Saturday, September 29, 2012

Parking Problems & The Glories of Fall

Gorgeous Garden

Our garden is lovely and surrounded by flowers. It is our little haven in a busy world.



 
 This morning glory is one of the few wild flowers I planted that actually came up.


Parking Problems

With the new school year beginning, we experienced a problem we've never had in the two years we've lived here. Girls from the complex next two us began parking in our lot ALL THE TIME. One night Simon and I came home from a long day of work to find both our spots taken, leaving us nowhere to park. Needless to say, frustrating. In front of each spot in our lot is a sign that says "Reserved 787" or "Reserved "789" and so on corresponding to our apartments. Somehow these girls can not read--I have no idea how they made it to BYU. Seriously people!

We tried putting notes on cars, but that didn't seem to have any significant effect.

So, with one repeat offender (don't know if they got a note ever or not), Simon and Nathan moved a cement block behind their car so they'd have to come talk to us to move it. He also left a sign. Simon had called to see what we could do and if we could get a towing company to move a car off of private property only to discover--without a contract with a towing company, they will not remove cars. Was there any doubt for how Provo's towing companies take advantage? You have to pay the company to patrol your lot, they charge people to be booted or towed, and if you have no contract you are toast!

Simon also learned from the attorney general's office that we cannot so much as touch the person's car. We cannot buy a boot. We cannot do anything without a contract. Lame!

Hence the cement block. As you can see, we are not touching the car. We simply moved a piece of private property, on private property. The sign also said we'd move it for $10 (way cheaper than a $60 boot or a $150 tow). When the girls came out to the car, the girl who owned the car pretty much threw a fit. How could someone be so horribly mean to her? She claimed ignorance and said "but I live right there" (behind the parking lot in Regency). "Do you live at 787?" She nearly cried and of course was not willing to pay $10. We let her go and she hasn't been back since. 

And probably the best example through all this is my neighbor Cambria. We're so glad to have them as neighbors. Cambria knows how to treat life with humor, which I appreciate and can learn from. Instead of getting worked up, when she sees someone park in their spot, she loudly says to her husband Christopher (Topher), "Someone parked in our spot again Topher!" or she'll put cute notes on their car, "This is not public parking honey." All in cutely scrawling handwriting on a tiny note card, that is too adorable to ignore. Oh to be happy and take life in stride with a smile and a laugh. What an awesome example for me!

For a number of other cars in the lot we discovered some have Regency parking stickers. I call Jenny, the manager of Regency and she looks them up for me, calls them and they move. It is a bit tiresome but finally seems to be working.






Fall
 For the first time since coming to Provo, we have finally been able to enjoy this season a bit more fully. With only work and an internship and no classes, we've been able to take a little more time together to enjoy the changing of the season. Monday the 24th of September we took a drive up towards Squaw Peak and the leave were beautiful, although beginning to get dark and threatening rain, which it did. Sorry Wenatchee folk, you could have used it a bit more with your fires!





And then yesterday, Friday, we went up Provo Canyon and up toward Sundance and Aspen Grove. Simon had an early shift this week at his internship and I didn't get called in to work. We took the afternoon and hiked to Stewart Falls. The air smelled so crisp and of fall leaves and pine. What a great 4 mile hike.




Such a beautiful day with my favorite person. Best date ever!




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