Johanna

I remember those days. Tap tap tap BANG tap tapThudBANG tap tap. At least Jon more or less timed it to the music. But yeah, it's hard to get used to, and you don't want your neighbors to hate you. Braiding and beading are quiet. Good idea about soundproofing, but not always practical in an apartment, I know. I can be cooking in the kitchen, and one of the kids wikk be pounding in my shop, and I cringe. Then I'm at the top of the stairs, "Your leather isn't wet enough!" or "Do NOT drop my tools on the floor!" you know the clang on the concrete sound. "Are you sure there is a poundo board under that?" (punching holes). I once lived in an apartment that had a tenant above me we nicknamed "thunderfoot". When I finally met her, I was shocked. I had expected a 400 lb. man, and here was this tiny lady who sounded like an elephant when she walked through her place.In another apartment the neighbors blasted their stereo even when they weren't home. We had the landlord enter their apartment to turn it off over Christmas one year when they were gone for a week. They said it made their dog happy, but it made the pictures on our walls rattle, not to mention our nerves. I live in an old house these days. It has lots of rooms with heavy pocket doors that are very effective at containing temperature and noise. My husband and I have 5 kids between us, and we can use the doors to strategically heat/cool or quiet an area, also to separate fueding siblings and allow people some privacy. My late husband selected what is my bedroom in this house, and at the time, I thought he had given a better room to the kids. If I am in my bed and the door is shut, I can barely hear the dog bark. Complete chaos can happen downstairs and it's just a muffled noise. The room is on the west side of the house, so no bright lights assault you if you can sleep in. If someone gets sick, they are allowed to go to my bed because it truly is a refuge from the rest of the house. The old man picked the right room! When people share a house and have to respect different schedules, it makes it very important to communicate what gets on your nerves. If your wife can't stand the tapping and banging of ordinary carving while she's trying to sleep, I guess you have to do it when she's awake or at work. Could you go to bed early and get up with her and take your three hours in the morning when she's up or at work rather than in the evening? Me, well, I miss the old man tapping, and I'd give anything to hear it again, even though it's been a long time ago and I've happily remarried. I got used to the noise, and knew he was making money, not goofing off, whenever I heard it. I learned to dye and lace so I could hear more tapping...and that's what got me into this mess to begin with. Johanna