My New Years started out interesting...

[Tanasi]

My wife took the kids to some sort of all night lock-in thing at church to raise some funds for something (is that vague enough) that I don't understand. Anyways the house is dark I'm in the basement reading and around 1am the alarm light on the kitchen door starting blinking and the motion detectors are blinking (someone is in the house besides me.) I can hear them walking around upstairs, so I send two of our guard dogs (Buttons and Zipper) out the doggie door and tell them to "Guard" (that means hold but don't attack). I and Zeus start easing up the stairs trying to be real quite. Zeus is in front of me and I have a pistol in one hand holding Zeus's lead with the other.
At the top of the steps I can hear whom-ever in the kitchen, the fridge light is on and I see shadows on the wall. From what I can hear it's three or four young fellows and I don't recognize any voices. Still holding Zeus I turn the corner into the kitchen and tell them to freeze and naturally they take off running out the door in a mad scramble, I let go of Zeus and give the "Get-em" command (that means get em and chew a little).
Well lots of running and screaming later Buttons and Zipper each has one kid down and are holding them. Zeus had chased the other two into the barbwire fences that are around our pastures. I've called the law and have turned on the backyard flood lights. Cops arrive and take three of four into custody, tell the cops yes I want to press charges, fix the back door and wash the blood off of Zeus. I don't know how bad the fourth guy was hurt but he certainly bled a lot.

On NYE I received a rather cryptic message that I needed to check my river lot. (Years ago my Dad gave each of his kids a 5+ acre lot on the TN river as an investment.) On NYD my middle brother and I drive out to investigate and lo-and-behold someone is in the process of building a rather large house on my lot. We get out and are looking around the outside of the house and the "owners" arrive. The are disappointed to learn that their builder is building on the wrong lot and their lot doesn't have water access. I suggest they contact their lawyer and my brother is my lawyer. I show the "owners" the steel and concrete pins set by TVA and the realization that there's a big screw-up is sinking in. I really feel sorry for them and I'm hoping their contractor has insurance.

#2 Daughter's boy friend proposed on NYE. I'm not sure what I think about this he's a city boy and wants to be a lawyer, at least he's not a yankee.

I need another day off, I'm tired.

[crazylegs]

Good to hear you got the little sh1ts who broke in, nice to hear you've got well trained dogs too, they sound like a fine collection of animals.

Sorry to hear about your squatters (don't know what else to call them) looks like a genuine error rather than malice, good luck to them recovering money from their builders.

[Der Cute]

Holy Cow, Dogman!

Glad your furbabies could help you out this new year (I bet they had a good time too). Yes Press charges!! Nail their skinny teen butts to the wall!

And wow on the builder. Wonder how construction got Lot #3 confused with Lot#4....lol.

guess that's their Lot in life.

Cutenoob

[blas]

Yay for your dogs! Give them an extra treat or two :)

I hope those degenerates go straight to juvie where they belong........or end up working a dead end job for years trying to pay off the charges you pressed.

And let's hope that degenerate #4 doesn't try to sue back for what Zeus did. He had it coming.

And by the way, did they just break in just to steal out of your fridge?!

[Amethyst Hunter]

I'm reminded of a line from the South Park movie: "I fucking hate guard dogs!!" :lol:

Go doggies! *cheers* :devil:

[Saydrah]

Go dogs! Hope they have a good release button in case they ever catch someone planning a misguided surprise party for you (yes, that happened to someone I know- she sicced her Schutzhunds on intruders in the night, and they caught her new boyfriend plotting a surprise birthday party and sneaking friends into the house with gifts and cake!)

[Tanasi]

Some what of an update:

I was talking with one of the responding cops this morning and he said the word is out that I keep a lot of money and guns in my home. (I don't keep much money at home but what it there is locked up in a safe. Guns I have one or two.) He also said to expect trouble in the future as two of the kids were from a family that are known outlaws. The fourth kid was arrested at the hospital when his Mom took him to the ER. Zeus really did a number on him from what I was told. Right now I have motion detectors inside and outside, glass breakage, door/window switches, and video (with night vision). Oh and three of the best guard dogs (Mastifs) known to me. Buttons the Mistriss of Security is the mother to Zipper and Zeus, she's my mainstay and guardian of my kids, touch one of us and you'll pull back a nub. Zipper while not as big as her mother or brother is really fast for her size and really smart. Zeus is bull in the china shop, he's not as smart as him mom or sister but he makes up it in size and persistenticy. All three have been professionally trained and they do obey commands.

About the house, we're meeting with the "owners", their lawyer, contractor this evening. I'm bringing my wife, brother, and surveyer. My wife is suspecting they will want to trade lots if we're willing, I'm not willing. Why would I trade a lot with water access for one without? That access is worth $100K alone. Stupid contractor.

[Saydrah]

Ha, good luck to their lawyer trying to screw you out of your water access- I love when they just presume that because someone is represented by a friend/family member they are naive. My lawyer when I need one is my father's best friend and is the guy whose house I played at and whose kids I played with as a toddler several times a month- he's also my Congressman ;) People hear that my dad's best friend is my lawyer and presume he's no good, then they hear the other bit and back off.

[Rahmota]

Well isnt that lovely how the news goes around about folks. Even if you weren't rich as long as they think you where there are always someone jealous/stupid enough to try it.

Great job on the guard dogs. Dogs are very very nice and effective beings to have around eh? Hope they didn't get hurt themselves in the incident.

Soudns like you might be having some interesting times ahead. Hopefully the kids/family will figure out that easier pickings are elsewhere before somethign seriously bad happens. My cousin had to give someone a rocksalt salute before they got the hint to stay out of his storage buildings and house and all before. Fortunately I've not had to do that.

Speakign of houses hope you wanted one on your lot....That souds like an ugly situation in progress. I bet their reasonableness evaporates quite quickly. Good luck on that though.

[Melxb]

I'm just really glad that your kids weren't in the house when the juvies came in. I think that you, as a parent, with trained guard dogs, would have reacted much differently if you had to protect your children in the house too. They would have been lucky to have made it out alive....I'm not joking here. Parental instinct is a powerful thing.

As for the house on your lot....I don't think it was done by "accident." Tax information that available to the public could have given the general contractor AND the homeowners a good idea as to whose lot they were building on. I work in a field where knowing what the correct land parcel is is paramount. I've seen a lot of instances where a contractor "accidentally" built a house on an umpermitted lot or a lot that did not belong to the homeowner. Since there are so many absentee homeowners it isn't as hard to do as you think.

[thegiraffe]

Something tells me that the 'owners' aren't the ones at fault here. Like MelXB said, they're probably just going off the contractors or whatever. The contractors however? They're either stupid or scummy. We've had experiences with both kinds, so it's hard to tell off the bat what exactly you're dealing with.

Moving a building isn't exactly difficult, especially if it's a new one. That's always a possibility. By the way, what are steel pins set by TVA?

As far as the dogs go, mastiffs are absolutely enormous. We have a tall (28" at the shoulders) lab who is 90 lbs, and HE'S huge. I can't imagine a dog coming after me twice his size. Good job for training them as they're trained...honestly, having the dogs probably saved the hoodlums' lives. The alternative would be to shoot them. I'd imagine that a 160+ lb snarling dog would keep just about anyone at bay.

They deserve a nice long head and belly scratch :)

[cinema guy]

guess that's their Lot in life.


I'm not sure whether that deserves a :rimshot: or a :salmon:.

Tanasi it is good to hear you nailed the little blighters. Hopefully thay won't be stupid enough to try again.

[Melxb]

Moving a building isn't exactly difficult, especially if it's a new one. That's always a possibility.

It would depend on how it's built. In my state (and I don't live in Tennessee) new houses, even those on shores, is built with concrete slab. NO WAY a house like that could be moved once the foundation is poured. You'd have to demo it completely, including the slab that could go down a number of feet in the soil. Plus, all the electrical, cable, plumbing, etc, comes from the ground up. This might be an expensive demo for the them. Now, in my state, the house is the landowners unless there was a preexisting lease for use of the land. In other words, the house is Tanasi's and he can take a sledgehammer to it to demo it and the other "homeowners" could do nothing to it. The laws vary state by state.

[Jester]

Also, while Tanasi could demo it, I imagine he could also probably legally force the contractors to demo it themselves, as they built on his land without his permission. I know exactly squat about such laws, but I would imagine Tanasi would have some excellent legal recourse here, either through existing laws or a lawsuit or even the threat of a lawsuit.

[FuzzyKitten99]

Maybe I am the cynical one of this discussion, but something tells me that mommy of the kid that was hurt pretty badly might try to sue. In this day and age, the criminals seem to make out with more money given to them by courts, much more than they would have stolen outright. Essentially sending the message that what they did was perfectly ok.

Don't get me wrong, I would have done the same thing, if not worse. My husband has a nice collection of medieval swords -including a $300 ruby-encrusted, very sharp replica of Gryffindor's sword, and even a Bat'leth (sp?) replica. Any intruder would be none-too happy. Our dog on the other hand, would just lick someone to death, although he looks so much like a wolf that just him looking at someone with his ice-blue eyes might scare them off.

[protege]

Soudns like you might be having some interesting times ahead. Hopefully the kids/family will figure out that easier pickings are elsewhere before somethign seriously bad happens.

Maybe, or maybe not. I caught some idiot trying to break into my grandmother's house one night :eek: It wasn't long after her auto accident--she was in the hospital, and since no car was visible (her car was totaled, I'd put mine in the garage), the thief thought nobody was home.

Around 2am, someone tried to force the front door open :eek: Keep in mind that I was there alone, out in the country, nearest house was 1/4 mile away, etc. I had a final the next day, so I was no mood to deal with idiots at 2am. I flipped the porch light on, and saw someone run off the porch and across the yard to the highway. I was *seriously* pissed now--I grabbed the pitchfork off the other porch, and chased after the bastard :angel:

Probably not the best thing to do, but I was pissed.

[thegiraffe]

Maybe I am the cynical one of this discussion, but something tells me that mommy of the kid that was hurt pretty badly might try to sue. In this day and age, the criminals seem to make out with more money given to them by courts, much more than they would have stolen outright. Essentially sending the message that what they did was perfectly ok.

Because the other three cohorts were arrested (I'm assuming #4 wasn't because of his injuries? I'm not clear on that part), it sounds like the cops didn't really have an issue with Tanasi protecting his property. It sounds like he kinda lives out in the country, and rules are different out there. I.e. if you don't protect your stuff, no one's gonna do it for you.

Legally, because they were on HIS property (and the cops obviously saw that, seeing as how the dogs had kept them on the property), he has a right to defend it. Considering that Tanasi's brother is a lawyer (or at least it sounds like that from the OP), methinks he'll be just fine.

[Rahmota]

Maybe I am the cynical one of this discussion, but something tells me that mommy of the kid that was hurt pretty badly might try to sue. In this day and age, the criminals seem to make out with more money given to them by courts, much more than they would have stolen outright. Essentially sending the message that what they did was perfectly ok

Eh in my county which is rather rural that sort of thing doesnt usually work out. Hurting yourself in the commission of a crime doesnt sit too well with the local judges. Most of whom are long time residents of the county and community so they know that letting perps off is goign to get around and look bad for them if they dont already have the attitude still of not wanting to reward stupidity/evil.

By the way, what are steel pins set by TVA?
If they are anythign like the state survey pins that are used in Ohio think a long straight pin with a set of numbers engraved in the head that is pounded into the ground and recorded on a map grid. Based off this map grid property ownership boundaries are set and recorded in the land platte book. Say from pin 245 for 20 rods east and 20 rods north is property of joe blow blah blah blah......

And yeah if its a house with a poured slab moving it could be quite a bit problematic especially if they have much of the infrastructure in like water, septic and electric lines which are all undergroud like was mentioned...Better to either demo it or maybe if it was nice enough lay claim to it if you're into that. After all they (either the contractor or somebody) tried to lay claim to the land.

[Tanasi]

A little update:

We met with the "owners" and my surveyor convinced them that their house is on the wrong lot. Their contractor messed up and didn't read the platte map close enough. They offered to switch lots (we turned that down), they offered to buy our lot for a quarter of what it's worth (we turned that down), they offered to "sell" us their house (why would I want to buy something that technically belongs to me, so we turned them down). Their contractor had the nerve to say that we had to work something out this weekend because he's going back to work on Monday (we got the county development board chairman to put a temp stop work order on it). After a few hours of no progress I suggested they remove their structure, return the lot to "as found" and compensate us for the hardwood trees they cut. They turned that down and insisted that they are not at fault the contractor is. I told them since he's their agent he's representing them and they had to know they were on the wrong lot. My brother is going to file a suit on Wednesday if they don't agree to my terms. BTW their house had the basement walls and floor finished and the first floor trusses and sub-floor laid. I've not heard of too many basements being dug up and moved.
TG I was mistaken the state or county set the steel pins. In TN all the pins have to be is a piece of rebar with the surveyors ID cap, these pins mark the corners of the lots and are recorded on the platte maps and deeds. The concrete markers were set by TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) to mark where our ownership rights end in the water (something about reparian (sp) rights). As I understand it I/we own the river down to the origional river bank. I can't stop navigation over my water but I can stop construction on the water. Since I'm back in the cove I own to the middle of the cove. I know it's confusing I've lost sleep over trying to understand this crap.

Now to my visitors on Monday evening:
1 thru 3 were bailed out of juvi hall by their parents or guardian. I was granted a order of protection against the kids and their families they have to stay away from all my property including my wife's and my businesses (no car washes for them). They were charged with breaking and entering. #4 was released from the hospital this afternoon and couldn't get an appointment with a judge so he gets to spend the weekend in lockup.
I'm not worried about a lawsuit as we have the castle doctrine here. I could have killed these kids without worry. If they or their family/friends come back I'll turn up the pain, I learned a thing or twelve during my 25 years in the Army. If they harm or try to harm my family then they need to be afraid, very afraid. While I'm old and nearly give out, the bump in the night fears me.

#2 Daughter asked my wife how much money she has to spend on her wedding. I told her a ride to the justice of the peace and a hardy handshake.

[Rahmota]

BTW their house had the basement walls and floor finished and the first floor trusses and sub-floor laid. I've not heard of too many basements being dug up and moved.
No but I recall dad mention in basic about the DI ordering a few foxholes moved...hehehe.

But yeah that sounds like the contractor knows whats going on and doesnt wanna admit hes wrong. Stick with it and stick it to em.

I'm not worried about a lawsuit as we have the castle doctrine here. Sweet thats beautiful. Good to hear that. I wish Ohio had the Castle Doctrine for the state level. We have 'For Cause" defense which is just not quite the same at the state level. though the local judges do tend to be more lenient on people defendign themselves.

[Saydrah]

The people building on your lot are directly responsible for damages. If they feel the contractor is the one responsible, they should file suit against the contractor. That's how these things work :P They can't just abdicate responsibility directly to their contractor- they should get a lawyer and sue him, and hope to god they get a settlement fast so they can pay you off.

[sportsmom]

Glad to hear the hoodlums is being worked out, and I hope the lot issue is dealt with soon.


#2 Daughter's boy friend proposed on NYE. I'm not sure what I think about this he's a city boy and wants to be a lawyer, at least he's not a yankee.

I need another day off, I'm tired.

Did he at least ask you first? I mean, I married a damn yankee (sort of, he's from northern IN), but at least he had the sense to ask my daddy first. :lol:

[Tanasi]

Glad to hear the hoodlums is being worked out, and I hope the lot issue is dealt with soon.




Did he at least ask you first? I mean, I married a damn yankee (sort of, he's from northern IN), but at least he had the sense to ask my daddy first. :lol:

No he didn't, he specifically said that's old fashioned and he's not about that. This boy is a city boy and very much so, he doesn't have a clue where food comes from. As far as he knows it magicially appears at the store. If he'd been a damnyankee (yes it's one word) I'd balk on the whole thing.
I guess another thing that bothers me about this boy is that he's pretty, I'm talking he'd be pretty for a girl if he was one. I'm ugly, my Dad was ugly, all the men folk before me has been ugly I just can't see my darlin marrying someone so pretty. Heck if someone told me I was pretty I'd be inclined to fight.

I'll find out about the land thing tomorrow one way or another.

Those punk kids have figured out they tried messing with the wrong man. I've received three appoligizes so far and I believe they were sincere.

[ditchdj]

Like I said before: People do dumb things. And I'm not talking about paying too much for car insurance either.

[Talon]

Hang on now, so the 4 snotlings thought there was guns & money in your house, so the first place they looked was the fridge? Did they think you were trying to put a "freeze" on inflation?

I'm sure there's an equally bad joke to be told about keeping guns in the fridge as a safeguard against "cookoff", but I think I'll stop now :D

As for the land dispute, I hope the dufus contractor gets nailed hard for this blunder. Maybe someone should send him a new pair of reading glasses?

[Crazeyal]

at least he's not a yankee.
.
And.. what's wrong with Yankees??

[Rahmota]

Talon: They where looking for some cold cash.....

I've received three appoligizes so far and I believe they were sincere. More proof that taking a firm stance is a lot more effective than namby pamby stuff sometimes.

Thats great news.

I guess another thing that bothers me about this boy is that he's pretty, I'm talking he'd be pretty for a girl if he was one.

There is a joke here that I am not going to say. But have you ever tried playing deuling banjos around him?

Oh well. As long as he treats your daughter well and they love each other a few thigns can be excused. Besides if your daughter is anythign like you I'm sure he'll learn or be dealt with quite severely by her...

[Tanasi]

And.. what's wrong with Yankees??

What's good about them?:lol: Generally I have little to no problems with damnyankee folk I tire of hearing about how backwards we are (like their opinions matter.)



There is a joke here that I am not going to say. But have you ever tried playing deuling banjos around him?

Oh well. As long as he treats your daughter well and they love each other a few thigns can be excused. Besides if your daughter is anythign like you I'm sure he'll learn or be dealt with quite severely by her...

To directly answer your question Yes but what does playing bluegrass have to do with anything. While I'm not currently active I have played in a bluegrass band. This particular daughter has also played bluegrass, she plays a mandolin. How redneck are we?
He better treat her right, because I'm a vengful man and I don't give second chances where my kids are concerned.

[Rahmota]

To directly answer your question Yes but what does playing bluegrass have to do with anything.
Sorry your description of him being pretty brougt to mind the movie Deliverance with Burt Reynolds and the way some city-people seem to think anyone who lives in the country must be as inbred,stupid and dangerous as all that. As in the quote from the movie where the one guy goes "You got some might purty lips." Just a test to see if he got the reference or not and how he would react.

Also Bluegrass seems to be a city person repellant working on some of them. I know when I played bluegrass on the radio at work I had the entire washbay to myself as the other lot techs would go find somethign else to do.

While I'm not currently active I have played in a bluegrass band. This particular daughter has also played bluegrass, she plays a mandolin. How redneck are we?
Redneck is as Redneck does....But sir you and your daughter have certainly earned a few points of esteem in my eyes for just that right there. A woman who can play mandolin, quality. You're right he better behave.

He better treat her right, because I'm a vengful man and I don't give second chances where my kids are concerned.

[Immortal1982]

And.. what's wrong with Yankees??

They can't beat the Red Sox

[Rimshot!]

[Jester]

They can't beat the Red Sox

:rimshot:

Thought I'd fix that for you....

[sportsmom]

No he didn't, he specifically said that's old fashioned and he's not about that.


Well, that's a deal breaker right there. It isn't really about "permission" it's about having the respect for the woman you love's father. Enough respect to go to him as a man and say "I love your daughter and want to make her my wife and I hope you will be happy for us."

If my hubby hadn't gone to my daddy first, I would have said no.

[Saydrah]

That's definitely one tradition I don't understand. If there's one person in my life I wouldn't want having any say in my choice of a life partner, it's my father! I do love my dad, many though his odd foibles may be, but he spent my adolescence introducing me to his choices, and none of them were remotely compatible- some were in their 30s! :eek:

Also, when was the last time a woman asked a man's mother if she could marry him?

Sexist AND old fashioned, say I.

[Rahmota]

Well yeah the tradition of asking the father for permission to court the daughter is old fashioned going clear back to medevil times and all, and yes it is sexist a bit implying the daughter is property to be bartered or whatever.

But it is also a way of showing respect to the family and a way for the prospective son in law to show himself to the parents and most importantly the father as we do tend to get a bit protective (some times overly) of daughters, especially if they are the only one we have.

I didnt say anythign to my wife's father as I'd needed a shovel to have a face to face with him but I hope that the boy who dates my daughter is polite enough to show an interest in her family too and at least do more than grunt a greeting when picking her up. that might not go over too well shall we say.

So yeah sexist and old fashioned, but then again many of the human mating rituals are. And not like they make would make sense to an outside observer.

Sorry for the thread derail.

[Tanasi]

An update:

The "owners have agreed to remove their house from my land at their expense. It should be removed next week and the hole filled in. There's really nothing they do about the trees and they did cut 30+ trees. I'm going to let them off the hook on that if they left the culvert and rock on the drive way. I was talking the male "owner" and he stuck out his hand and said "no hard feelings", it shuck his hand I don't think his wife is so understanding.

The potential son-in-law came by last week to "ask my blessing" which I gave under the provisions that he never mistreat her. I also told him that was his one and only warning, I have a gun, I have hogs, and his body will never be found. I told him that he can call me by the given name and I now claim the title of "Pappaw" of their children (if any should come about). From what I understand my wife really laid down the law, she told them both there will be no messing around until they have benefit of marraige and no shacking up. I'm thinking the poor boy might be having second thoughts.

Now to my miscreants from NYE. The fourth was bonded out and promptly got it revoked by picking a 2 on 1 fight with my youngest son. The boy recruited his older brother to help him. While my son received some lumps he more than adaquatly defended himself until his oldest sister arrived to help. She took an old hog cane and wore those boys out. While #4 is back in the pokey he at least has his brother for company. Their mother said her boys had come over to discuss the problem with me but my kids jumped them. The judge said by coming over #4 violated the OOP and his bond and asked why did they sneak in from the woods instead of coming to the front door? She didn't have an answer.

[ditchdj]

That's EXACTLY why there should be a "parental responsiblity" law to prosecute and put parents in jail that refuse to control their children.

[Talon]

Their mother said her boys had come over to discuss the problem...

Ah that old routine. They came to "discuss" the problem in the language of fisticuffs. Oh no wait: they thought your kids were deaf and were using "aggressive sign-language". Or something :pigfly:

Oh wow, such big men they are to attack 2 on 1.. and still lose. But I'm glad your youngest knows how to hold is own.

[Der Cute]

Tanasi:

House removed? Cool! Are the people making a foundation/sewer/water connection on their REAL estate and scooting the house over? Or is it demo'd and rebuilt?
(I still shake my head at this big of a blunder ffs)

Possible son in law - cool. Has he crapped his pants yet from your quiet promise and Mom's promises too?

and the leetle bastages - GOOD!!!!! Bust 'em up, and throw the book at 'em! Hope the judge doesn't let them get away from all this crap.

Cutenoob

[Rahmota]

I agree with Talon about that old dodge. Agressive sign language indeed. And 2 on 1 is always the way the truely peaceful come to discus something.:rolleyes:

DitchDj: I dont agree that parental responsibility laws are the answer but thats a fratching discussion. These punks need to get their heads handed to them a few times until they get them out of their arses and figure out life is a lot less painful if they play nice with others. I mean you can do whats right because its whats right or you can do whats right because you are forced to. Ones just a lot less painful than the other.

Tanasi: Congratulations on winning a new driveway I guess. Sucks about the trees. Oh well as for the hubby and his wife in that I wonder how well that relationship is goign to be going?


And as for the potential SIL. If hes worth it he'll stick around. Once he gets over the culture shock. If the daughter that used the hog cane is the same one he's courting I'd be more worried for him than about him.:lol: