In the Middle of the Storm

What is so pleasing about a thunderstorm? I am enjoying the heck out of this one -- the garden door is open, thunder is crashing and there's that ozone (?) smell in the air. Of course, I'm happy that this means I don't have to water, but there's something about a summer storm that I find so pleasing.

More on Neighbors

I'd say I've been fairly lucky over the years to have considerate neighbors. I understand the reality of urban life, that we are all going to hear each other at some point. (As an aside, I always chuckle when I'm reading consumer hotel reviews and people complain about being able to hear footsteps above them or the TV from the next room.)

I believe some new people have moved into the apartment that has the garden next to mine. Last night, they were having a cookout -- probably no more than eight people, but they were so loud, communicating by yelling, like excited yelling, each trying to outyell the other that I finally went out there around 8:30 pm to ask them if they could hold it down just a bit. What prompted it is that I had my TV up to the highest volume and literally could not hear it.

I was shouting at the top of my lungs and they didn't hear or notice me... finally one guy did, never apologized, but shushed everyone temporarily which I knew would not last. The noise eventually built itself back up, and then around 11 pm, they start playing music on top of it. Yelling and loud music. I asked again and nothing, no response. I really considered calling the police but didn't.

So eventually around midnight, I closed the garden door and turned on the air conditioner which I didn't want to do, but it was my only choice to block the sound.

I kept thinking that I don't believe we were ever that rude when we were younger -- these were guys in their early 20s, but they were truly oblivious to the noise they made.

I may have told this story before, but when I lived on York Avenue, there was a party going on that shook the building, it was so loud. When I got up Sunday morning to go get the newspapers, it was stone silent in the building and I rarely, rarely do something like this, but I laid into their buzzer. Then I saw a popsicle stick on the floor, and I was able to wedge the popsicle stick into the buzzer so it was endless buzzing and happily walked out to get the papers and bagels. By the time I got back, the stick was gone, but I felt as if I had anonymously made my point, and it gave me great pleasure.

Justice!

I've been stewing all day about something Mary told me this morning. Seems as if someone has been stealing her newspaper before she can get it. How she knows it's stolen and not just undelivered is that the thief has the balls to leave the plastic bag it comes in and just leaves the bag like trash in Mary's yard. Mary is determined to catch the guy -- am glad she doesn't have a gun.

Dr. Phil always says, "What do you have to tell yourself to make this ok?" We know this thief isn't a complete idiot if he/she wants a newspaper, so it's not like someone is stealing food and you could at least tell yourself a person is hungry. I really would like to know what that person's thought process is.

I told Mary I'd keep a paper and pen by the door to write down the thief's driver's license and call the police. Mary thinks it may be a commuter who parks in her neighborhood and then takes the subway. I hope Mary catches the guy.

In the meantime, I am increasingly grateful for the video capabilities of smartphones. Saw a local news report about a Parks Dept employee who works at a certain NYC beach and is a horrid, mean guy. He runs his 4-wheeler over people's blankets, curses at people, yells at them... and finally someone filmed him and his behavior and posted it to YouTube.

The news guy interviewed people on the beach who all had had run ins with this guy -- and you know that over the years people complained and it fell on deaf ears or "yes, yes, we'll look into it but all our employees are trained to be respectful blah blah blah" -- well, here's the evidence and they could no longer deny it. He's now been suspended-- at least for this weekend, and I really do love the value of these videos to make a case.

What I Read, What I'm Reading Now

Finished the book below which I didn't really enjoy that much. It takes place in England during World War I and it features a married couple where the man goes off to war and the woman stays home to manage the farm and they exchange letters, each one creating the impression that all is well when it wasn't.

And now I'm a few chapters into the Orphan Train which comes to me highly recommended by several people. This is a novel based on actual historical events where orphans were put on trains in New York and sent West where people could claim a kid and take them into their home. Of course, the children's experience differed from kind, loving homes to being treated like a servant. This is a New York Times Best Seller and it seems every "reader" I talk to asks me if I've read it.

First a bit of reality:

 

And here's the novel:

 

 

 

 

As a side note, the Children's Aid Society -- or where it used to be -- is about three blocks from where I live. I see the old sign embedded in the building, but I don't know what the building is used for now.

God, do I love a bargain!

Whether by necessity or desire, I really do enjoy shopping for the best price. In my work, I have for years kept a spiral notebook on my desk for notes, phone numbers, etc. I saw an ad on TV for Staples where spiral notebooks were on sale for 17 cents. Marilyn was here today and I asked her to buy ten notebooks, if the price was really 17 cents.

As it was, the price was 17 cents, but the limit was six, but the clerk let her ring it up in two separate orders -- so I got 10 spiral notebooks for under two dollars, and I keep admiring the receipts!

What I'm Reading

 

 

This is a weird one, even for me. This is a non-fiction book about the man who devised the Beaufort Scale of wind strengths. I confess that the first time I saw this scale (1 to 10 with examples and speeds) was in Girl Scouts and I was fascinated by it. I had picked up this book, then forgot about it, until this week when I was going through all my books. So far, I'm enjoying it.

Weird, Expensive Day

When my buzzer rang today, I was surprised that my slipcover had already arrived. Got to the front door and was unable to open it as the deadbolt lock appeared broken. The lock would turn, but the door wouldn't open. I jiggled and jiggle and finally the door opened. In the meantime I had asked the delivery guy, through the door, to just leave the box.

Closed the door and tried it again with no luck. After about five minutes of jiggling, I could open the door. It worried me that I couldn't get out in case of fire and put procrastination aside and called a locksmith. I found one on line, who had wonderful Yelp reviews and was a few blocks away.

Called them, the guy shows up about 15 minutes later and he was a good guy. He told me I was right to call right away and I said I was afraid of fire and he said that the lock would only get worse and had I waited the bill could be as high at $800 since I have no-drill locks.

I liked this guy; he really did seem honest and after my Yelp discount, my pay cash discount, the bill was $210 and I have a brand new deadbolt, but still the same keys.

I was not expecting to spend $210 today and hate how cash just slips out of your hand this way but am grateful to have it to spend.