Party's Over!

[Pete Jasinski]

Originally Posted by mr squeaks

Sorry, Pete, didn't mean my questions in "that" light.

Sometimes it helps to know "thy enemy."

Sounds to me like the man has no life and could be very lonely. Having a son die like that must have been devastating!

Too bad there might not be some way to change his and the other pigeon hating neighbors' minds...

What a shame...

Cutting down on the amount of food might help...over some time. Cindy had to do this with the large number of pigeons she was attracting...

No need to apologize, it was all in jest The funny thing is I knew my enemy all my life and only recently has this "evil" side surfaced.
I've tried talking to him but his mind is made up plus his wife is like the little weasel who hides behind the bully egging him on while taunting from behind...yeah, you tell him!

[Garye]

Hmmmmmm....interesting. My neighbor who likes to report everyone in the neighborhood lost a daughter - to a car accident. This girl was supposed to become a doctor - they had high hopes for this one but she had gotten drunk one night and drove and lost control of the car, killing herself. The woman never got over it. She also is up there in age.

I think, Pete, your neighbor is a lot like mine. That's what fuels them. They're lonely, possibly blaming themselves and everyone else for their loss, and they're taking it out on everyone else because they're still angry and sad over the loss. They don't know how to deal with it.

Probably the best way for them to deal with it, is to go around to schools or whatever and talk to kids or people about their loss and share their loss with others who have gone through the same things. But they won't. So they never really try to heal from it.

Now I know where your neighbor is coming from and unfortunately for you, unless he learns to try and reach out, he's going to forever be a thorn to the neighbors - just like mine is.

We share the same headache.

[Pete Jasinski]

Originally Posted by Garye

Hmmmmmm....interesting. My neighbor who likes to report everyone in the neighborhood lost a daughter - to a car accident. This girl was supposed to become a doctor - they had high hopes for this one but she had gotten drunk one night and drove and lost control of the car, killing herself. The woman never got over it. She also is up there in age.

I think, Pete, your neighbor is a lot like mine. That's what fuels them. They're lonely, possibly blaming themselves and everyone else for their loss, and they're taking it out on everyone else because they're still angry and sad over the loss. They don't know how to deal with it.

Probably the best way for them to deal with it, is to go around to schools or whatever and talk to kids or people about their loss and share their loss with others who have gone through the same things. But they won't. So they never really try to heal from it.

Now I know where your neighbor is coming from and unfortunately for you, unless he learns to try and reach out, he's going to forever be a thorn to the neighbors - just like mine is.

We share the same headache.

I can't say I take comfort knowing I'm not the ony one suffering from a nasty neighbor but at least I know I'm not fighting the battle alone.
I think every neighborhood has at least one crotchety nasty neighbor, I myself am getting ready for the roll.......HEY YOU KIDS GET OFF MY LAWN

[Rockie]

Wow Pete, I am so sorry. I had no idea this happened to you. I too know what you're going through. It seems like there is truly noone safe from this type of experience. Big brother is always watching. I know you've done all you could to keep things as inconspicuous as possible. To have to live looking over your shoulder all the time, in your own home, is a living nightmare and so unfair.

Last time this came to a boil, weren't you able to feed some of your flock at a nearby park or something? I hope you can do this. (Oh, but then that is illegal too. This is just crazy!) I understand your heartache when you leave your house w/the pijies watching you, with that "where is my food" look. My stomach gets so sick when I leave my office and the pijies fly after me...I still don't have a complete resolution there...I may try the umbrella thing someone mentioned earlier.

I've recently discovered a few scarey details about the town I live in as well...I need to tread VERY carefully. I have been literally hiding in my own house as well.

I wish I had something positive to say to you. Some of the other members really put a smile on my face w/retaliation plans...whatever, whenever, you can count me in.

Pete, you know you're not alone. We're all here for you.

[Pete Jasinski]

Originally Posted by Rockie

Wow Pete, I am so sorry. I had no idea this happened to you. I too know what you're going through. It seems like there is truly no one safe from this type of experience. Big brother is always watching. I know you've done all you could to keep things as inconspicuous as possible. To have to live looking over your shoulder all the time, in your own home, is a living nightmare and so unfair.

Last time this came to a boil, weren't you able to feed some of your flock at a nearby park or something? I hope you can do this. (Oh, but then that is illegal too. This is just crazy!) I understand your heartache when you leave your house w/the pijies watching you, with that "where is my food" look. My stomach gets so sick when I leave my office and the pijies fly after me...I still don't have a complete resolution there...I may try the umbrella thing someone mentioned earlier.

I've recently discovered a few scarey details about the town I live in as well...I need to tread VERY carefully. I have been literally hiding in my own house as well.

I wish I had something positive to say to you. Some of the other members really put a smile on my face w/retaliation plans...whatever, whenever, you can count me in.

Pete, you know you're not alone. We're all here for you.

Hi Leslie,
This all blew over a day or so after we spoke last, I'll try and give you a ring soon and give you all the yucky details. It is sad being a prisoner in you own home, I've taken to the extreme of carrying a weapon while on my property at times when the numbers are overwhelmingly against me. Not that I'll do anything but there a few "people" that could carry things a tad too far.
Us pigeon folk have to band together and fight the tyranny of the anti pidgie machine

[roxtar]

No man can put a chain about the ankle of his fellow man without at last finding the other end fastened about his own neck. ~Frederick Douglass

[Feather]

One thing is for sure, your neighbor has never had the opportunity to meet a pigeon up close and personal. It is sad to think that he may leave this world without ever having that experience. It was right under his nose and he missed it.

Pete, You could never be like him. Your spirit is too gentle. As much as you want to be like him when you grow up, it isn't going to happen. Pick another career.

Feather

[Pete Jasinski]

Obviously my neighbor doesn't under that Roxtar, or, he just doesn't care. He has shackled myself and hundreds of innocent wings denying us of our RIGHT to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of our Happiness.

There were times I wanted to bring Dudley over to him and show him, here, here, is what you despise so much! This innocent FREE creature has more right here then you, he was born free to fly and live where he wishes, his ancestors were here hundreds of years before your precious house and car were even a thought. HOW DARE YOU deny them their right to existence because YOU find it inconvenient to clean poop off your precious possessions Rant over...phewwwww

[Flying_Pidgy]

some people are so stupid. They have no life if they sit around and complain. I dont even know what to say.

[Victor]

Originally Posted by Flying_Pidgy

. I dont even know what to say.

Don't feel bad. I read the first post Pete posted and did not know what to say either...not til the next day.

I don't know about "stupid' though FP...maybe uninformed?

[Flying_Pidgy]

maybe so but in anycase, they dont understand.

[Larry_Cologne]

Pete,

I am in the same situation
(read my response to "Happy Birthday Larry." I saw the birthday greetings a month late, in part because I was on vacation in San Antonio, Texas. While I was there my landlord, also my former employer, and a friend since we met in 1974 in San Antonio, had me arrange the eviction of my pigeon(s) from our apartment in Cologne, in absentia).

You have at least one weapon left which you haven't tried: shock and surprise. Invite your neighbor and his wife over for coffee and cake on a Sunday afternoon, with goodwill in your heart. What can you lose? (Perhaps plenty. Don't know. Just a suggestion). It may slowly ease the situation. You may find out what really bothers them. If you don't wind up with a flock of a hundred pigeons, at least you may find friendlier neighbors. I believe everything has a reason for happening, if we only find the reason (without a lot of esoterical mumbo-jumbo intervention and interpretation from other opportunistic third parties).

Let's say they accept. You make small talk. You enjoyed feeding pigeons, the pigeons enjoyed the food so much they told all their friends, being intelligent birds, and before you knew it you were running a community center. You enjoyed it, and miss the company, and decided to get to know some neighbors better, and share your views, whether pro or con. Maybe talk about the pigeon projects mentioned in other responses to your post. Maybe they say the pigeons made so much noise. You hold up your earmuffs, noise-cancelling headphones (best for lower frequencies), and swimmers' silcone in-ear earplugs rated 23-25, and agree heartily with them. (I'm being a bit facetious here). Show them your sound-proofed bedroom with thick cones of absorbent material on the walls (you can fire a pistol in there and not hear a thing). They talk about the bird poops, and you show them your knee-high waders, shovels and full-face respirator/filter, and of course the back-hoe in the back yard, and the covered dumpster for accumulated poops (not visible in the satellite photo of your house, but there nonetheless). Probably you don't own or use any of these things, and they may notice it. (I use ear-plugs).

Sometimes lonely (and therefore possibly angry) people need an invitation from others so that they can reach out again in a positive way. It may take some effort. It could be that they haven't found a way on their own yet, and you are a catalyst. Don't have an objective in mind, such as convincing them of your views about pigeons. Just let things flow, and nice things may happen.

Often someone comes in my life to help me, and may knock repeatedly and often, before I notice and open up. I am grateful that they are so persistent. At 59 years of age, I still have a lot to learn, and hope the knocks on the door keep coming (even from unexpected directions).

I see this happen frequently with my wife. She meets someone, perhaps they complain about something, and she LISTENS. But, she always sees the good in them, makes them aware of it by being positive about whatever they are negative about. This happens often on streetcars, or when she has to stand in a long line at the check-out counter. She often gets several strangers to participate in an enjoyable, brief discussion.

Chances come, and chances go. Sometimes you feel like taking hold of one, sometimes you don't. If you use your ability to reason and you use your emotions, great. If you don't use your ability to reason properly, and you let your emotions control you, you lose opportunities given you.

Me, with my landlord, I'm biding my time. My pigeon Wieteke had to do his nesting outside, eventually. Just now, I took the opportunity to discretely hand-feed him for the third time this morning (at 7:00, 10:30, and noon) when he came to the window flower-box. He still wants to come in to his old nesting site and home. It is hard on both of us.

Larry

[Feather]

You are so funny and so right. You need your own news paper column or Talk Show. Dr. Larry!



Feather

[mr squeaks]

GREAT POST, Larry! Feather is correct, you could use your own radio/tv program!

I do not believe in accidents and feel all happens for a reason. Pete has the choice to use this event in a positive or negative way. While we kid around with "relaliation(s)" like the SPPs, this is a stress relief for us and hopefully, Pete.

However, dealing with people themselves is a whole new ball game and needs compassion, intuition and nerve. Most people will respond to POSITIVE. Negative usually only results in more negativity, sometimes with disasterous results. What people fear, they will try and destroy. Sometimes, compromise will accomplish wonders. The KEY word is SINCERITY.

If one only pays "lip" service while thinking, "I hate you!" these vibes will be felt and you're back where you started - sometimes worse.

Reaching out may be just the key you need, Pete, to help these people better understand. Could even result, someday, in changing the "law" about "outlawing" pigeons.

By changing our BELIEFS, we have the POWER to change ourselves and influence others...

[Rockie]

Very well put Larry. I'm so sorry for what you're going thru as well. I'm glad you're able to sneak some tidbits to Wieteke. It makes me feel so sad that the pijies don't know why things have changed.

In my head I know you're right in your way of thinking, it's just hard to get passed the heart filled with sadness over what this person(s) has done to the innocent pijies.

In my family, I am known as the "animal person". They all think I'm crazy, obsessive, etc. And for some reason, people think you don't care about "people" if you love animals - very untrue. When my mom learned I was actually keeping pigeons in my house I never heard the end of it. Well recently, during a visit from her, I insisted she come peak in one of the pigeon rooms. I put down a few twigs and Tippy immediately ran over to it, picked it up, ran over to his mate Billie (was Bill O'Reilly before I realized he was a she) and let her arrange it to her liking. Well, this was the first time ever that I think my mom saw them, truly saw them. How can you resist such sweetness and innocence? It's a start anyway.