Karma.
The dictionary defines this as informally as ‘good or bad luck, resulting from one’s actions.’ Not that we actually believe in karma, but honestly, this is as good a reason as any for why the VERY DAY they begin destruction of the bowling alley across the street that suddenly, a second group of contractors should appear late afternoon, set up scaffolding ON OUR BUILDING that goes ALL THE WAY TO THE ROOF and begin DRILLING INTO THE SIDE OF THE brick wall.
No, seriously.
Fortunately, the scaffolding is actually electronic — it lifts up the side of the building, and so it’s like a wide, metallic elevator that raises and lowers in sections. T. was scowling over her work and looked up at the increased noise level to see — people — staring into the flat. Men. In orange vests and hardhats.
The scaffolding was down on the second floor for several hours, and she hadn’t realized that the buzzing was related to movement. Buzz-buzz, the scaffolding goes up — and voilá. She could have opened the windows and invited people to step onto the couches and come inside.
When one is on the fifth floor, people peering into the windows is unusual to say the least. The workers seem completely nonchalant as they stare, and T. felt distinctly weird lowering the blinds right in their faces, but… she did it anyway. And then sat down and took something for her headache. At least they lower, she kept reminding herself. It could have been worse.
Asking the universe WHY this is happening right now really isn’t going to get an answer at present, but this underscores the IMMEDIATE NEED to leave.
It feels like one must enter a hamster cage to get into the flat. The Habitrail feel is because the entire building has been encircled by a cyclone fence and there’s a little shipping container/construction office installed down at the end, so that there’s 24-hour security personnel on site at all times. The grinding, banging, screeching, beeping, clinking and clanging, punctuated by the throb of heavy machinery, is nearly constant from 7 a.m. – 3 p.m., with union breaks on the hour and an hour for lunch, and there is simply nothing else to do but to close the blinds and the windows (yes, so no breeze AND no natural light) and try to get on with things.
It’s particularly bad right now because D. has two major papers due next week and T. is deleting whole chapters of her work in progress, which is supposed to be finished by June. In the next few weeks, laptops at the library is beginning to sound like a good plan. T. is beginning to wonder idly if she should wish for rain…but has a sinking feeling that no one in Glasgow ceases working just for a little downpour.
Would it be wrong to wish the lightning to come back?
Yes, yes, whine, whine, whine. All done now. Back to work.
– D & T
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I was going to suggest the public library….but as I sit at mine this morning, there is major construction going on across the street.
If there’s construction at the library, I may come to NJ and strangle you. HUSH. We’re talking karma here. Now say it with me: there IS NO CONSTRUCTION AT THE LIBRARY.
SAY IT!!!
The construction is for the new Performing Arts Center in Princeton–it opens 1 June, so they’re pretty much at the planting stage right now. Plus, mayhaps, I will work there–teaching lessons. So, it’s all good.
What have you done if this might be KARMA???
So you receive notification of the construction that will occur next door, but you don’t receive any notification that your own building will be under construction?? Nice…
Good luck finding that new flat quickly.
ugh.
Oh no, that is dreadful! They could have at least given you a warning by letter! There goes privacy, straight out the window (whoops)!
If we’re talking karma here, I think you and D should make some tasty snacks and offer them out the window. Like a peace offering, perhaps?
What, to the gulls? I’m not feeing the smoking, sunbathing, backside-crack showing workmen.