I sympathize with your dilemma. At least you know, however, where the noise or problem is coming from. My problem isn't so simple to define, since finding the source of the noise that I hear seems to be about as likely as proving the single shot theory of JFK's assasination. I've been renting at this apartment complex for a little over two years and have had to call the police three or four times now. Sometimes it's actually quiet, but it's been getting worse over the last couple of months. First, the two apartments across the hall from me are occupied by a woman and her son and daughter-in-law who like to conduct loud conversations up and down the stairs (we're on the third floor) with the door open. Oh, and this woman has a voice that sounds like she's speaking through an artifical voice box. It's horrible and gutteral and low pitched and screechy like a demon from a bad horror movie. Anyway, I've already complained to the landlord about them, which seemed to quiet them down for a little while, but how can you hold back the sea? But before I could relax and enjoy the respite, the neigbors directly below me decided to start playing their music loud from around 10:00 to 11:30 at night. I tried to ignore it at first, but when it continued the next night I did contact management. This time, they seemed more hesitant to do anything. In the midst of all this, there are a band of lowlifes that populate one or other of the buildings behind mine, who like to scream and talk loudly at all times of day and night outside my window, toot their horns, and bang on the door of their buildings while yelling to be let in. How their immediate neighbors can put up with this, I'll never know. Since I don't know who these people are or even their exact apartment numbers, I've been hesitant to call the landlord. I have gone outside late at night and crept around trying to identify the source of the noise, and jotted down the address of the specific building and the floor I thought it was coming from. When I called the landlord about them, the manager said he would try to get security to look into it. That doesn't seem to be working, though, since every week since then I've experienced numerous disturbances, usually two or three times a week. I've been lying in bed at midnight and had to listen to loud street talking among what sounds like a group of guys, using rough language and acting like they're in a bar. Just today, I was awakened at 4:11 a.m to the sound of music blasting from someone's apartment, followed by loud talking and cussing that went on until after 5:00 a.m. When I finally went back to sleep (I had to get up early to drive my sister to work so needed the sleep), I was awakened again at 6:40 to loud music. This is getting to be too much to handle. How am I supposed to police this whole complex when the management apparently is unwilling to do so? How, also, am I supposed to lodge a complaint when I don't know the source? And apparently, the people living near these scumbags are either too apathetic or scared to get involved (or perhaps they're friends or relatives). Does anyone out there have any suggestions? This is ruining my life! I feel totally harrassed and violated.

We buried Oscar last night as the sun was setting. We thought about his life with us and the other pets that are also buried in that area, 2 dogs, 1 cat and 3 ducks. I mentioned to Ron about planting something there as one of you suggested and I think we will plant a Lilac bush. Today I just feel kind of numb and heavy. In the midst of my grief I am dealing with a number of other problems at work and with my health. Maybe that is why Oscar's death seems all the more heavy for me now. I'm so grateful for the pictures I have of him, and all the wishes from you all. Bless you all today. I feel like your messages are really easing my burden. Thank you again. Sue

Oddly enough, I slept very well. I think it was a combination of getting up very early that morning, staying up rather late last night (because I was on edge), and the unseasonably cold temperature--"good sleeping weather." Jasdip, that's the way my Angel was. She was a Briard, the breed Thomas Jefferson brought from France to guard his sheep (or something). Angel never bit anyone, but she was extremely protective of me, and let people know she meant business. She even "spoke sharply" to my son once, when he was a young teenager. He had picked me up, and I was yelling, "Put me down!" :-) Janie, I appreciate the instructions, but I'm wondering if it's worth doing since the upper half of my front and back doors is glass. All they'd have to do is break it..... Dees, I know very well that you're not spouting nonsense, but not to worry. As I mentioned above, I used to have a close familiarity with guns. I did a lot of target shooting with a .357 (and ear protection) and various other guns. In fact, before terrorism reared its head, I used to take a rifle with me on the plane to Florida so I could target shoot with my dad. But it's been quite a while since those days, and I'm not at all sure I want to get a gun at this point. Maybe yes, maybe no. I need to give it some thought. Thanks, all!

Hope the bad weather has moved on. It stormed here earlier today and woke me up a couple times. I wasn't expecting rain today and thought I could weed eat the yard. It is overgrown, mowing company hasn't come for a month now so I've been trying to weed eat it. They kept telling me they were coming last week but never showed up. They had covid and said their quarantine was up but then spiked a fever the last time. I don't want to keep bothering them if they're sick. Weedeating with an electric weedeater is slow going as the batteries don't last long, even with 3 of them. That picture is pretty terrifying. I used to love storms and would watch them when I was younger and living in Tucson. Every summer afternoon the monsoons would come in and there'd be some beautiful lightening with them.