Fava Beans and Chianti???

I'm not sure, but I think Sybil lives downstairs from me. OK, maybe it is not Sybil, maybe it is Eve. I saw at least two faces last night and I'm not sure I want to see the third. My downstairs neighbor introduced himself to me last night by pounding on my front door. Apparently I was playing my music a bit to loud for him. Being that no one has ever knocked on my door, other than the people I have buzzed into the building, it sort of scared the crap out of me. I opened the door and there was an older man in glasses looking like he might have been sniffing a little too many paint fumes. I'm sure he is one of the artist in the building as he has that bohemian look about him. The conversation went like this.

“That is loud.” With crazy eyes.
A little concerned, “OK”
“That is really loud.”
“OK I will turn it down.” This guy is starting to remind me of Hannibal Lector
“You know these aren’t sound studios, they are painter’s studios.”
I wanted to correct him by stating that they are actually living studios, but he seemed a little to whacko at the moment. “OK”
Then he began rambling and I just started to inch toward the pool cue rack on the wall next to the door in case I needed to defend myself.
He stormed off toward the staircase, and I shut and LOCKED my door quickly.

Now to be truthful, my music was a bit loud. Although it was not as though I haven't had it at that level many times since moving in. It could be that I added a sub and center channel to my system this week and I'm sure my sub is rattling his apartment. I turned the music down, poured a glass of wine and wondered whether the sculptures in the building, called “Cores from Ground Zero,” actually had real body parts in them. They are cool sculptures, but a little disturbing. I actually spoke with the artist one afternoon and he explained them by saying he pictured that if you went to ground zero and pulled up a chunk of the debris, then you might see this. These are pieces that have body parts, faces etc in them all stacked on top of one another. Is that my fate? Will one of these high-strung artists snap one day and decide to make me a living art piece?

I was drinking my wine and listening to my music, a little lower now, when another knock on my door. A much more civil knock this time. I opened it and there was Eve again. He looked a bit calmer, like the Thorzine had kicked in. He calmly said he wanted to apologize for his behavior earlier. That is was not me, but the culmination of all the noise from my floor. Especially my neighbors. I have two guys that live next to me that play their music so loud, that I don’t even need to turn mine on most of the time. It's lucky that I don’t mind Reggae music as that seems to be their favorite right now. Eve has apparently visited them on many occasions to tell them to turn down their music as well. I told him I understood as I also hear their music to all hours of the night. You see it doesn’t bother me as much as I can drown them out with my own tunes if necessary.

I guess this is all part of apartment living. I mean I'm really considerate of people and my surroundings, but I have not lived with neighbors in over 10 years. And since the building is filled with creative, part-time, not really successful artists, I guess I will need to curb my freedom a bit. I can’t wait until I have my first party that should really liberate some of Eve’s personalities.