The other thing that you might do is get together with those folks who use the garden a lot, divide up the apartments that are near the garden, and just drop by and say "hey, I'm part of the group that was in the garden the other night. The landlord mentioned that someone had a problem with the noise. We don't know who it was, but we just wanted to apologize to everyone and say that if, in the future, you're disturbed, just let us know and we'll quiet down right away!"

NO ONE IS TO BE ON THE PATIO BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8PM and 11AM. THIS IS A COMMON AREA.

isn't that kind of an oxymoron?

Also, there is no fighting in the War Room.

I think B'more has noise codes that go into effect at 10. Not like they DO anything. And it is private property, which I don't know shit about re:actual law. My inclination would be to got for abject apology and coordinating something that would work for everyone. I mean, 11 AM? WTF? That's so freaking random, I'd suspect it was suggested by some cranky person bitching who works an odd shift. Hey, why don't we have quiet hours 24/7?!

Vortex, we certainly would have apologized.

What burns me most is that we've spent upwards of a grand renovating the patio area, and that was divided by six people.

The entire building save four (out of twenty) units uses the patio, at all hours.

I write back here at all hours. Sara meditates and has her morning tea out here at 7am.

We water the lawn after 8, because it's part of the whole LA conservation/energy shit.

I'm just angry and want to push back.

Allyson, maybe if you sent a letter to your building mates?

Something like...

"Dear fellow residents of [Allyson's address]",

Recently I celebrated receiving the proofs of m first book. I was too loud and it went too late. I'm sorry for this imposition on you. As a consequence, the landlord has imposed extremely restrictive rules about using the back yard/common area.

Would it be sufficient to limit use of the common area to 9pm to 9am? Or is there a particular time frame that works for you? I do like to use the common area for quieter pursuits (like morning coffee, or writing) and prefer that it were not off limits before 11am. Please let me know what works best for you by leaving a note at my apartment [Allyson's #] or sending an email if that's more convenient to you.

Perhaps we could find a compromise that I can forward to the landlord. Again, I apologize for inconveniencing you.

Sincerely,

Hot babe with fantastic hair."

Just run off copies and tape them to doors.

I think that's a lovely idea. Totally commie and undermining a despot landlord covering his ass (this is the dude who let your bathroom be flooded, right?) , which is a lovely idea.

What burns me most is that we've spent upwards of a grand renovating the patio area, and that was divided by six people.

OK, this makes the landlord's actions seem more arbitrary and unfair.

I have no advice on the porch situation. But others' advice sounds sane.

I do have a question: There is this quote I read somewhere

That the first thing to do is to see the big picture, the second to see the tiny detail, and the third is to have both at the same time. Alcohol helps.

Ring any bells?

It might also be that the landlord, given a few days distance from the event, might be more open to relaxing the restrictions. Perhaps the decision to impose the restrictions were made in the heat of the moment....