What Noise?

I write this blog as I experience the modern-day nightmare of apartment living: The condo converted from an apartment complex. During the 2000 - 2003 housing boom, many apartment complexes got the wise and ass-backwards idea to turn apartments into condos, sell them, make a quick profit to unsuspecting buyers who wanted to get into the housing "market", and then do nothing regarding the shoddy construction.

Well, I am here to say that those people should be locked up (preferrably in these condos they built and sold), and the key thrown away! At the least, angry owners everwhere should band together and file a class action lawsuit on them for fraudulent misconduct. When a person converts an apartment into a condo, there are certain ramifications: structure, facilities, and of course, thin walls and noise. When condos and townhomes were built in the 1970s and 1980s, other than wood frame windows which were horrible, most construction was sound and firewalls existed. Since the 1990s, builders and developers seem to have forgotten that people - humans-would live in these shacks they attempt to pass off as condos and townhouses. The walls are super thin to the point where post-coital banter aside, you can hear people in their most intimate moments, not to mention, all other bodily functions.

When the little girl upstairs from us runs from one end to the other, my planter shakes and the utencils in the drawers too! When the guy upstairs gets excited about a play the Broncos just made, not only can he and his friends hear it, but me too - a disinterested neighbor. The walls are so thin in these so-called "condos" that you can actually smell the salmon your neighbor is having for dinner and hey, left overs for lunch the next day- gee, thanks. I needed a whiff of that.

Noise does not bother some people but I think there is a certain level of peace that goes into a place that you call home. I do not have children, why should I hear yours running across the floor and their toys giggling every minute? I did not choose to cook salmon for dinner, why do I need to smell it? Some people claim it does not bother them - what noise? what smell? To these people I say... "it does not take a village ... I hate the village. The village sucks. The village is highly overrated..." Leave me in peace in a home where I share no walls or yard space. Leave me in peace, away from the village, the noise, and the smells. I prefer to create my own ... for me and no one else.

Building developers, land developers, contruction companies and you companies out there to make a quick buck off of unsuspecting people who just want to play the "housing market," SHAME ON YOU! Come live where I do - live a day in my walls and then try selling another horribly constructed condo again!

20 something girls - friend or foe?

I really enjoy and love my show, Sex and the City. I call it "my show" because most women in their 30s who were single or got married after 30 will tell you - that show is my life. I can relate to just about every episode in every season. Well, there is an episode about 20-something versus 30-something girls in the second season. I had an epiphany as we were hiking this past weekend with a 20-something couple. I realized that while 30-something girlfriends of mine stick by me no matter what, and support me even if they disagree with my viewpoint, 20-somethings are quite another story. My experience was this and of course, these are my opinions, based on my experience. Yours may be different or you may be 20-something and disagree but remember I am not generalizing for 20-somethings everywhere. My experience is that the difference between 20-somethings and 30-somethings is sticking to your guns. 20-somethings would sell out their first-born if it meant they win the favor of a boy they liked. They would change their taste in music, their favorite shows, and worse, their core beliefs. They don't seem as loyal to their girlfriends as 30-somethings. Of course, 30-somethings are demanding, have high expectations of their partner, and put their foot down as often as they put their foot in their mouth but it has been my experience that 20-somethings (esp. before the age of 28) think that they need a man to feel good about themselves whereas a 30-something is secure enough to spend a Saturday night with a bowl of popcorn on her couch, watching TV.

A 20-something not only insulted my alma mater, but also my taste in shows this past weekend - she said Sex and the City defined a generation of women who slept around and then settled for any man to just get married. I didn't have the heart to tell her that she was so hot to trot for a man that they have a co-dependent relationship. I did not have the heart to tell her that while Sex and the City is my favorite show, I did not have sex until I was 27. Needless to say, my 20-something foe was only 24 and talking marriage with a guy she had only known and dated for six months. A guy who she spent every waking and free moment with and a guy with whom she had planned her life with without so much as a promise to marry.

I started thinking as we were hiking - I had just come face to face with the 20-something foe who, while fun loving, and in all respects, a nice "friend" to have, was quite annoying to this 30-something. I have rarely had girlfriends who are disparately younger to me. The 7-year difference this past weekend was quite a big gap for me. My younger brother is older than this girl! The youngest friends I think I have had are only a year or two younger and then, I tend to have more older girlfriends. I think that is because with age and with experience, comes a certain level of maturity, a certain level of security, and a certain level of understanding.

It was a true defining moment as I was hiking and realized I was annoyed by the 20-something. I started thinking, are 20-somethings annoying like my favorite show said they are? Are they clingy and needy for attention? Do they think they are better than the 30-somethings? Well, this is just one experience so I will keep my eyes open and continue to keep an open mind to meet more ... and then compare to this one encounter. It certainly does not make a 20-something girl a foe but then again, is this promising for a friendship?