The Misanthrope – miscellaneous musings

Oh, my dear fellow, the noise...and the people!
Anonymous, (A soldier describing battle conditions; variously attributed, often to a Captain Strahan at the Battle of Bastogne (1944), but almost certainly dates from Dunkirk (1940)).

Passive. I have a nice little place with a nice view, no other dwelling obstruct my scenic vista from my bedroom or living room windows. The only glitch is a noisy neighbor. No dogs, just loud a vibrating bass line. I was only in the place a month when I was awaken at 2:45 a.m. I went downstairs and knocked lightly on the door below, but soon realized the music was not coming from them. Thankfully I didn’t beat on the door demanding the music be turned down. So as the Laker basketball announcer Chick Hearn used to say, “no harm, no foul.” I walked around back and found the offending party. I asked who lived there and told him the music was a bit loud and it woke me up. He apologized, I accepted his apology, and it was no big deal.

The next week it happened again at 3:15 am, but I was able to fall back asleep. This past Wednesday the music was loud and vibrating the walls. I called the front office and left an angry message and then I got dressed and walked to their front door and rang the door bell. “Oh, no,” I heard from behind the door. I again asked for the person so lived there and I torn into him verbally. I told him I knew his entire CD from the bass line. He tried to apologize and I told him that it didn’t carry any weight since he was so inconsiderate. He said it wouldn’t happen again. I march back upstairs and left another message for the front office telling them what I had done and they could call me in four hours when my alarm goes off.

The next morning at the office, the landlord calls and tells me they will present the young partier with a letter of “lease violation.” But, they also told me I was the only one to complain. I found that rather amazing. There are three other units attached that could hear his music, but never said anything. I don’t get it. Daughter said, apartment life is different, dad. Others at work also mentioned that is normal. I am sorry, for the money I am paying each month I want quiet considerate neighbors, and if not, I want management to do something about, but I guess as Uncle Ernie told me I am just an old man.

Recent CD purchases. Little Willies – not so good
Ray Davies, "Other People’s Lives" – very good
Artic Monkeys, "Whatever People Say I am, That’s What I’m Not" – very good
Rosanne Cash, "Black Cadillac" – good
Elvis Costello, "My Flame Burns Blue" – very good
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, "Hammersmith Odeon, London '75" -- very very good (you hear why Springsteen became such a powerhouse)