Musical Xmas Lights
Just spent the day putting up our xmas decorations for our first holiday in our new digs. Our neighbors – been here 10 years – also put theirs up today, and outdid us, to say the least. Unfortunately, it turns out that they have not only lit up the night (great by me), but are…
Just spent the day putting up our xmas decorations for our first holiday in our new digs. Our neighbors – been here 10 years – also put theirs up today, and outdid us, to say the least. Unfortunately, it turns out that they have not only lit up the night (great by me), but are using those sound-chip driven musical lights. Our bedroom is about eight feet from the nearest relentless 8-bit loop of ‘jingle bells.’ Windows down, storms in, yes, you hear it.
Now, the last thing I want to be is grinchy, but the chiptunes are really awful. And yet we’re the neophytes in the hood and I don’t want – after 2 days of decorations – to necessarily ask them to squelch their cheery (to them) tradition.
I get that we can talk – but I’d like to solicit some opinions on tact and etiquette here. Or is their another way to live through this?
Nobody from NY uses such cutesy expressions. Ask Santa to help you get over yourself.
‘Would it be possible for you to go back to whatever town you grew up in so the big bad Santa couldn’t torment you anymore?’
Posted by: transittillie at December 15, 2009 2:49 PM
I am back in that town. Welcome, by the way.
Italiana71 – I like that story, it’s just the kind of thing that’s nice to hear. Intelligent ways of living civilly together.
‘you dont own an oven? :(‘
After renovating we flat ran out of energy to make decisions. That was in June, when we didn’t really need one. Now it’s going to be our New Year’s present to ourselves… Soon, cookies for everyone.
Before I had children and didn’t know any better, I used to vacuum my apt between 8:30 and 9:00pm about once or twice a week. I didn’t realize at that point that young children went to be around 7:30 – 8:00 and their weary parents get to bed around 9:30 or so. (what did I know at the time; now my weary butt is in bed at about 9:30 every night) So my donwstairs neighbor ran into me into the hall and we made small talk and then he said “My wife is impressed with your cleaning prowess; she’d never be able to stay up that late to clean.” I took it as a complement and then 5 minutes later it hit me. It was his way of saying, “we go to bed early and your vacuuming is waking us up.” I never vacuumed again past 7:00 pm.
So maybe you could come up with a clever way of letting him know without actually saying it.
you dont own an oven? 🙁
*rob*
WHY URBAN METAL ISN’T PRECIOUS -Blair Sorrel, Founder, http://www.StreetZaps. com
Of course, you want a worry-free walk year-round, so adopt this simple strategy:
EYEBALL THE BLOCK, AVOID A SHOCK.
Take just a few seconds to survey the immediate surroundings and make your trajectory toward a non-conductive surface, ie., plastic, wood, cardboard, rather than risking any metal or electrical fixture. The lowly, free-standing garbage bag, is you and your dog’s best friend, most of the time, unless it’s snowed and salted. Consider the safer, hardware-free RopeNGo leash and harness to help shield against a possible zapping and for greater peace of mind.
CONTACT VOLTAGE IS, INDEED, A BITCH.
Your pooch’s sex is irrelevant. True, the most gruesome scenario is that of a male dog electrocuted by its ricocheting urine, but contact voltage is just that, mere interaction with an energized surface. Our poster girl pooch sidled a fire hydrant and limped for five days. Intuit your dog’s cues, if resistant to an area, choose an alternative route. Elude potentially live work areas or carry your canine, if necessary. Opt for indoor products such as The Pet Loo, Hammacher Schlemmer’s Indoor Restroom, or Wee-Wee Pads, if external conditions are ominous. Dog booties can leak and make your pooch even more vulnerable.
ARE YOU PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE WITH YOUR DOG?
Any of these fixtures might be dangerous, so again, choose non-conductive where and when possible. (link to home page fixtures listed below and/or the visuals page):
View All Home Page & Safety Images
– Street & Traffic Lights can leak if damaged internally, even if the compartment is fully closed and the light is not illuminated
– While wooden blocks anchor Scaffolding or Sidewalk Sheds, be aware that sloppy wiring by a contractor and/or the use of lighting equipment which is NOT WATER-PROOFED or even suitable for outdoor usage, may still shock a passerby.
– ATM Vestibules
– Decorative Lighting
– Dog Booties may increase the risk of a shock
– Electrical Boxes
– Fire Hydrants
– Fire Police Call Boxes
– Manhole Covers
– Muni Meters
– Phone Booths
– Service Boxes
– Street Light Boxes
– Traffic Boxes
– Work Areas
After all, why chance it when there’s a choice?
BETWEEN YOU, ME, AND THE LAMPPOST.
Tampered equipment can become pernicious so please map damaged fixtures and known hot spots to admonish other pedestrians and alert the utility and transportation department.
(Utilize StreetZaps’ Report Form, thank you).
Would it be possible for you to go back to whatever town you grew up in so the big bad Santa couldn’t torment you anymore?
Put it in perspective? If we lived by that kind of war and terror perspective this blog would not even exist!
No, that is just silly.
Talk to them. Call them. Leave that sound in a message on their voicemail… but only if you have to…
“Just a suggestion….put it in perspective. Think of the men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan, or in the local Veteran’s hospitals, or the kids who will spend Christmas in children’s hospitals. Come on, be a grownup.”
You forgot to mention 9-11. Or did Giuliani trademark that sucker?
So far so good. Yes, we’re grownups, and we talk to our neighbors about things. We have no oven to bake goodies, but we will be giving something nice out- The dynamic of us as the newcomers and them as the been-here-a-while neighbors was what I was curious to hear some thoughts about. Let’s say you were the neighbors who have been there a while – how would you appreciate being approached about this kind of thing, and what would you find irritating?
And Iraq and Afghanistan? I don’t think being a grownup requires us to live in a philosophical netherworld, the end result of which would be to constantly be thankful that we aren’t being incinerated in the center of the Sun. I’m very thankful that I don’t live in 13th century Kazakhstan; that doesn’t mean I’m immune to being annoyed by 8-bit Here Comes Santa Claus.