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August 24, 2006

Noise

Monday: Quiet.

Tuesday: Arrive home around 5:00. Open the door of my apartment to hear an extremely loud, obnoxious buzzing sound. My stove timer is going off, even though I've never touched it. I give it a turn, and the noise ceases.

Wednesday: I awaken at 4:30 AM to a soft but constant hum. I think it odd that my neighbor would be blow-drying her hair at this hour, since I usually hear her shower turn on after 6:00 AM. I note that I have an hour of blissful sleep left before my alarm ruins everything and fall back asleep.

Shortly after 5:30 AM, I fumble with the bedroom doorknob, not wanting to torment my sleepy eyes with the light just yet. The door gives way and unleashes the horribly harsh jangle of the timer once again. I turn the knob over and over, but the only result that the plastic casing over the knob crumbles in my hands. The ringing continues. I cover the timer with two towels, with little noticeable difference in the decibel level.

At 8:05 AM, I phone my property management company from work and submit a maintenance request on their voice mail.

Around 5:00 PM, I arrive home to hear that the problem has not been solved. I fix dinner with clenched teeth, wondering why these things happen to me. I clean up, add a beach towel and another pillow to the top of the timer, and submit a maintenance request on my property management company's website. I then retreat to my bedroom, close the door, and go to sleep to a soft murmur.

Thursday: Wake up, BUZZ, breakfast, BUZZ, make a lunch, BUZZ, dress, BUZZ, leave for work.

Around 1:00 PM I begin to dread returning to home to the good possibility that the maintenance people have still not responded to my plea. I call the property management company, refuse to be put through to the voice mail (firm but not rude, a skill more people should learn), speak to a supervisor, and am told that the request would be put on "rush."

Less than 5 minutes after I hang up, she calls me back and tells me that they have already been by and disconnected the timer. I tell her that is just fine and thank her very much for her help. I know she probably thinks I'm nuts for practically stalking them, but it's the stupid insanely LOUD timer's fault for driving me crazy.

5:00 - I arrive home to a beautifully, peacefully quiet apartment.

Friday: Remains unknown...

Posted by Megan at August 24, 2006 07:31 PM

Comments

Fortunately the dB level at the Rock Friday night should be enough that you won't hear any background noises for a couple of days - a great way to ignore that pesky buzz!

Posted by: Pat at August 24, 2006 10:36 PM

I'm glad to hear that the buzz has been silenced. :-)

Posted by: Laura at August 25, 2006 09:54 PM

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