This morning at 1:00am a scream from my husband split the dark Florida night.

We were sound asleep until the people at Blue House suddenly sent our home shaking with their stereo… Arthur lept from the bed and I could almost see the smoke drifting in his wake as he made tracks outside.

Then over the music I hear “MERRY %@#$% CHRISTMAS!!!” followed by something garbled as he became incoherent.

I’m sure the neighborhood children and their parents appreciated that.

Nothing happened; they hadn’t heard his rantings… we meandered around the house for awhile, awaiting the silence. It finally came and we could go back to bed.
I told him “At least you got your blood flowing”.

Fast forward to this morning, when once again our little cbs house shook. The floor vibrated under my feet. I couldn’t hear the t.v., even turned up all the way.

I confess, I broke. Lost it. Started shaking, couldn’t stop. I’m so mild mannered, when that happens it scares me… I went out the door anyway, bra-less, pumpkin pie still warm in my mouth.

I was standing on my side of the chain link fence, screaming and waving my arms in the face of the biggest speakers I’ve seen in a home setting, sitting 6 feet from my home and shaking the foundation of same.

At this point my temper became more inflamed because the words of the rap songs were totally inapropriate. I - as well as the many children in their house- did not need to hear about bitches, ho’s, killing, etc…

Two doorways stood open, and I could see people looking out at the crazy white lady. Yes, I live in a predominately black neighborhood; I can say things like “crazy white lady”, thank you.

First two children came to the door, but obviously knew they hadn’t the resources to handle me, still screaming as I was. Though it was simply “please turn your music down” they may not have been able to hear me.
A woman came to the door, but turned away.
A young man came to the second doorway, then another. They both went back in.
By that time I was screaming louder. Another woman came to the door and I gave it my all: “PLEASE! I can’t hear my t.v.! My entire home is SHAKING! Please turn your music down!”
She responded with “Okay, okay!” as if I was troubling her over nothing.

The music went down to a dull roar. I still can’t - at 6:00pm - hear my own television over that crap.

I understand that they are from somewhere else. I understand that they are having a ‘celebration’ of sorts. But if that shit isn’t turned off at 10:00pm I’m calling the cops, and calling them every time someone farts over there from now on. I’ve had it.
Respect is a two way street; mine for them has been used up.

The funny part of the entire mess was when I got back in the house from screaming my lungs out, Arthur was laughing. Laughing!! I asked what was so funny, and he just pointed to the clock.
It was 1:00pm, exactly 12 hours after he had lost his temper.

I’m taking suggestions for dealing with these people. I mean, I could turn my car alarm on but that would only succeed in pissing off the rest of the neighbors…