Day: January 19, 2007

I’m happy to report that Mr. Upstairs has finally achieved the next level on his favorite video game. Well, to be truthful, I’m not exactly happy to report it. It’s more like the new music accompanying this level of the game is a welcome change from the days-on-end drone of the music from the previous level. At last! Something a little different!

I can also report that he has thus far kept his New Year’s resolution to exercise daily. He’s up to 20 minutes a day on the treadmill, and has been known on occasion to break into a slow–and blessedly brief–jog. Unfortunately, the treadmill is in the second bedroom, above my studio, which is where my computer lives. Usually, I’m on the computer at about the same time the treadmill revs up. The sound of the sky falling can be a little distracting.

I still can’t figure out if he’s gainfully employed outside the house. His schedule is:

• 5am-9am News television (I’ve yet to hear him watch anything but CNN or C-SPAN)
• 9am-2pm All’s quiet (he either leaves or sleeps)
• 2pm-6pm AM talk radio (o ick, and it’s ridiculously loud)
• 7pm-8pm Plays electronic keyboard (currently he’s fond of faux harpsichord ditties)
• 8pm-9pm Exercises (including the aforementioned treadmilling, but also something involving jumping up and down on the living room floor)
• 9pm-4am Video Game-O-Rama bay-BEE!1!!!

So, you can see why I’m perplexed. Either he doesn’t sleep, or he doesn’t work. Either way, it’s only for five hours, and that ain’t natural!

Another thing that perplexes me is that I’ve come to the conclusion that there is no carpet in his apartment. At least, not in the living room and dining room. I not only hear his footsteps loud and clear, but when he wears shoes, I can hear them clattering on an obviously bare floor. The lack of carpet surely contributes to the conduction of noise to my apartment. In fact, it seems to amplify it. (Addendum: I asked my across-the-hall neighbor, who works for the property management company, and she said there is carpet upstairs. Very odd.)

Photos: Duck in Birdbath [This Mr. Upstairs Update has nothing whatsoever to do with ducks.]