yard, littered with bikes and other paraphernalia. There are three kids under 10. And the cars are dirty. My son is mixed black and white, a mutt ( to use Obama's description of himself) and his wife is of Indian (sub continent,) heritage. Of course they're referred to as "that Arab couple". There may be some distant competition, but I think we can proudly claim the prize of the neighbours from hell.
Blessings Julia
Comment Written 16-Jun-2019
reply by the author on 16-Jun-2019
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Nope. We have non-English-speaking next door neighbors on the other side who are messy and "busy" -constantly coming and going, and there's LOTS of them-- but I'd take them ANY day over Mr. Obnoxious because they leave us completely alone! So, as long as you don't follow your neighbors around while they pretend you're invisible, I bet you anything, you are NOT the neighbors from hell!!
And Daniel Tiger shouldn't be flabbergasted until he lives here!
Hilarious review, Julia. Thank you! xo
Comment from Y. M. Roger
"Shut-up...Are you serious?"!!! :) ;) That's a "quoted" favorite saying of students from a few years ago -- not kidding!! :) :) See you were 'en vogue' with even your reactions! ;) ;)
Oh, and you sneeky little devil you....I have used that 'phone' thing on more than one occasion always telling myself that "I'm not lying!!" Great minds think alike....! ;)
Yep -- I am SO with you on the 'neighborly' thing.... just stay neat, be polite, and once in a while we'll exchange stuff as necessary...but THAT'S IT!! :) ;) You lasted a helluvalot longer than I would have in that situation! ;) :) A fun read and great chuckle -- thanx for sharing! ;) ;) Yvette
reply by the author on 16-Jun-2019
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"Shut-up...Are you serious?"!!! :) ;) That's a "quoted" favorite saying of students from a few years ago -- not kidding!! :) :) See you were 'en vogue' with even your reactions! ;) ;)
Oh, and you sneeky little devil you....I have used that 'phone' thing on more than one occasion always telling myself that "I'm not lying!!" Great minds think alike....! ;)
Yep -- I am SO with you on the 'neighborly' thing.... just stay neat, be polite, and once in a while we'll exchange stuff as necessary...but THAT'S IT!! :) ;) You lasted a helluvalot longer than I would have in that situation! ;) :) A fun read and great chuckle -- thanx for sharing! ;) ;) Yvette
Comment Written 16-Jun-2019
reply by the author on 16-Jun-2019
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The longer we read and review each other's works, the more we see all the facets of our lives that are similar. I find that simultaneously fascinating and comforting.
Thanks, as always, for your wonderful review. xo
Comment from Rikki66
Yo people do have issues; fighting over snow shoveling. I have heard of fights to try and make someone shovel but not to let me, you or us shovel. That neighbor could only be handled directly. You both did right.
Rikki
reply by the author on 16-Jun-2019
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Yo people do have issues; fighting over snow shoveling. I have heard of fights to try and make someone shovel but not to let me, you or us shovel. That neighbor could only be handled directly. You both did right.
Rikki
Comment Written 16-Jun-2019
reply by the author on 16-Jun-2019
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We are guilty as charged on Count One here, Rikki. And the neighbor just needed to be bludgeoned with cruelty. Sublety (if you can call ignoring him while he blathered on around the entire perimeter of our property being 'subtle') was definitely ineffective.
Thanks for the fun review. xo
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Glad you are now happy in the neighborhood.
Comment from Gail Denham
Well done - and yes, there are people like that - but I cannot get over the fact that you and hubby ARGUE over shoveling the walk. Course my husband loves doing it cuz he has a tractor with a scooper. He's out almost before dawn shoveling and I sure don't argue.
reply by the author on 16-Jun-2019
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Well done - and yes, there are people like that - but I cannot get over the fact that you and hubby ARGUE over shoveling the walk. Course my husband loves doing it cuz he has a tractor with a scooper. He's out almost before dawn shoveling and I sure don't argue.
Comment Written 16-Jun-2019
reply by the author on 16-Jun-2019
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We're very early risers every day, my husband and I, so going out to shovel is no big deal...though it is not lost on me that it's not what most people are like. (You have to love us anyway.)
Thanks for the fun review, Gail. xo
Comment from doggymad1
Every home should have a neighbour like this. We are so lucky here, out of 9 houses only four are occupied. We have to go down the town for this sort of entertainment
hugs
Freda
reply by the author on 16-Jun-2019
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Every home should have a neighbour like this. We are so lucky here, out of 9 houses only four are occupied. We have to go down the town for this sort of entertainment
hugs
Freda
Comment Written 16-Jun-2019
reply by the author on 16-Jun-2019
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I envy you, Freda.
Thanks for the cute review! xo
Comment from judiverse
I think you're so right on this issue. We can be polite to others without expecting to become best buddies. That applies to some of the groups in society whose members complain that they're being treated unfairly. What more can they expect than kindness and acceptance? Do we have to love them as well? The neighbor should have gotten a clue that his constant presence while you were doing yard work was not appreciated, but some people, like this man, just don't get it. Great incident with the snow shoveling and you and you husband both had the idea to tell Mr. Obnoxious to shut up. Excellent insights in this. judi
reply by the author on 16-Jun-2019
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I think you're so right on this issue. We can be polite to others without expecting to become best buddies. That applies to some of the groups in society whose members complain that they're being treated unfairly. What more can they expect than kindness and acceptance? Do we have to love them as well? The neighbor should have gotten a clue that his constant presence while you were doing yard work was not appreciated, but some people, like this man, just don't get it. Great incident with the snow shoveling and you and you husband both had the idea to tell Mr. Obnoxious to shut up. Excellent insights in this. judi
Comment Written 16-Jun-2019
reply by the author on 16-Jun-2019
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I TOTALLY agree with you on the point about groups in society. It's not enough anymore to 'say nothing' when one does not agree. Now that is comparable to an act of aggression. Now you have to always speak out on everyone else's behalf or be considered insensitive. Sheesh, I get sick of that. If I don't send kudos to special-interest groups, apparently, I'm on the cusp of harassment!
Mr. Obnoxious hasn't a clue in the WORLD. (Or, he pretends not to notice things that, to others, are obvious...like, as you said, our continuing to work while he prattled on.)
Thanks for your wonderful review. Yours really are always exceptional, and I appreciate them very much. xo
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Thanks so much for your kind words and the reviewing vote. There are so many groups now who demand special attention it's hard to keep track of them. judi
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I don't even bother trying!