Mugsy,

I think Karen has the right idea.

I live on the second floor of an apartment complex. I lived on the first floor when I first moved in. I lived under a woman with two young children that she never let go outside. THAT was a hassle. To take care of the problem, when she moved out, I moved up into the apartment, complete with wall to wall carpeting.

Then this woman and her teenage daughter moved in. Now, I have 6 cats and work nights. This woman works days. I don't have wild parties, I go home after work at 10 p.m. and watch tv for two hours before going to sleep.

This woman has made my life hell. She has no carpeting in her apartment because of her daughter's asthma. She first started banging on the wall. That was okay cuz it let me know my cats were making a little too much noise.

Well, then they started banging on the wall at 3 in the afternoon on a weekend because my cat box lit accidentally hit the wall. Then she came up to talk to me with her smart a$$ daughter who exclaimed "I'd like to be able to sleep till at least 10 a.m. during the week!!" Well, wouldn't we all?? I have stopped talking with this woman. I won't answer my door or phone when she calls. I am through dealing with her and don't feel like I have to anymore.

I offered to give her carpeting that I had in my storage bin to cut down on the noise. My landlord gave me carpet remnants to put near the cat trees to help with the noise. He told me that we've done everything possible to help with the situation. She sent me this nasty letter saying I was getting my cats riled up just to piss her off. And she said that I play my stereo loud. The kind of music I listen to would put you to sleep (Yanni, Jim Brickman, George Winston, anyone asleep yet???) I only play it on the weekends and it's not loud or late at night.

I feel like I have to walk on air and watch tv via the lip reading method in order to please her. My landlord says he won't get involved but calls me and leaves message on my machine about her complaints. I have lived there for over 5 years. She's been there 3. And of course, it's okay that he daughter hangs out the livingroom window and yells at her friends across the street at all hours. UGH!!!! This kid also hangs out with her friends making great amounts of noise when her mother is at work in the hallway.

I would do what Karen said to do in an effort to keep the peace. My situation is just plain stupid, out of control and borders on harassment and I'm getting pretty annoyed with the whole thing. I have come to hate apartment living because of this woman. If it weren't for my cats I'd have moved out when this chick moved in.

I hope you can work things out. Good luck and keep us posted.

Donna