Evil Old Bitch Neighbor Strikes Again!

[XCashier]

I'd suggest speaking to the landlord about her harrassment before you talk to her. Hubby and I had a similar situation when we were first married; cranky old woman living below us pitched a conniption over every noise we made. One day I had enough, and told her I was tired of her constant bitching about everything. She then told all of our neighbors and landlord that I had called her a bitch.

Fortunately, our landlord and other neighbors were willing to hear my side of the story and it got ironed out eventually. But I would still contact the landlord before talking to her, in case she decides to escalate it and make you look like the Evil Villain tormenting the Poor Defenseless Little Old Lady.

[blas]

Edited because I just thought of something....

I just complained about Sheriff a few months ago. I really think if I go running to the landlord, I will look like the serial complainer.....perhaps it would be better if she went ahead and went yelling about the noise?

It's just a matter of bad time that just months ago, I was complaining that Sheriff was harrassing me. I certainly don't want the label of annoying bitch who can't be pleased just as much as I don't want the Disrespectful to my elderly neighbor label.

[Slytovhand]

Hmmm - I've got the 'never stops complaining' label at work

You know the problem with that? You're right! We have a bad tendency to be right about things, and we do the complaining to people who don't really care... so we get 'labelled'

So - what do you do?

Best thing, I'd suggest - be true to yourself, and stuff everyone else!

[taxguykarl]

I certainly don't want the label of annoying bitch who can't be pleased just as much as I don't want the Disrespectful to my elderly neighbor label.

Don't be concerned about that label. Respect is a two-way street. How has she shown any respect for you?

[blas]

You do have a very good point.

And as much as I'd like to approach it the way XCashier had to approach her angry ex neighbor, sometimes there is no way to stand up to an elderly person without appearing to be an angry loud obnoxious child.

Perhaps if she comes up with something else to whine about (which shouldn't take long...I'm sure I might drop something on the floor one of these days or knock a shampoo bottle into the tub when I'm showering), perhaps I could approach it this way:

"I'm really sorry you feel that I'm so loud and disrespectful to your right to quiet and comfort. Having said that, you should spend a day in my shoes and listen to yourself some morning or afternoon.....some days, it's a real struggle trying to sleep or even just relax before going to bed, hearing you slamming your doors and cupboards. I can hear it all the way upstairs. But instead of getting in your face about it, I just deal with it. Because I feel that I DO go out of my way, sometimes too far out of my way, to do the best I can to not disturb all of you guys at night, but with the shift that I work and the little free time I get, I simply cannot quit having guests over or feel like I need to leave here and go somewhere else at night simply because you think that my boyfriend and I are too loud and you seem to think that I treat this apartment like a party place, which I do NOT do."

If anything else, if she does complain, I will just bring up all of the past incidents with her, hopefully proving that she goes out of her way to find any small noise to complain about and that she probably should not be living downstairs...or in an apartment period if she can't handle the smallest noises......and I could also bring up how all the downstairs elderly neighbors let their guests park in the handicapped and tenant parking spots while I obey the rules and make my friends park on the street...and that I never have more than 1 or 2 people over at a time, only a couple of days a week, and they always have people over, every day.

[Slytovhand]

Good idea Blas.. but be prepared to have it thrown back in your face somehow... which only means 'be prepared'... have your comebacks prepared.

She will get defensive, and will probably start throwing crap (ie - hissy fit)... if you know it's coming, know that you can stay cool, calm and collected - and make her look like a child (which might be worth mentioning at the time )

[Jester]

sometimes there is no way to stand up to an elderly person without appearing to be an angry loud obnoxious child.

When that elderly person is being a hypocritical cranky fucking bitch, I don't see a problem with it, and who cares what other people think about how you may or may not appear?

perhaps I could approach it this way:

Perhaps you could approach it that way. But honestly, that sounds as much like you are apologizing to her as anything else. Frankly, I am in the "get in her face the next time she gets in yours" camp.

Fuck her. The cunt.

Shit, now you have me wanting to come to the Midwest just to tell her to take a flying fucking leap. (And to check out the bikini contest as well, of course.)