A Nap Helps

What a day. I was pretty groggy for most of it, but in relatively good spirits. I skipped the gym today because my knee is hurting a little and I really only wanted a nap. The nap seems to have helped a little. Hopefully I'll follow it tonight with eight hours of solid, drama-free sleep.

I've started thinking, "Maybe I should move." I don't really want to--this complex really isn't all that bad. It's clean, it's pretty well-maintained, and the majority of my neighbors are quiet, conscientious, and not a problem.

I'm not even mad about the drama that happened outside my room this morning--though I think any person who hits their partner is an asshole--I'm simply resigned to the fact that people in this apartment complex bring everything out from the privacy of their apartments into the public parts of our community. It makes it worse for all of us.

Take Apt. 230. This was the apartment of what I liked to call the Hoochie Hoochie Boom Boom music--really obnoxious rap with offensive lyrics, broadcasted at the highest possible volume through open windows and doors. Often accompanied by the apartment occupant's loud singing along. Thankfully, they have cleared out and moved on, after getting hugely offended that at least two different people called the police to complain about a noise violation.

My next-door neighbor seems to have taken the hint that I'm not the most social neighbor on the planet, and hasn't come back for more fun by knocking on my door for 10 minutes at a time.

My main complaint these days are my upstairs neighbors, who stumble around like a herd of buffalo over my head at all hours, and other people nearby who, from time to time, blast their music/TVs. I guess these buildings don't have ample enough insulation.

I do know, however, that MY music is never too loud. I've turned my iTunes up to volumes that seem a little excessive to my ears, and yet, my next door neighbor has never heard it through our shared kitchen wall. Even when my windows are wide open, I can take out the trash, walk by my apartment, and NOT hear my iTunes wailing away.

I show my neighbors respect by keeping my living sounds at low volume...all I ask is the same courtesy in return.

When I don't get that courtesy, I complain. I call the management office, or night security. I have told them, more than once, that I don't pay $995 a month to wake up in the middle of the night, or listen to loud music while I'm trying to fall asleep. I don't pay that rent to nearly have a panic attack as my heartbeat starts pumping in time to really offensive rap music.

Just like my neighbors don't pay to listen to my Keane obsession.