The girl who lives next door leaves her radio blasting when she leaves the house. I have noticed it every day this week, blasting away when I get home from work. She comes home late, usually between 11:30 and midnight and shuts it off within minutes. I wonder why she does it because it is so annoying.

In case you are not aware, for the past 8 months I have been living in a rundown bachelor pad in a not-so-friendly part of town. When the radio next door is not blaring, I can expect the guy across the way to be practicing his electric guitar, or the people downstairs to be maxing out the volume on the new surround sound stereo system.

It all makes me wonder how people can have so little respect for those around them? Despite all this noise I keep my TV and music at the lowest level possible because I do not want to disturb others. It seems comical to me that I would extend this courtesy when clearly the feeling is not mutual.

I guess I will appreciate all the more the peace and solitude I will experience when my life finally does settle down. Until then, I will savor my escape weekends in Vancouver, where Joan’s place is generally blissfully quiet.