I cannot believe what my neighbor did today.....

[fivebigreds]

Joan has OCD "Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder " hoarding is one way the disorder can go . Being crazy over her property , stealing the neighborhood animals because she thinks they are starving are all signs. Her house is probably stuffed with junk because she can't stand to part with it.
I know that putting the name to the mental illness doesn't make it any easier to live with because my mother-in-law has it.

 

[PearlD]

I'm done guys! I think some new folks on here think this thread was their chance to preach and rant. Thanks for all the positive help. I think my husband and I have handled this situation with kid gloves thus far. Again, I am continuing to watch for any signs that Joan's stroke issues don't escalate any further. It's great to hear from people who are knowledgable about real life situations, and that those people can make suggestions to me without remarks that have no bearing on this discussion.

One final comment:

**At NO time in my posts did I mention taking the law into my own hands (as verboten suggested I did). I used the word 'posse' to give a sense that my community is ready to act now. I am trying to convince other angry parents that don't know her mental situation, to please not jump the gun and try to have her committed. She has a family, they are in denial, and this has to be handled carefully. I suggest to a couple of you who think this forum is your invitation to make negative and useless remarks.....read the forum rules. Not once did I ask for ridiculous, unfounded comments with respect to the law, and how they would turn on me if I called them regarding my neighbor. I need REAL useful suggestions. Not warnings about what would happen to my kids if I called and reported a mentally unstable neighbor. These types of comments are reserved for people who have actual proof that I am an unfit parent.

 

[purplebaby]

i think that if more people cared and did the right thing we would all be better off. take what you feel is the right action and dont worry about the rest. you are the only judge of that. just document, in case.

 

[chiknwhisperer]

I have been following this topic for the last couple of days and there have been many positive suggestions and support. It is sad to see some people make comments that are out of line. Remember that if you can't say anything nice then don't say anything at all. It is a wonderful rule of thumb to live by. As far as the way this situation is dealt with. I think PearlD is doing just fine. I would have never had the patience that she has.
Just my two cents.

 

[michaelvcrowder]

pearld,
my last post was not intended to flame you, insinuate that you were an unfit parent or that your kids are running a muck. it was just to play a little devils advocate and help you to view the situation the way a "crazy as the ol lady down the street" public official might. if you read *all* of my posts in this thread carefully then you should realize that i have been supportive of your plight. i believe you are getting your feathers all ruffled over nothing as relating to my original posts. all i did was a propose a possible scenario. i even stated that fairly clearly.

Sounds to me like you're out for my blood.....HMMMM. Parent complaining? Kids running amuck? Could this be a cut and dried case of unfit parenting?

show me in my own words where i even came close to going for blood. here is an excerpt from my first post into this thread. this does not sound like i am out for *your* blood at all. what i said was that a third party could interpret it in this way. not that i did.

one thing i can tell you is this. if your neighbor has crossed the line from reasonable to crazy then no amount of reasoning is going to un-crazy her. trying to rationalize with unrational people is a wasted effort. i understand your want to fix everything attitude but this is an imperfect world and some things cannot be fixed. don't put too much effort into it if there are no evidences of positive returns.

my natural reaction would be to find more ways to try and push her buttons. while i am trying to overcome these tendencies, there was a time in my life i would have figured out what really bothered her and put an amplifier and neon lights on it just to see the reaction. i have managed to overcome most of this desire in recent years, but sometimes the urge to push a crazy persons buttons still want to surface.

my advice is to watch your kids like a hawk, when she crosses the line have the police do their job. if she sicks a pit bull on your kids then i couldn't give advice for that one. i personally would introduce my aluminum baseball bat to her knee caps right after i had introduced her dog to my shotgun. but that ain't good advice.
michael

but i would realize that i would be gong to jail right after i dealt with the woman. understanding the consequences of ones actions does not mean you can't deal with matters in a particular way, just that you need to consider all eventualities of said actions.

pearld wrote:

My first instinct to your post was to get my back up. Instead, I will approach it as if I were scolding a child. After all, you sound a tad bit like my paranoid, angry neighbor.

if this post is not getting your back up then i would hate to see that... you accuse me of sounding paranoid like your neighbor. at some point the only way to look at a situation is from everyones point of view. this includes, your kids, yourself, the crazy neighbor, the cops and the Department of Family and Children services. to not take into account all of these views and their potential ramifications limits a persons ability to make decisions that will maximize the long term goals of improving the situation.

peald wrote:

With all that talk of witnesses, ignorance, and your 'doubt' that my kids are following the rules of the road, it sounds like your telling me to just lock my kids up and shut my mouth... ...You mentioned that the problem would be solved if I educated my kids on property lines, and kept them out of the road. Since when is it required to cater to people who live in anger and bitterness? The last I heard, pedestrians have the right of way. There are also 2 street signs posted by the County Street Dept.: 'Children at Play' & 'Watch for Children'. Clearly, our kids have EVERY RIGHT to be in the street riding bikes and socializing. Enough said.

and what do you base your opinions of the rules of the road? i ride an average of 2,000 miles a year on a bicycle and have been doing that for over 20 years. i am a member in good standing of a couple of bicycle clubs and have even lobbied locally for bicyclists rights. at one time i paid out of my own pocket to put up "share the road" bicycle signs county wide where i live. i know more about bicycle laws than most lawyers do. below you are going to see some laws that are applicable to bicycles. these apply to children just as much as adults. if your kids are involved in an accident and are violating any one of them, guess who is going to be held accountable? almost every states codes are identical in regards to bicycles.

(A) Sections 4511.01 to 4511.78, 4511.99, and 4513.01 to 4513.37 of the Revised Code do not prevent local authorities from carrying out the following activities with respect to streets and highways under their jurisdiction and within the reasonable exercise of the police power:

(8) Regulating the operation of bicycles: provided that no such regulation shall be fundamentally inconsistent with the uniform rules of the road prescribed by this chapter and that no such regulation shall prohibit the use of bicycles on any public street or highway except as provided in section 4511.051 of the Revised Code;

§ 4511.52. Bicycles.
(A) Sections 4511.01 to 4511.78, 4511.99, and 4513.01 to 4513.37, of the Revised Code that are applicable to bicycles apply whenever a bicycle is operated upon any highway or upon any path set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.

(B) Except as provided in division (D) of this section, a bicycle operator who violates any section of the Revised Code described in division (A) of this section that is applicable to bicycles may be issued a ticket, citation, or summons by a law enforcement officer for the violation in the same manner as the operator of a motor vehicle would be cited for the same violation. A person who commits any such violation while operating a bicycle shall not have any points assessed against the person's driver's license, commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit, or probationary license under section 4510.036 of the Revised Code.

(C) Except as provided in division (D) of this section, in the case of a violation of any section of the Revised Code described in division (A) of this section by a bicycle operator or by a motor vehicle operator when the trier of fact finds that the violation by the motor vehicle operator endangered the lives of bicycle riders at the time of the violation, the court, notwithstanding any provision of the Revised Code to the contrary, may require the bicycle operator or motor vehicle operator to take and successfully complete a bicycling skills course approved by the court in addition to or in lieu of any penalty otherwise prescribed by the Revised Code for that violation.

§ 4511.54. Prohibition against attaching bicycles and sleds to vehicles.
No person riding upon any bicycle, coaster, roller skates, sled, or toy vehicle shall attach the same or self to any streetcar, trackless trolley, or vehicle upon a roadway.

§ 4511.55. Riding bicycles; motorcycles abreast.
(A) Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable obeying all traffic rules applicable to vehicles and exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction.

(B) Persons riding bicycles or motorcycles upon a roadway shall ride not more than two abreast in a single lane, except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles or motorcycles.

(C) This section does not require a person operating a bicycle to ride at the edge of the roadway when it is unreasonable or unsafe to do so. Conditions that may require riding away from the edge of the roadway include when necessary to avoid fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, surface hazards, or if it otherwise is unsafe or impracticable to do so, including if the lane is too narrow for the bicycle and an overtaking vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.

§ 4511.56. Signal devices on bicycle.
(A) Every bicycle when in use at the times specified in section 4513.03 of the Revised Code, shall be equipped with the following:
(1) A lamp mounted on the front of either the bicycle or the operator that shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet to the front and three hundred feet to the sides. A generator-powered lamp that emits light only when the bicycle is moving may be used to meet this requirement.
(2) A red reflector on the rear that shall be visible from all distances from one hundred feet to six hundred feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle;
(3) A lamp emitting either flashing or steady red light visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear shall be used in addition to the red reflector. If the red lamp performs as a reflector in that it is visible as specified in division (A)(2) of this section, the red lamp may serve as the reflector and a separate reflector is not required.

(B) Additional lamps and reflectors may be used in addition to those required under division (A) of this section, except that red lamps and red reflectors shall not be used on the front of the bicycle and white lamps and white reflectors shall not be used on the rear of the bicycle.

(C) A bicycle may be equipped with a device capable of giving an audible signal, except that a bicycle shall not be equipped with nor shall any person use upon a bicycle any siren or whistle.

(D) Every bicycle shall be equipped with an adequate brake when used on a street or highway.

if you bothered to read the last quote you will see that there are specific laws as to how a bicycle is to be ridden on the road and how it is equipped. these apply on any public street, including your neighborhood. the "children at play" signs do not give anyone the right to violate constituted laws.

so if your kids are not following these specifically and the authorities become involved then you and your kids could be held accountable. to my knowledge, in no states laws are their exceptions for subdivisions, culdesacs or country roads. of course i may be wrong on this and if i am i would not get MAD because someone pointed it out to me. i actually appreciate when i am corrected. i learn more from people that disagree with me than people that just parrot my opinion.

a brief synopses of bicycle rules for the road. kids must always wear helmets, they must obey all traffic laws that a motor vehicle is subject to, they must ride with the flow of traffic and as close to the curb as safely possible. they must use signals when they turn and they must not ride side by side. every state has similar laws and i suggest you inform yourself on your states laws. i am not trying to be a jerk about this but i have seen more than one person get in trouble over not paying attention to the law. if a child gets run over by a car and is violating any rule of the road, guess who gets faulted with the accident? the child and their parents. please do not have any animosity at me for pointing out the laws passed by the government. if you don't like the laws contact your state representatives and congress people.

pearld wrote:

If a caseworker is contacted, I assure you that they will find no fault with these kids OR their parents. Except, of course, that they INNOCENTLY stepped across an INVISIBLE property line. ONCE. Not repeatedly. ONCE. And I can assure you again that it was handled properly on my part. I can't speak for the other parents.

actually you are wrong. all it takes is an accusation of wrongdoing and a caseworker can take a child into custody until the situation is investigated. one of my good friends brothers is divorced and had custody of his daughter. his ex-wife had a drug problem and went to jail after the divorce. when she was released from jail she decided she wanted the kid back. so she called D.F.C.S. and said that my friends brother was making, using and selling meth. they came to the house and took the kid without any proof. the cops searched his house, finding nothing, and told him to report to court on a specific date. the judge ordered a 6 month series of drug tests to confirm whether or not he was on dope. after being tested once a week for six months he went back before the judge and got his child back. the child was kept in a government children's home for the six months. upon her release she is now unmanageable. six months of being held with real problem kids has really messed her up. this man has never participated in consuming, making or selling drugs but just an accusation with children services got the kid taken for six months while the court system investigated the accusation. i personally know of two other similar circumstances. all a DFCS caseworker needs is a suspicion of a child being endangered and your entire world can fall apart.

stories like this scare me to death. to know that our government has more rights in raising kids than the parents is a slippery slope and one of the reasons my wife and i have chosen not to have any. if i wanted to spank my kid in wallmart i wouldn't want to worry about someone calling the cops. this scenario has happened.

my last paragraph in NO WAY insinuates that you are not properly caring for your kids. i am SURE that you are. all i was doing was letting you know how bringing in the authorities can go south on you in a hurry. they are going to interpret the law to the letter in how it is written and kids or not, they are going to apply those laws.

pearld wrote:

And since Joan is the one with the 'boundary' issues, she should be the one putting a fence up. These kids are respectful, kind, and would never have dug a small hole on her property if they had known it was hers. Aside from that......who gives a cr*p if they did dig a small hole? I certainly wouldn't come uncorked if it happened in my yard.

i have a crew putting up real estate signs almost every day. on one particular occasion we were given the wrong address by the agent and were one house down the street from the proper location. the man who lived there had a wife that was mentally deranged. she normally stayed in a home but one or two days a week he went and checked her out and brought her home for a few hours. this day he decided to leave her alone while he ran to the corner store. my guys show up, got out of the truck and started their work. she came out of the door with a shotgun and tried to shoot my guys. while there were mistakes on three sides the cops said it would not have happened if we had not been trespassing. my guys were just doing their job and they were shot at because of a typo on an order form. the cops said we were on the wrong property so it was our fault.

crazy people do crazy things. if i saw some neighborhood kids digging holes in my yard i would lend them a shovel and show them a better place to dig. some people would just ask them to stop. some people may take a pot shot at them. once you realize someone has nutted up the responsible thing is to avoid them, thus neutralizing the potential of negative interaction.

pearld wrote

Kids these days could be doing SO much worse than building a chicken coop! I'll go ahead and pat myself on the back for making them play outside instead of having seizures on front of a video game.

and i commend you on that. nothing aggravates me more than a overweight kid who's parents think that as long as he is sitting quietly playing his video game or watching television and eating potato chips everything is o.k. going outside and playing is great for a kids long term health. nothing in the world wrong with building a chicken coop. i would recommend that they finish said coop with proper instructions as to placement.

when i am caring for my nieces and nephews i encourage them to play outside. but because i am frightfully aware that i am responsible for them i stay in sight. my parents let me roam the neighborhood but the sixties were different than the new millennium. while my parents let my brother and i supervise ourselves in the neighborhood, they don't let the grandkids run without supervision.

once again i am NOT saying that to let kids run the neighborhood is wrong. every neighborhood is different and parents should be able to discern what is best for their children and i assume that you are capable to raise your own kids.

pearld wrote:

Do you seriously think I believe that calling an agency with concerns for Joan's instability will bring about a DHR case against myself???? That's just nuts. This country is in a sad state if children can't play outside, and make innocent mistakes without their parents being cast as 'unfit'. Why do you assume my kids weren't supervised? I never said that. It seems you've assumed quite a bit in your post! Our community is crawling with kids, babies, and parents who are sick of hitting the bushes when Joan drives by in her car. And we are sick of being told that our kids can't pop 'wheelies' on a public road, just because its in front of her house. They MOST CERTAINLY CAN.

to the first question. yes, once the authorities get involved all parties claims get investigated equally. even the crazy old ladies. we are all equal under the law.

and yes this country is in a sad state of affairs. all you have to do is watch the news tonight and it is obvious. i am saddened by the governments preponderance of laws that are intended to protect us from ourselves but really just infringe on our individual freedom. its really sad.

but as to popping wheelies in front of her house. if they are doing this on a public street then they are in direct violation of most states bicycle laws. if they ride without both hands on the handle bars they are breaking the law. if they operate a bicycle in any way that is not consistent with the laws covering both bicycles and motor vehicles then they are in the wrong legally.

if i had kids, would i let them pop wheelies in an average subdivision? OF COURSE i would let them. but i would recognize that it is in violation of the law and educate them as such and tell them when and where. if the ol lady is complaining about kids breaking the law in front of her house then by the letter of the law she is correct in doing so. just tell the kids to do this out of her line of sight and the problem is solved. what is wrong with me pointing that out?

pearld wrote

I posted this originally to gain support from others because I was torn regarding how to handle this situation. We care deeply that she is mentally unstable, and want to help her, while keeping our kids safe. All this talk of fences, keeping my children off the road (where they have every right to be as long as the road is PUBLIC)

and to discount or to belittle any person that says something that doesn't completely agree with your beliefs is not logical thought process. i have not once said you have handled the situation wrong. all i have done is point out how the authorities could respond in a way that you were not expecting. to assume that the government is going to handle everything fairly is a pipe dream. they are going to interpret the law to the letter.

pearld wrote:

I ask that a mod close this thread if anymore negative comments are made regarding my OP. My intention wasn't to be chastised by someone who has no clue what's even going on. I don't need anyone else bombarding me with their opinions on my parenting, my ignorant kids, and how I'd better be careful reporting my unstable neighbor for fear I might get my kids taken away. I'm afraid I might say something ugly.

i NEVER chastised you. all i did was point out the law as it is written. all the chastising has been done by YOU in regards to my innocent comments that the law can be interpreted in ways that could be unpleasant to folks that are otherwise morally innocent. apparently you have failed to comprehend the intention of my post. it was just to caution you to be careful what you might say to the cops or any other agency that might become involved. i was trying to help and you got all defensive instead of trying to understand what i was saying. if you ask for advice expect to occasionally get some that you may not agree with.

my guess is that this post will get deleted by a moderator and the topic locked. i will hate it if this happens. this is a public bbs and when someone asks a question the other participants should be allowed to reply with their opinions as long as nobody curses or attacks someones character, of which i have done neither. i feel that i have been dog talked by several persons but i have not, nor will i, take it personally and get upset. i don't need 100% public approval of everything i say on a bbs. everyone is entitled to their own opinion and if anyone thinks i am a kook then fine. "sticks and stones my break my bones but words (or opinions) will never harm me".

cetawin wrote:

Regarding the lame ignorance of the law comment, that does not apply to children. Stick with ice/rock climbing please. Children are not now nor have they ever been held to the same standards as an adult except in capital cases and multiple offenses. Digging a hole is NOT a capital case.

Children have the right to be in the street on their bikes just as your car does. Not every State and County requires helmets on bike riders in residential neighborhoods or rural areas.

Pearl posted because this matter was upsetting to her and clearly she has a heart. She wanted input on how to proceed because the situation was upsetting. At NO time did you earn the right to judge her parenting ability, style, teachings or lessons.

Personally, I think she is a very patient and caring person to have tolerated the lady this long. I would have already went to war with her and would have tried my absolute best to have slapped her into an adjacent county the second she put her hand on my kid. It would not matter to me WHO she was or what her problem was....I would be her problem at that point.

so your saying that if someone asks for advice to only give information that 100% conforms to their preconceived notions? back patting is not advice. good advice points out every possible ramification of a particular action. positive and negative. i agree that the old lady grabbing the kid is intolerable and said that in my first post. i even gave my personal opinion that had someone done that to my kid (if i had one) or one of my nieces or nephews all heck would break loose.

but i would do what i had to do armed with the full knowledge of the law and which ones i was breaking myself when i dealt with the situation. what is so terrible to point out the law as it is written??? so you say that children have the right to operate a bicycle in any matter they see fit on a public roadway. i have saved the alabama bicycle laws for last. since this incident appears to be in the great state of alabama.

Alabama Bicycle Helmet Statute
CODE OF ALABAMA
TITLE 32. MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC.
CHAPTER 5A. RULES OF THE ROAD.
ARTICLE 13. BICYCLE SAFETY.



§ 32-5A-280. Short title.

This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Brad Hudson-Alabama Bicycle Safety Act of 1995."

§ 32-5A-281. Definitions.

As used in this article, the following words shall have the following meanings:

(1) BICYCLE. A human-powered vehicle with two wheels in tandem design to transport by the act of pedaling one or more persons seated on one or more saddle seats on its frame. "Bicycle" includes, but is not limited to, a human- powered vehicle designed to transport by the act of pedaling which has more than two wheels when the vehicle is used on a public roadway, public bicycle path, or other public road or right-of-way, but does not include a tricycle.

(2) OPERATOR. A person who travels on a bicycle seated on a saddle seat from which that person is intended to and can pedal the bicycle.

(3) OTHER PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY. Any right-of-way other than a public roadway or public bicycle path that is under the jurisdiction and control of the state or a local political subdivision thereof.

(4) PASSENGER. Any person who travels on a bicycle in any manner except as an operator.

(5) PROTECTIVE BICYCLE HELMET. A piece of headgear which meets or exceeds the impact standard for protective bicycle helmets set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or the Snell Memorial Foundation, or which is otherwise approved by the Alabama Department of Public Safety.

(6) PUBLIC BICYCLE PATH. A right-of-way under the jurisdiction and control of the state, or a local political subdivision thereof, for use primarily by bicyclists and pedestrians.

(7) PUBLIC ROADWAY. A right-of-way under the jurisdiction and control of the state or a local political subdivision thereof for use primarily by motor vehicular traffic.

(8) RESTRAINING SEAT. A seat separate from the saddle seat of the operator of the bicycle or a bicycle trailer or similar product that is fastened securely to the frame of the bicycle and is adequately equipped to restrain the passenger in the seat and protect the passenger from the moving parts of the bicycle.

(9) TRICYCLE. A three-wheeled human-powered vehicle designed for use by a child under the age of six.

§ 32-5A-282. Purpose.

The purpose of this article is to reduce the incidence of disability and death resulting from injuries incurred in bicycling accidents by requiring that, while riding on a bicycle on public roadways, public bicycle paths, or other public rights-of-way, all operators and passengers who are under 16 years of age to wear approved protective bicycle helmets, and by requiring that all bicycle passengers who weigh less than 40 pounds or are less than 40 inches in height be seated in separate restraining seats.

§ 32-5A-283. Unlawful for person to use bicycle under certain conditions.

It is unlawful for any person to use a bicycle on a public roadway, public bicycle path, other public rights-of-way, state, city, or county public park under any one of the following conditions:

(1) For any person under the age of 16 years to operate or be a passenger on a bicycle unless at all times the person wears a protective bicycle helmet of good fit, fastened securely upon the head with the straps of the helmet.

(2) For any person to operate a bicycle with a passenger who weighs less than 40 pounds or is less than 40 inches in height unless the passenger is properly seated in and adequately secured

§ 32-5A-285. Statewide bicycle safety education program; manner violations handled.

It is the legislative intent to implement an effective statewide bicycle safety education program to reduce disability and death resulting from improper or unsafe bicycle operation. Violations of Section 32-5A-283 shall be handled in the following manner:

(1) On the first offense, the police officer shall counsel and provide written information to the child relative to bicycle helmet safety. The officer shall instruct the child to deliver the written information to the parent.

(2) On the second offense, the police officer shall counsel the child and provide written information on bicycle helmet safety. A warning citation shall be issued to the child to give to the parent. The citation shall instruct the parent or guardian to contact the police department for further information about the law and where to obtain a bicycle helmet.

(3) Beginning on July 1, 1996, upon a third offense, the police officer shall counsel the child, confiscate the bicycle, and take the child to his or her residence. The officer shall then return the bicycle and give a warning ticket to the parent or guardian. If the parent or guardian is unavailable, the ticket shall be left at the residence with instructions to the parent or guardian to pick up the bicycle at the police department.

(4) Beginning on July 1, 1996, upon a fourth offense, the police officer shall confiscate the bicycle, take the child to his or her residence, whereupon a citation for fifty dollars ($50) will be issued to the parent or guardian of the child. No court costs nor fees may be added to the fine or penalty. The fine or penalty shall be waived or suspended if the operator or passenger presents by the court date, proof of purchase or evidence of having provided a protective bicycle helmet or restraining seat and intends to use or causes to be used or intends to cause to be used the helmet as provided by law.

(5) Any fine or penalty monies shall be earmarked and used separately by the local school system for the purpose of safety education or the local municipality for the purchase of helmets for the financially disadvantaged. (6) The Traffic Safety Center of the University of Montevallo, in conjunction with the Child Safety Institute at Children's Hospital of Alabama, shall furnish all materials, handouts, brochures, and other information related to bicycle safety used by police departments.

§ 32-5A-286. Establishment of more comprehensive bicycle safety program by ordinance.

A municipality may establish a more comprehensive bicycle safety program than that imposed by this article by local ordinance.

Section 32-5A-260
Traffic laws apply to persons riding bicycles.

Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter, except as to special regulations in this article and except as to those provisions of this chapter which by their nature can have no application.
(Acts 1980, No. 80-434, p. 604, §12-102.)
Section 32-5A-263
Riding on roadways and bicycle paths.

(a) Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction.

(b) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.

(c) Wherever a usable path for bicycles has been provided adjacent to a roadway, bicycle riders shall use such path and shall not use the roadway.
(Acts 1980, No. 80-434, p. 604, §12-105.)

popping wheelies in the road is illegal in alabama. my pointing that out should not be construed as attacking anyone. the facts are nothing but facts. no emotion should be attached to them.

this is why i left this newsgroup a while back and may have to do it again. too many people seem to wear their feelings too close to the skin and anything that does not suit their particular view or disagrees with their opinion results in chaos. when someone stands back and tries to look at all three sides of a situation objectively and considers what may happen in a specific set of circumstances does not mean that are attacking someone. unless rational thought process and considering all possible consequences of an action is politically incorrect in todays society.
michael

the "i never intended any disrespect" chicken lover​

 

[Bren1222]

Just a quick thought here....I realize she has had a few strokes but what about her blood sugar? Blood sugar gets out of whack and it can make her do some of these off the wall things she has been doing.

My mom and dad have a neighbor that live down their gravel road and she came up to their house and asked my dad about all the grey cars that were parked down the road? When my dad said he didn't see any she got really angry. It took him calling her husband and he had to come and get her. These are wonderful neighbors and they get along great and all of a sudden she was very angry and confussed. They finally took her to the dr. and after being admitted to the hospital they found her blood sugar was soaring and once they got it under control and her on insulin she is back to her sweet self.

I have to wonder if it isn't something as simple as her blood sugar. If she used to be a wonderful lady and then changed it could be something so simple.

I know it may be sad to say, and yes I do have kids, I have to feel sorry for this poor lady. I also feel sorry that she doesn't have someone in her life that cares enough to get her a doctor evaluation. If she was such a wonderful lady in the past I can't see that she really chooses to be this way today. If she was in her right mind she would probably be very ashamed at the way she is acting today.

I think you are a wonderful person for wanting to help her and not get as ugly as she has gotten. Hopefully her daughter will do something when she moves in.

I would keep my kids close by my side and walk them to their friends house etc. Just let them know that if your kids have any trouble with her to come and get you right away.

Best of luck and keep us posted. I am worried for you, your family, and also your neighbor.

 

[michaelvcrowder]

bren1222,
my wife and i work as volunteers in nursing homes. all of our diagnosing and treatment options in this thread for this lady are great in theory, but the only one that can authorize testing of any sorts is a family member. i know how i might react if someone told me my mom was crazy. i would tell them it is none of their business.

dealing with disturbed elderly people is an art. my wife is an angel with these people. in one particular home we visit there is a patient that has to be restrained 24/7/365. about five minutes after my wife enters the room they are able to take the restraints off and as long as we stay she is o.k. when it is time for us to leave she tells us to get the nurse to tie herself back up so that she doesn't hurt herself. she realizes that she can not control herself when left alone. it is very sad for all when we have to leave, knowing that she is going to just lie there in restraints is pitiful. in years of visiting we have never seen one of her family members.

working with the elderly is a source of great joy and sadness for us. it is great to help but some of these peoples situations are pathetic. there are a lot of old folks that would be much better off if their family paid attention to them.

in this case, applicable to the original post, i am going to be hopeful that once the ladies daughter moves in the situation will improve. just some company and loving attention will often turn folks around. it is just hard to do this from outside the family unit.

remember that loneliness is the worst kind of mental strain. but visitation can't be forced. i was reading yesterday in a recent copy of neurology journal that good social networking can add a decade or more to someones life expectancy and increase their mental health. i have seen this with my own eyes. when we work with alzheimer's patients, once you have seen them a lot, they seem to recognize you and calm down enough to be manageable. sporadic visitation is worse than none sometimes. a consistent routine will often make a big difference.

some of the folks in the homes are bat poop crazy and no amount of visitation seems to help. i think once the woman discussed in this topic gets someone living at home with her things will get better.
michael

 

[goatkeepers]

Y'all, please don't get offended. Everyone is just trying to give their two cents.

I have a feeling this is gonna get locked pretty soon. It seems like it snowballed into something huge...

Pearl, any news for us?

 

[Rhett&SarahsMom]

I can tell ya right now. If I had someone this bad in my neighborhood not only would I be fencing in my yard.(Which I have fenced in anyway) And keeping the kids and pets within sight. I would also be telling the kids to STAY out of her way AND out of the street. This woman DRIVES!!!!!! She is unstable. A car is just as much a weapon as a gun.

BTW. I will not allow my daughter to walk in the street. Never mind play or ride her bike in it. Side walks and the local park and only when I am there to keep an eye on her. Way too many terrible things happen to kids these days. I am not taking any chances with my kid.

 

[Beekissed]

Michael, you said a mouthful and I truly believe you posted in order to help this situation. I feel you are correct about posting for advice. Advice one asks for is not always advice one likes to hear. If one asks for advice, one should be prepared to actually get it....all of it, not just what one wants to hear.

I will tell you that the whole bicycle thingy is true...they don't really care if they are kids or not. My boy was riding on a town street at 10 yrs. of age and ran into the side of someone's car as he, and she, were negotiating an intersection. He rebounded off the side of the car into the street. The person he hit was the county assessor. She didn't check to see if he was alright, she just drove back to her office and called me to tell me she was taking a claim against my homeowners policy against the damage to her car. At no time was a police report filed, there were no witnesses, she didn't call to see if he was injured and, yes, they gave her the money and penalized my homeowner's insurance. And this happened in a small town where everyone knows everyone else. I can't imagine how bad it would be in a larger town or city.

Playing the devil's advocate is a way of preparing someone in a worst case scenario. I don't think Michael was trying to insult anyone here.