Not fallen for that, no siree!

[tenaya]

Garage guy is in the middle of a work crisis. He works at a home for disabled adults and there was an incident where one of the clients put his hand through the window, then picked up a nice big shard and threated J with it. Chaos abounded but things finally got under control and the client to the hospital to be stitched up. J made good decisions in a time of crisis but his fellow workers did not. Boss is having J fill in the forms, but wants him to leave out stuff like he called for help but his co-workers wouldn't come. It's a mess. I encouraged J to leave in that he called for help, or else it would look like he did not follow procedures. I question the judgement of Boss in putting a rosey patina on this, but J does indeed need to keep his job.

Anyway, on his way out the door, he mentioned that he didn't know when the basement would be ready, and he was pressing his boss to put him up after the 6th. Of course, everything he says sounds reasonable and he actually hasn't done anything negative, but it's just the things he says, how quickly he changes the subject when one tries to get a few confirming details, and the fact that he has been sponging off of friends and family for 16 months. I know the issues here are really our issues, but I've always believed in and listened to my hunches. Anyway, the desire to say, "J, please stay here until the basement is ready" was incredibly strong and I had to bite it back consciously. One wants to do good deeds and be kind-hearted, but the flip side of that is to discover that the continuing excuses are just a con job.

We discovered Scooter, the vision impaired cat, went out the front door with Big Reg this morning, but didn't come in with him. Usually, Scooter just comes around into the courtyard and asks to be let in the back door, but he didn't this time because he fears the dog may be there. And Scooter was enjoying some much needed lap time with Mom when J came in and he fled the room in a panic. I suppose it's rude to value the serenity and security of one's pets over another human being, but it's their home, too.

On the coon front, the 3 legged guy was by tonight stealing nervous mouthfuls of kibble. Since Momma Coon hasn't been by for a while, I'm wondering if she will continue to use our yard as her child rearing area of choice since it smells of dog now.

Comments

[moonchildetoo.livejournal.com]

I suppose it's rude to value the serenity and security of one's pets over another human being, but it's their home, too.

On the coon front, the 3 legged guy was by tonight stealing nervous mouthfuls of kibble. Since Momma Coon hasn't been by for a while, I'm wondering if she will continue to use our yard as her child rearing area of choice since it smells of dog now.

Absolutely it's their home too, and you're a heck of a lot closer to them than Garage Guy. Man, if his presence is scaring off your own babies and the critters, that'd be the last straw for me. Even if you don't get rid of GG immediately, you might try to have him find another place to keep his dog, so at least that aspect will disappear quickly, and maybe Momma Coon will re-think. I hope so!

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

The dog is really sweet. I guess I'm more into giving her a hand than GG. Apparently, the dog is what is stopping him from getting a room anywhere. Supposedly. He gets advice from friends and his brother to leave her in the pound or get her put down. I'm glad he won't do it. He was in tonight for a few hours. Reg and Scooter were "what the hell is he doing here?" They stared at him for about a minute each and walked away. No run, just walk. At least they weren't stark.

I'm hoping Momma Coon will check back a few times before she decides. And actually, when she's nursing them and they're still in the den, she's desperate for quick food, so she might even rethink at that late date.

[moonchildetoo.livejournal.com]

Not wanting to inject a downer into the conversation, but have you heard the stuff on the news about the rise in distemper cases...and they mentioned that raccoons can have it/pass it along too.

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

Yes, I saw that on the news tonight. Sounds like the doggy kind can be shared with the raccoons. The cats will be safe, though. I suppose the raccoons could catch it from doggy drinking bowls, but hopefully they are staying away from doggy yards.

A friend back East suggested I get the rabies vaccine biscuits and throw them out for the raccoons. Apparently, those are common in the East. My vets didn't have a clue what I was talking about. I worry about the little guys, but am fatalistic about their future. What will be, will be. All I can do is make it easier for her to get all her kids well nurished until they move out on their own.

[catalenamara.livejournal.com]

>>>Anyway, the desire to say, "J, please stay here until the basement is ready" was incredibly strong and I had to bite it back consciously. One wants to do good deeds and be kind-hearted, but the flip side of that is to discover that the continuing excuses are just a con job.

*** Glad you were able to bite that offer back. I know the temptation to be generous and kind is a very strong one, but this guy will continue to sponge and sponge. As you say, he has a 16 month history of this. Good luck!

I know it feels very hard to be the bad guy. I had to kick a friend of my brother's out of my house once (my brother was living with me at the time). I had been told he was here "just for a visit", and he assumed that meant "moving in for months and years". I felt bad, but he just had to go. And he did, and what a relief that was.

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

I may need to come over and slap me upside the head very soon.