I forgot to mention in my post that I lived in the exact apartment that my bitchy neighbor lived in when I first moved into the complex. It had no carpeting in it, only hardwood floors. Just before I signed my lease, my landlord told me there was a woman and two young children who lived upstairs. Against my better judgment, I signed a one year lease when he ASSURED me that both children go to bed early. "There's a sucker born every minute!!" Not only did they NOT go to bed early, this lady never let her kids play outside in the courtyard. It was always inside. The noise was unbearable. I literally spent 75% of my time away from my apartment till it was time to do to bed. Then she brought in her boyfriend with a pitbull that they tied out on the railing in the hallway!! I called the cops numerous times (at the advice of my landlord). They finally moved out and I moved upstairs into that apartment, thinking the problem had been solved. I swore I would never again live under anyone again. Now that I think about it, almost every single apartment I've lived in had crappy neighbors, both upstairs and downstairs. One was a drunk (downstairs) who played the same Andy Williams record over and over again. Another one was a crack dealer (downstairs) who cranked up his stereo and even went as far as knocking on my door at 2 a.m., in his bathrobe to ask to borrow sugar. I had to get a restraining order against him.

Soledad, I really hope you can work things out with your neighbor. My situation was a hopeless from the very beginning. I hope yours will get better.