Well, me being me, I would approach them with a smile on my face, "hey, guys, I've got a big day tomorrow, can you keep it down to a dull roar?" Most people don't realize when how loud they're being in those situations. but, I understand that a lot of people don't relish confrontation like I do. That being said, I think that the landlord's response was draconian. You've raised the profile and value of the building with your updates, and he/she will gain from that. You deserve a second chance.

when I've yelled at loud street noise, it was only from a darkened apartment and in a building where there were too many windows to easily tell where it came from.

Well, sure. But I also wouldn't have a problem with noise while I was still up and about.

Still, my favorite loud-neighbor response was my father's, after a Saturday night party next door. He just went over the next morning when he was on his way out -- at like 7am or something crazy -- and rang the bell until someone answered, and explained the situation very nicely. To a really tired, really hungover neighbor.

When my uncle was a Jr. high teacher and principal (LC, sara), that was his response on any late night noise on school trips. If they kept/woke him up - then he got them up the next morning at 5:30 or 6 when he was starting his day.

I yell. Out my window. Sometimes at people who may be dealing. I'm like that.

SHUT THE HELL UP PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO SLEEP is my cry.

Hey, msbelle, did you ever get anything from my mom? Their postal service sucks, and she wasn't sure if it'd been lost or permanently "misplaced." (Seriously, the LC/ElP postal service is under investigation cause they suck so hard.)

nothing here.

gah. I need to go to bed. I owe work a "status report" on where things are to cover my 2 days off. SERIOUSLY!

Go to sleep, blame LC postal service.

That's what I'm about to do!

That notice - would keep me from renting in the building.

I've moved directly to calling cops, but it was on multiple loud, drunken rednecks breaking stuff at at 1 am.

For the solo junkie pounding on my neighbor's door at 3am, I just grabbed a hockey stick and chased him off myself.

To our neighbors,

A few months ago, several of the residents here contributed to the renovation of the backyard area. We spent a lot of money and time cleaning and planting and making it a pleasant place to hang out.

We think maybe we all got a sense of ownership about it, and forgot to be respectful neighbors to you.

We’re very sorry for any pain we have caused those of you who work early in the morning, or simply are sick of our loud, obnoxious, and otherwise lame behavior.

We all received a weirdly Draconian notice that we are no longer allowed on the patio from the hours of 8PM to 11AM.

We’d like to ask for a compromise of sorts, and have the hours be changed to match the hours of the laundry room, between 8am and 10pm every day.

We all look forward to coming home and having dinner together, meeting our fellow neighbors, gardening together, and otherwise laughing and having a good time.

We also use the area for meditation, writing, painting, and other silent activities.

Would everyone be amenable to making the patio available to all residents for use (including talking, at a reasonable decibel level) between the hours of 8am and 10pm?

All other times would be quiet/silent.

The patio means a great deal to us, and we thank you for considering this request.

Please feel free to contact me at my email address, or slide a note under my door, to let me know if you approve, or want to discuss this further.

Allyson Beatrice Apartment 8

Allyson000@aol.com