I heard the sound of the snowblower over the weekend and knew my neighbor – with whom I share a driveway – was working on clearing a path for our cars to get out our garages. I wasn’t really in the mood to go outside, but he does most of the work and the least I can do is help out.
I bundled up, grabbed my shovel and bucket of salt and joined him on the front lines. He used the snowblower on our drive and the drives of the houses on either side of us – as well as the sidewalks. I shoveled the steps and walks of these four houses and put down salt as well.
He wrapped up the snowblowing, thanked me, and headed into his house.
I finished up what I was working on and though I was cold, I figured I had enough energy left to shovel the drive of the neighbors across the street. They also share a driveway and I figured it would be a 2 for 1 good deed.
I headed over and got started and though the snow was light there was a lot of it. I got about ⅔ of the way done when that neighbor came outside.
He asked, “Why are you shoveling my driveway?”
“Oh, just seemed like a nice thing to do – I had time,” I replied,
“She’s not here, you know,” he said – indicating his neighbor’s house.
“Oh,” I replied, not sure why that mattered, “I just figured I could help,”
“Are you working?” he asked and I was puzzled for a moment. Of course I was working, what did it look like I was doing? They I realized he was really asking, “was I expecting to be paid?”
“Ummm… no,” I said, “I’m Anthony, I live just across the street,”
With that he finally recognized me and remembered me – I had helped him with his computer not long after I had moved in and he learned that I was a computer guy.
He then said he could handle the drive and I said not to worry, I could finish it up.
Then he asked me if I had any experience in installing video cameras.
(cue the red flag)
Apparently, someone has been breaking into his house and garage and stealing things. He’s reported it to the police, but they can’t do anything without catching the thief in the act.
Uh-huh.
I told him honestly that I didn’t have any experience in working with video cameras.
He persisted, saying that he had already bought the camera and just needed it set up. I told him again that I didn’t have any experience in video and when he asked if I knew anyone I thought for a moment and told him, “not local,”
He finally said he needed to go to the store – as in, get out of my driveway so I can take my “hey kid, do you want some candy?” van out.
I worked on the sidewalks and managed to get about half the block cleared before he pulled out. He stopped at the sidewalk, got out, and came back over to tell me that price wasn’t an issue. That is, he would be willing to pay to install the cameras. Great. I told him again that I didn’t have any experience in cameras. He got back in the van and drove off – clearly disappointed.
I thought about this as I finished up the drive.
- This is not the first time he’s asked me about this. The last time was about 2 years ago and I told him the same thing – no experience. Now, that doesn’t mean I couldn’t do it. I would read the directions and hit up google/youtube for anything I didn’t understand. The point is, I wouldn’t be doing anything he couldn’t do. And if he’s been sitting on a camera for over 2 years and still hasn’t even tried – well, red flag there.
2. I cannot imagine anyone looking at his house, his van, and his truck in the street with a perpetual flat time and think “I need to break in there and steal some cool shit” Nope – red flag.
3. He had dropped off his laptop to have me re-install the operating system. When I was done, you couldn’t tell I’d done anything. Zero personalizations. I mean, you’ve got to work at it to not change something. Nothing – like he’d never fired it up. I don’t know what the point of it was unless he was testing. Red flag. Side note: he was also really into a Russian Anti-virus software – which has now turned out to (big surprise) be riddled with spyware.
4. I worked my butt off on that driveway and my back is still hurting today. And not a thank-you. Red flag. That’s not why I did it, but who doesn’t say thank you?
So, that’s it for me and the neighbor across the street. I’ll still help the nice lady that shares a drive with him, but I’ve had my fill of him. We were both disappointed in the other and I think that’s a good stopping point.