the hippo story and my yard

While all the neighbors have cleaned up their leaves in our "Woodland West" neighborhood, ours are still lying conspicuously on the ground.  Not just laying there, but also blowing into the neighbor's yards.  No doubt they love us.

No less than 5 people have knocked on our door in the past weeks asking if we wanted them to clean up our yard for a price.  Each time I said, "No thanks."

This is because last year a guy came to clean up and he was tricksy- over charged us and left me feeling unwilling to try again.

On a side note, the year before when the Mormans did it, it was wonderful.  Too bad the Mormans won't come back.

I had a professional lawn guy, a student,  and a church group they are the runner-up for my favorite- it was a guy wearing nice clothes, driving a molester van (no windows, painted black- real shading looking).  He had a glossy card about his recovery church- and  a speech about how they were raising money for more work.  I mean- maybe I should have had him do it- but really I was a little scared about the van.  He kept saying "we" but I didn't see anyone else in the van.

My favorite was the last one- it was Sunday after church, and he appeared to be wearing his church clothes.  He told me (with a bit of an African accent) that he had noticed my lawn needed cleaned, and told me he was trying to get some money to send back to his family.  I said, "No, thanks." But he went on to tell me that his cousin had been in an accident and he wanted to help him.  I sympathized, "I'm sorry about that, but no thanks."  "You see," he said, "They were fishing and a hippo knocked the boat over."  "Oh! Well, that is terrible, but I think we will do it ourselves."

Yeah- the hippo part surprised me.  Not that it couldn't happen, but seriously I've never been within 100 yards of a hippo and I know they are one of Africa's most dangerous animals!  Stay away from the flippin' hippos!

I couldn't decide if that was a made up story or a real one.  I suppose those are the best kinds.