Tomorrow marks the beginning of the two-week wonderfest known as the Minnesota State Fair.
When you live just six blocks from the fairgrounds, you have to deal with your more industrious neighbors who know how to make a buck when they get a chance: The Neighbors Who Sell Parking Spots in Their Front Yards.
No one really does this on my block, and the one family that does, well, they've got a fabulous corner lot to do it on. Plus, they know me, so they will never do the thing I dislike the most about living in this neighborhood during the fair: wave giant PARK HERE signs at me as I drive down the street.
The people of this Como Park neighborhood stand outside, in rain or shine, from dusk til dawn, waving their PARK HERE signs at everyone who passes by. Don't get me wrong, there is serious money to be made during the fair when you let people park on your grass. Lots of folks take time off of work to do it. It's that lucrative.
Still, I feel like every time I head out to the grocery store, I'm running the Gauntlet of Greed.
Besides, I don't NEED to PARK HERE. I LIVE here.
I know it's silly. I know I should just smile and nod, but ever since I made The Sign in 2007, I can't help but feel like I'm making my own, special, neighborhood statment:
Happy fair going, and if the wind is blowing due East, I can't wait to hear Def Leppard rocking it out from the Grandstand later this week.
mrsgeek says
I think the flowers really soften the message. Good luck!
Amy says
I love it!! Yard parking is a HUGE money maker here in Green Bay, WI. Many people pay off their property taxes each year with this. It is quite the ‘ritual’. Personally myself? It would drive me a little batty!! That is a great sign…I’ll have to pass along the idea to a couple of friends!!
Heather W says
I love and hate Fair time! My in-laws live in Falcon Heights and it’s always a challenge to maneuver our way to their house, trying to find the routes with the least traffic.
Britta Swiderski says
Haha! I always think of your when the stair comes into town. 🙂 I live in Minneapolis on the other side of campus, so I can’t imagine being in that craziness! Good luck. 🙂 Any fair secrets that I shouldn’t miss this year when I go?
Donese says
Thank you for the laugh!
Ronnie Crowley says
Love it! Maybe you can make a yard sign as well – which says something funny about your parking is not available for hire due to…….
FrancineC says
This cracked me up!
Wendy says
You really crack me up! I love this post and I really love that sign. I’m imagining the signs I could create that have “dumbass” in them and I’m laughing even more.
April Z. says
I love the sign!
laura kate says
i think of that sign every time i see any sort of yard parking event. i remember when you first shared it. it makes me smile.
jennifer Camplin says
Yeah… good one…
made me laugh.. Do what you like to do.. your home!
Christine Villacarlos says
teehee.
Karis says
I immediately thought of Green Bay, and my dad who lives a mile from Lambeau…I need to make him a sign like this 🙂
Angie Hall says
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your sign! I have GOT to make one of those!
Maureen says
You realize you could have had that iPhone yrs ago if you had hustled the parking spaces too…;-)
cathy says
Exactly! ha!
cathy says
I usually do head in the opposite direction of the fair, regardless of where I need to go. It gets crazy here, as you know! Plus, with this amazing weather rolling in, its going to be packed tomorrow.
cathy says
ha! due to… insanity? due to… i have better things to do than sit in my front yard all day? Although… the money would be good.
Tammy M. says
Love the sign…the flowers truly are a nice touch! We have the same problem here, not so much people selling spots in their yards, but more of the people just parking anywhere they can find a spot…I feel bad for those who have no driveway and other people park in front of their homes…that’s the week you see a lot of “no parking” signs go up….though I think your sign is far better 😉
cathy says
I know, I know.; )
Briana N. says
I also enjoy the flowers and pink sign- definitely excellent choices.
And can I park at your house when I go to the fair next week? 😉
Christine says
I think I might make a copy of this picture for my Project Life album. I’m a fellow neighbor who has a love/hate relationship with the Fair!
Christy Carlson says
Just wondering Cathy…do you wave your sign back at them??? or just keep it in the car with you and cackle to yourself? 🙂
cathy says
Ill never tell. ; )
But there is a lot of cackling.
Kris says
You still have “The Sign”?! Awesome! You go girl
JJ says
Perfect. Simple, to the point. And flowers. 😉
katie squires says
I just spit my drink out laughing!!!! and I don’t know what is funnier the word dumb asses or the freaking flowers!! Lord love ya 🙂
Beth R says
That settles it.
Now I know without a doubt that we really are twins seperated at birth.
That is exactly my sense of humor, so happy to see you embellished it with the flowers, kinda takes the sting out a bit.
After all even dumbasses have feelings.
LOVE it !
Susie Q says
I am going to make one tonight. I live next door to a school and blocking my driveway is the favorite pastime for the carpool line moms. I think mine will fold out nice and big so they can see it in their rear view mirror easily.
cathy says
Okay, that would be hilarious to see!
: )
mary says
I can ALWAYS count on you, Cathy, to make me LOL. Seriously. My kids want to know what the heck I’m laughing about right now.
I lived in Oshkosh, WI for a few years, and the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) happens from a Wednesday-Monday during the last week of August. We lived about 3 miles from the airport, but we had friends who made a TON letting EAA’ers park in their driveway, and then DRIVE them to the airport. I’m not kidding when I say that one of my friends’ parents made enough money for a family vacation every year! The last time they did it, the whole family went for 10 days to Hawaii…
LOVE the wicked sign. Maybe you should consider a side business: “Zielske’s Zinger signs”.
Martha S. says
Freaking hilarious sign! But do please tell us how you *really* feel… LMAO!!!!
Mariah says
Very funny, Cathy. Love your sense of humor/sarcasm…awesome.
Niki C. says
Love, Love, Love the sign! LOL!
Debbie j says
I’ve about finished my strawberry salt water taffy I bought Sunday t the Iowa State Fir. want to send me more?
cathy says
Mmmm. Taffy. : )
Julia says
that might be one of the funniest things i’ve ever seen. now i’m just trying to think of some justified reason to make my own dumbass sign…
nancyK says
I have many a fond childhood memory of barking “Park Here” to folks heading to Wisconsin Badger games…. Maybe Aidan and Cole could make a little green during the Fair?
Anyway, your sign is the dish. It reminds me of the Modern Family episode where Claire is obsessed with reckless driver and makes the sign that says “Slow Down Your Neighbors!”
Pam Abbott says
Cathy, I’m in Arizona at the Creative Escape and I am laughing so hard I might pee my pants…Each year we drive north to the Western Washington Fair and I am always in awe of the fair neighbors who choose to let people park in their lawns. I think it would be hilarious if there were tons of people with your sign in their car…
Leasa says
Make sure you do see Def Leppard – I was never a huge fan, never saw them in concert before, just rocked to them on MTV back in the day. But I really wanted to see Heart in concert, and they opened for Def Leppard here in St. Louis two weeks ago. We decided to stay for Def Leppard and it was an excellent show! Loved it!
BethJ says
I love you. I have always loved you. You.crack.me.Up!
cathy says
I saw them three or four years ago here at the fair and they were awesome! : )
cathy says
Beth, what about you? You swim too? Triathlon in your future?
Rachel says
Not sure how I missed this yesterday, but I love it! My neighbors have similar sign hanging on their door to ward off the door to door solicitors we always get…think I need to make my own, cuz according to them it actually works!
Cynthia says
Ha Love that sign:) and the little flowers are classic:) All these years living in Minn. I have still not gone to the state fair?!?!? Do they really have butter sculptures?
Emilie says
The sign is awesome and the flowers set the mood just right. I can’t imagine how loud the concerts must be from your house, we live in Roseville and can hear them plain as day. Enjoy the next 12 days!
cathy says
They really do!
cathy says
Oh, I can hear Reba McEntires band right now as I type. Ay yi yi. Love the fair.
natalie8817 says
LOVE this! 🙂
Nancy says
Love the sign! My daughter just moved to St. Paul near Hamline and she’s having her own Fair problems. She works at Target and last night her car was broken into right in the Target lot – which is also a Park and Ride location. Notice the theme here?? Fair parking seems to be a problem for everyone!
cathy says
oh man! That stinks! Sorry to hear that.
Barbara says
Lol – I love this sign. We are getting ready to head to the fair today. Thankfully we do not take advantage of those “park here” in someone’s yard. I just can’t drive on someone’s lawn. So do you hold your sign up when driving back to your home? lol – this just made me laugh today.
cathy says
Believe me, Im already dreading the driving ANYWHERE in my neighborhood! LOL! Must get sign OUT!