Archive for December 5th, 2001

Hey Scott!

Wednesday, December 5th, 2001

Dear Scott,

Hey there. Great hearing from you after, what is it, about 31 years? :) [Your sister] said you were in Philly and then when she told me that you lived on Red Lion Road, my jaw hit the floor. And then when she said that you live in the xxx block, my whole body hit the floor, :) , because you’re only a couple blocks from me. I’m at xxx Red Lion, just west of Bustleton Ave.

Unfortunately, I’m leaving this apartment in a couple weeks. Moving back to Altoona. I have some noisy neighbors living above me here, that make peaceful and quiet enjoyment of these premises impossible.

I’ll be heading for home on December 16th. However, I plan on spending a week or two a month in Philly – I still love this city very much. I’m renting a room from friends out near the 69th Street terminal. My plan is to return to Philly, once I have enough saved up to buy a nice, single home, one that is not attached to anyone else’s home in any way, shape, or form.

Now then, to the business at hand. If you’d like to get together between now and December 16th, I’d like that. I’ll be away between tomorrow and Sunday, but should be around all other days through next Friday.

I’ll give you a call, early next week.

 

Tom Hesley

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Are Top Floor Apartments Quieter?

Wednesday, December 5th, 2001

Dear Dean,

Yes, a top floor apartment would indeed help in some situations. However, when I lived in Frankford (Philadelphia, The Near Northeast), I lived in such a top-floor place. And I only shared one wall out of four with another apartment. Still was lousy. In fact, the noise was why I left THAT place, and came to THIS one. Now I have the same problem again. :-)

I have both yours and Earl’s numbers in my database, and will use them next time I’m in Dayton. Not sure when that will be, but will definitely keep you posted as to my travel plans.

Your residence sounds spectacular. Yes, I’ve been a saver for the last 10 years. Hopefully within the next few years, I’ll be able to afford my dream house. I’ve been looking into today’s mobile homes. Some of them are quite impressive and aren’t very expensive at all. Since I don’t drive, I don’t need a garage for a car, although it would be nice for storage of old computers, records, and such.

Later.

 

Tom Hesley

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Noisy Neighbors Again

Wednesday, December 5th, 2001

Dear Dean,

Well, I’ve promised myself that I will never live in an apartment again in order to avoid   noisy neighbors. Hopefully I’ll remain as healthy as I have been for a long time, and can build a big enough nest egg to guarantee never having to live in a close-quarters apartment again.

As the drunks ruined your condo experience in Florida, so too, my noisy neighbors ruined my experience here. An otherwise beautiful apartment (this one) cannot be appreciated due to their racket. I’ve written them letters, talked to them, and had the landlord chat with them twice. However, nothing helped.

When I’m out and about, and I’m walking into the parking lot for this apartment, and I look up and see that the lights are on in the apartment above me, I’m filled with a sense of dread. It’s like, “Oh God, what noise am I going to have to deal with tonight?” That is certainly no way to live.

In all fairness however, I have to say that it’s not ENTIRELY their fault even though these noisy neighbors bear most of it. This building wasn’t constructed very well and the walls and ceiling, though made of concrete, aren’t soundproof at all. I can hear every word they say up there, when I’m in my bedroom, even when they’re obviously talking rather quietly. I must run a fan in there at night, to block the extraneous noise so I can sleep. Thus, I believe that the landlord bears some responsibility here.

That’s probably why they decided not to fight me when I told them I wanted out of my lease. They’ve no doubt profited immensely over the past 20 years from this cheaply constructed building, unfortunately, at the expense of the tenants who have lived here. But I didn’t have to use that argument. They were quite gracious and, apparently, understanding of my situation.

Needless to say, I cannot wait to get out of here and away from these noisy neighbors, although I do regret having to leave Philly for a second time. I love it here in the big city. But I just haven’t had much luck with the apartments I’ve chosen.  They were either too expensive, or too noisy.

Later.

Tom Hesley

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