<p>That’s tough. I hope my new neighbor is better than that. Hope some distance will help.</p>
<p>The image of the cat watching the children swing is making me think of the old “Confuse A Cat” Monty Python skit.</p>
<p>
You’re not sure if she sees it? What’s not to see?</p>
<p>My favorite neighbor in all other ways has 2 yappy small dogs that harrass everyone and everything in our cul de sac when they are loose. Not all the time, but at least every other day my dog (big lab, always on a leash) and I encounter them. Occasionally I can’t get past them to get my car into the driveway. But… she is my favorite neighbor and friend. So I put up with it with only veiled complaints. Can’t wait til those little buggers kick the bucket, though.</p>
<p>I was sort of hoping they were putting the cat on the swing and pushing it…</p>
<p>Okay, I know this post comes across as mean to animals. Really, I’m not.</p>
<p>ST–“Confuse a Cat”’ oh, my–yes! I see that too.</p>
<p>I like the image of the cat watching them swing.</p>
<p>I have cats, and I just can’t imagine them coming along for a walk or putting up with kids playing while they aren’t.</p>
<p>Perhaps mine are not as well trained.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Yes, people are more likely to sue and they do! Often for crazy things. If you have either Buffalo or Detroit channels on your cable service, you’ll see ads for the type of lawyers who are only too happy to take ridiculous cases. There is no disincentive to sue in the U.S., there is in Canada because a judge is not only likely to throw a frivolous case out here, he/she is also likely to make the person who initiated the suit to pay costs. That is not common in the U.S.</p>
<p>Maybe try a “Quiet Hours…” sign.</p>
<p>I think several of us would like to see a Youtube video of this cat watching kids swing. What kind of cat is it?</p>
<p>The problem seems solved, but my one of my ideas was to put something sticky (maple syrup?) on the swing’s chains or rope, late on Saturday night.</p>
<pre><code>Another question: Why are they coming on Sunday morning? So the dad can sleep in?
</code></pre>
<p>When I walk my mother’s dog, one of our cat’s <em>has</em> to come along for the walk. In fact, if I’m running late in the evening at walk time, he’ll start yowling at the door.</p>
<p>intparent - I thought you were my neighbor for a second but then you said culdesac and that’s not us. We have the two yappy dogs though and they are quite annoying to my one neighbor (not a dog person), her husband mistakenly thought throwing a piece of steak at them (from his yard into ours) would make the dogs like him more. So now they hit that corner of the yard waiting for a repeat. </p>
<p>If my neighbor is out there, I am really sorry. They have brains the size of a walnut and I am trying to train them but pls no more steak?</p>
<p>Wow, your new neighbor sounds a little dense. Probably, she’s just trying to make friends in a new town and will eventually find some (as will her kids) and the novelty will wear off. It’s actually kind of sweet that her kids, or any kids for that matter, love your swing. I thought such things were too old fashioned now to amuse them.</p>
<p>Starbright, I lived in Canada for several years and early on had occasion to witness the ferry hit a boat, people died. I made sure to stay and report on my observances as I did not want to see the ferry captain held liable for something that was not at all his fault (suicide by ferry!) and when I was giving my report, the RCMP could not figure out what I was so worried about. Every family member of the dead couple would have been suing any and every one they could think of had it happened in the states.</p>
<p>I am not sure why the US is so litigious and Canada not, but having lived both places, it is truly a first concern here in the US, that some crazy person will sue you, and is not in Canada. Google and find the cases of burglars injured by the homeowner who then sue successfully for medical bills and pain & suffering and you’ll begin to ‘get it’</p>
<p>Funny, though, with our concerns about crime, my DD was robbed twice in Canada and only once in Berkeley ;)</p>
<p>Why don’t you just let your dog out when the neighbors bring their cat to swing on your swing? That should take care of the problem.</p>
<p>This thread has come alive again. If I am acknowledging their presence in my yard, I would like to do it in person. Besides, I don’t want to be woken up by them every Sunday morning. I had to let them know what would I consider convenient.</p>
<p>I don’t know how long the cat was watching kids swing. That’s what I saw when I peeked outside. I have no idea if it stayed that way. It’s a cute cat, a bengal. </p>
<p>Are there as many lawyers in Canada as in the US? I think we sue so much here to keep our numerous lawyers all employed.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>No, igloo, there aren’t. I think that there are probably twice as many per capita in the U.S. There are too many law schools in the U.S. and it’s much easier to get into a law school in the U.S. than in Canada. Having said that, I don’t think that that is the main reason that the mindset is so different. Canadians are different in many ways and how to sue someone when something goes wrong isn’t the first thing that springs to mind. :)</p>
<p>I thought frivolous lawsuits are relatively recent. Recent being in the last 20-30 years. I don’t remember having to sign so many waivers in the "old"days.</p>
<p>The new neighbor got their own tree swing. End of the story. Happy for them. I also see that it would have never worked in my yard, Sunday morning or not. They have been screaming on top of their voice all afternoon on the swing.</p>
<p>“I find that Americans worry a LOT more about crime by others too (and act upon it accordingly), even though statistically they do not have more crime than where we live. Still they lock their doors from the inside when they are at home, and we do not.”</p>
<p>One reason people are so afraid of crime, I think, is that every other TV show is about some grisly murderer or pedophile. It’s the new pornography. Absolutely every possible gory, disgusting thing imaginable has now been shown on the small screen.</p>