Rumble in the 'Hood: Round Two

I told you a few weeks ago about all the work and improvement we've done to our yard recently. We were feeling really good about it until yesterday. I went on a quick jog around the neighborhood and on the way inside, I checked the mail. Normal stuff: bills, junk mail, etc. Then, I saw an all-too-familiar post card. I tried to stay positive thinking, "Oh, maybe they're about to open the pool and they want to keep us updated." I mean it's totally that time of year, right?! (Um, no.) Apparently, we have an issue in our yard that the HOA feels the need to inform us of. Again.

According to the post card, "We are sure it's just an oversight, but on 5/4/2011, we noticed - tree branches should be 6-8 feet above walkways." They then thanked me for my cooperation in addressing this matter.

*And cue the Rocky theme song music*

I automatically started feeling VERY defensive. I feel as though someone just told me I was a bad mother. (I don't know what else to compare this feeling to.)

Note: This photo was taken two weeks ago and I think our trees look fine! Certainly not worth being called out.

If you know me at all, you'll KNOW why this bothers me. I'm a rule-follower. I sit in the front of the class and ask good questions. I do NOT get in trouble.

So, on one hand, I think it's really nice that the HOA exists so we don't have neighbors with 3 foot tall grass and out-of-control yards. On the other hand, I have a VERY strong urge to find out the address of "Cindy" the "HOA Compliance Coordinator" and TP her house on Friday night give her a visit to calmly discuss the issue. I've also considered giving ole Cindy a call and letting her know that we'll take care of our tree branches when she decides to open the pool.

I mean, come on. We've got Pretty Woman living next door with God knows who visiting at all hours. She also has different shades of mulch. (No that's not a naughty phrase. If it is, I don't know what it means.) She literally has two shades of mulch in her yard. She had a light, normal shade of mulch and then it looks like she started to lay BLACK mulch down but then stopped. So she literally has part black, part light brown. It looks terrible. Yet we're being called out for our tree limbs?

Cindy, you've messed with the wrong gal. I need a tan and I'm pissed (said, of course, while snapping fingers in a Z formation).