DC Femella

I understand that living in a condo you are bound to deal with some noise from the upstairs neighbors.  For two months, I’ve had to deal with these contractors renovating the upstairs condo, after that witch of a lady left.  These new neighbors make MORE noise.  I am frustrated.  I know if I go upstairs, I am going to curse one of them out.  I have kids, and my kids barely make any noise and their feet are not so heavy.  These new people let their kids stomp and run all over the place, and I’m to the point that I am ready to scream.  I feel like I should have gotten a townhouse farther out, so I wouldn’t have to deal with this.  My mother is coming to stay with the kids for four days when I go to LA, and I know she is not going to be so nice.  I hope this letter will remedy this before she comes.

I am going to put this in the bulletin board.  Is it too bitchy?

I think we need to remember that we live in a place where we live in close proximity with other people.  Maybe the floors aren’t insulated properly or people just have heavy feet, but I am getting to the point that I am regretting that I bought this condo.  The noise is unbearable.  I hear people running and stomping above me, and I don’t know if this will ever stop.  

I understand that in a condo environment, you are going to hear noise upstairs.  However, there is a difference between the usual noise and the excessive amounts of noise that are plaguing me now.

Please be considerate of others.  The condo association doesn’t seem like they can do anything, so I have to resort to this or calling the police.  I really don’t want to waste the police’s time.  My patience is low because I already had to deal with almost two months of contractors making crazy amounts of noise, and they are now gone and still no relief.

You can sense when you or others are stomping, running, or pounding, so here a few tips to quiet down the movements you make:

1. Don’t wear shoes

2. If you or someone else is running or stomping, STOP!  

3. Consider getting a sound specialist who can give you tips on how to make your place more sound proof

I’m not trying to be malicious, but when my kids are telling me that they are scared, wake up at night, or I can barely relax or write cause I hear ridiculous amounts of noise upstairs for the past two months, it’s time for this letter.

This past Sunday I went to the National Gallery of Art to see what kind of art I want to get for my condo. I’m glad that I went because it livened up my spirits in an indescribable way. Of course I can’t afford the pieces of art there, but I can afford the prints of them. This is the list that I have come up with.

For the foyer, I want Picasso’s “Absinthe Drinker”

For the living room, I want Sargent’s “Walking in Venice”

For the reading nook, I want Picasso’s “Woman with Book”

For the main bathroom, Picasso’s “The Lesson.” It reminds me of my two children.

For my room, Sargent’s “Repose” and Matisse’s “La Coiffure”

For the dining room, Toulouse-Latrec’s “The Ambassadeurs”

I think I’ll be happier having beautiful art around me.

I have come to realize that my friend isn’t the type to back me up.  This has happened a few times where I got in a confrontation, usually do to her, and she shies away.  I am so frustrated right now.  The drama of my upstairs neighbor.

After getting back from my parents’ house on 4th of July, I arrive to see a note taped to my door.  It was from the upstairs neighbor who wanted to inform me that I had left the bathroom fan on all day, and that it was a fire hazard.  The note, being a writer, I could detect the hints of malice in between the lines.  Did this woman introduce herself to me?  No.  Did she come down the next day to introduce herself after the spiteful note?  No.  I left it at that.

The whole while I have been hearing tons of movement upstairs.  It’s nonstop.  I can sense that they have hardwood floors because I hear every creak made.  Even in the middle of the night, there are thumps, like now.  Today I was fed up.  The kids were sleeping, and I had a horrible migraine.  My friend Laura tells me to go upstairs and tell them to keep it down.  I was kind of reluctant because I know how I can get when I am in a horrible mood, so I could not handle any retaliation. Laura kept pushing and pushing, so I finally went upstairs.

The son answered.  Here I am in my pajamas, and this fool has the nerve to think I am the nurse.  After clearing that up, I let him know very nicely that I could hear everything downstairs, so if they could be mindful of it.  He seemed kind of annoyed but pretended he was ok with it.  I come downstairs and am talking to Laura, when there is a knock on the door.  Laura disappeared in a flash.  Her excuse? She had to go to the bathroom. I open the door, and this woman begins implying that I am lying.

“I’m sorry but I can hear everything that you do upstairs.”

She replies, “I have been living here for 15 years and no one has ever complained.

I get fed up.  ”My friend is here and she hears everything as well, so you will know that I am not the only one hearing this.”

“Laura! Laura!” No response.  

I have to repeat her name a few times, and she finally emerges slowly.  On top of that, she doesn’t even come to the door.  She remains in the hallway.

“Laura, can you hear the noise coming from upstairs?”

“Yes,” she says quiet as a mouse.  

I am shocked and appalled.  She was the one that had the idea of me going up there, and now she is not trying to get involved.

“You have the nerve to write me a note about the fan in my bathroom, do not introduce yourself whatsoever, and now you are upset cause I can hear everything you do upstairs?”

That stunned her for a second, but it didn’t stop her from talking.

After exchanging heated word with this rude lady, I close the door.

I’m pissed because I have to deal with such a neighbor, in my first home.  Also, Laura’s lack of backing me up.   Now I am analyzing everything and realizing that she always does that.  There was one time that this guy came up to her and then got miffed at me because I abruptly said hi, and didn’t really pay attention to him and kept talking. We started arguing, and she stayed mute as a mouse.  Even when I asked her what she thought of this rudeness, I had to keep pressing her for her to say anything.  It’s always like that.  Honestly, I do not want to be around someone who doesn’t have the guts to have my back.  If it were another friend with me, she would have backed everything that I said.

I told Laura about that, and she said I was just trying to take out my frustrations out on her.  Please, it was cause of her lack of action.

I don’t know who I am angrier with: the old lady or Laura

Warning: There are probably tons of grammatical errors.  It’s late and I am angry. 

My condo is almost done. Here are some before and after pictures of it so far. Tell me what you think.

My Condo - BEFORE and AFTER