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why i hate my neighbor though really i have no legitimate beef, or, insomnia

So here's the thing about Drunk Girl. When she gets home at an unreasonable hour (2-5 times a week), she doesn't go out of her way to piss me off. Her floor is really squeeky (though as the third upstairs neighbor, I can verify she is the loudest walker by far), and when she turns on the music it really isn't that loud (though I can guarantee there's a little subwoofer sitting on top of my head). But the noise she is making, while irritating, isn't really something I can get all "yo, bitch, stop your messin'" because I think she should have a reasonable expectation that it is okay to Walk In Her House, whatever the hour. Her new little boytoy is totally clueless--but Drunk Girl, even when inebriated, seems to be making at least a partial effort.

That said, I am really at a loss about what to do. They came in last night/this morning at 2:58 am. I don't know about you, but that is really an hour that doesn't exist in my world. It is for sleeping. But there I was, flat on my back (the only way to sleep when your nose Isn't Running) snoozing away when the clomping began. The clomping went on for about 45 minutes, and then they went to bed. I was still laying there praying to go back to sleep well into the 4:00 hour. Once I am awake, it is next to impossible for me to get back to sleep ... ahh how I love the dread insomnia. I finally did get my peepers to stay closed, but I almost wish I'd just stayed up and done some yoga or something. When the alarm went of shortly after 6:00 am, I really really wanted to tear it out of the wall and throw it at Drunk Girl.

Instead, I listened to some music (no Wu-Tang, and not very loud) while getting ready this morning. Just enough to be irritating if one is trying to sleep right above the SoundSticks. And there is maybe a strong chance that in my rush to make the bus, I forgot to hit the stop button on iTunes. For someone who is as irritated by passive-aggressiveness as me, I am feeling awfully hopeful that she had a lot of the day to sleep today. Which will now be filled with my shuffle. Does anyone have some helpful advice on how to deal with a not-an-awful-but-really-bleeping-irritating neighbor, especially when one is insomnia prone? I really don't want to be the biddy pounding on the door telling the kids to shut the hell up. Is there something I can say to her that won't read as "my downstairs neighbor is psycho"?

Posted by amy at 8:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Tags: comment whoring, Drunk Girl, insomnia

Comments

I'm so sorry about your newish neighbor and the insomnia!
And not that it's fun advice, but I think the best thing to do would be talk to her about it, sometime in the day, when you're not understandably peeved, and can gently point out how rude her behavior is. And then if that doesn't work I think you should contact the landlord. There's nothing wrong with being viewed as a psycho in certain circumstances1

Posted by: leah | March 4, 2007 10:13 AM

I think I have come to the conclusion that you are correct. Now, I just have to be home at the same time as her when the sun is up! (Not an easy task.) Maybe I should make some rice crispies treats to soften the "you walk too loud" message.

Posted by: amy | March 5, 2007 10:46 AM

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