Construction Criticism
I have another migraine. The last one kicked my ass and this one promises to knock me out of the ring. Right now it’s a dull throbbing behind my left eye, but when that eye pops out and rolls across the floor gathering an outer layer of pet hair before wedging itself under the couch, I’m going to get really irritated. I’ve taken all manner of pharmaceuticals to no avail. You see, they’re doing construction on the building next door. It didn’t start until a few days ago but it feels as if it’s been going on since the first Bush administration. The noise is constant and deafening; 7am to 6pm, six days a week. There’s drilling, welding, hammering, sawing, lots and lots of thumping, pounding and loud crashes that have me crossing my fingers that the scaffolding has fallen and OSHA will come and shut the construction down. But no, a chorus of Ay Carumba! and Dios mio! and the pounding and drilling starts all over again.
I had planned on using this time to get some balance back in my life. The past few years have felt like the mechanical bull at the Texas State Fair. And I’ve been riding it like a horny cowgirl. Back before my Winter Break started, I dreamt of doing some writing, getting things organized for next semester, and figuring out my what nows (Ph.D. or no Ph.D?). Most of all, I was going to use this time for quiet introspection and reflection. I need to shed a lot of things and even people (but not you, Innernetz! Never you!) that have kept me running around like a one-legged soccer player. However, with the racket next door, the only balance I can focus on is the heft and weight of my camping hatchet. The workers poured new cement over the patio area this morning. I believe it will hold ten to twelve bodies as long as no one comes along and tries to smooth out the lumps.
So, I’m around Innernetz. I’m just cranky and not much fun to be with. Oh damn! There goes my left eye. I’d better chase after it before Dingo Girl decides to use it as a chew toy.
Posted on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 at 12:02 PM.
Tags: In The Neighborhood, La Vida Loca
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Comments & Trackbacks
You describe the experience of a migraine well, my friend. I cannot handle loud noises with no repetition. If it were a constant pounding that I could count on, it might fade into the back of the conscious for a bit. But construction? All kinds of scary. And I’m a jumpy one, too. I feel your pain. I feel it.
I believe what you have described warrants a psychotic episode. I used to work somewhere that things were tomblike and then out of NOWHERE there would be pounding and drilling (the pitch of which went straight for the spinal column). So, in addition to the noise there was “sudden jarring from tomblike silence”.
Hope you can keep Dingo Girl and Not a Dingo from using your popped out eyes as toys!
Ugh, that happened to me last year. I took a week off during the holidays, and they picked that time to work on my roof - AND take out my satellite TV!
I’m beginning to wonder if my headaches aren’t migraines after all because your description sounds awfully familiar.
wow that sounds absolutely horrible, but i couldn’t help but laugh given your amazing visuals. i’d suggest investing in some fabulous earplugs and some of those bose noise reducers that you can slip on.
Aw, Dingo....that sucks. I’ve never had a migraine, but I watch my 15 yr old suffer with them. It’s awful.
Why don’t you have a drink and bust out the camera and put their constructioning faces on the internetz? LOL that would be a good laugh.
Start wearing ear plugs? Go to a local cafe, order some herbal tea and take a notebook along to brainstorm about your post-degree life? Or sue the construction company for causing your health problems, get lots damages paid to you and take a trip to the Netherlands so we can chill out together. I’ve actually started applying for jobs (okay, so I applied for one) and could do with some de-stressing too.
Something tells me that, even cranky and migraine-ridden, you are still fun to be with.
Um, I think I just stepped on that eyeball. Sorry. Have you looked out the window to see if any of them are cute? Not that I would do something like that, but YOU, on the other hand....
I’ve got some contacts at OSHA. Send me the address and I’ll take care of it. In exchange, I’d like you to photoshop 30lbs off my picture. Fair?
k8 — I do think that if were a constant sound I would be able to tune it out but you are right the irregularity of it is driving me batty.
MsDarkstar — “The pitch that went straight for the spinal column” is awful! I think your office should have gotten paid time off until the construction was done.
April — What’s up with construction when some of us are trying to become zen? The universe is laughing at us.
Cupcakes and Cashmere — Earplugs are an excellent idea. I can also use them when Mr. Dingo is going through our credit card receipts and says, “You spent how much at Barnes and Noble?!”
Shelly — I didn’t get migraines until several years ago. Now, I get a couple a year. Thank god I didn’t have them as a child. I would’ve been a handful!
Talina — That would be funny! Can you imagine the surprised looks?
Marjolein — I could also use my earplugs to drown out the loud talkers that would no doubt be sitting right behind me on my flight to visit you.
Lara — I don’t think Mr. Dingo would agree.
Kori — None of them are cute but that doesn’t stop them from stopping their work to do pull-ups on the exposed beams when I step out onto the terrace. Really, do they expect me to say, “My, aren’t you a nice strong man, why don’t you come in for a drink?” Then again, if it will stop the noise…
Shania — If I photoshopped 30lbs off your picture, you’d be nothing but a toothpick. But you can send OSHA over here anyway.
I’ve never actually had a migraine before. Or a headache really, which boggles almost every person I talk to. I have had the flu though - today, actually. And the thought of an eyeball rolling across the floor gathering pet hair on the way is REALLY not helping! 
Ha.
Thanks for the blog advice. And I appreciate you saying you’d rather go skiing in VT than to freaking Orlando! THANK YOU for that!
Oh, that’s awful. I’m sorry you have another one, and so closely following the previous one? I hope you feel better soon! Mostly so you can figure out if I’m going to call you Dr. Dingo, or just continue calling you Dingo.
Hmmm headaches...irritability...eyeballs falling out of skull… You’re not turning into a zombie are you? If those people you bury in the patio cement are missing their brains, I’m going to start getting a little suspicious.
Talk about bad timing. I wish I knew of a magic cure for migraines, but I am useless. I hope you feel better soon!
Apparently they consulted your teaching schedule when they planned their construction schedule. Do you think maybe Mr. Dingo gave it to them...maybe he’s jealous of you leisurely lounging about the house while he ventures out into the cruelty of the real world?
Poor thing. __hugs__
I hear a good rinse of the eyeball under lukewarm running water (make sure the drain is plugged!) helps with the hair on the eyeball.
See...just more proof that you should come visit me in Austin...Hang in there, love!
OR maybe they can build something to help you throw lightening bolts to them with your mind. (my funny is tired)
Sorry for the migraine hell. My son has had them for years. Total b’otches. Even light hurts when he has one. Hope the construction is over very soon and that you don’t run out of headache ‘meds.’
Ugh - sorry to hear about the migraines. The eyeball thing reminds me of high school science class in which some of the boys decided to play marbles with the eyeballs from the disected frogs.
I can’t handle ongoing noise like dogs barking, construction, the bass line from my neighbor’s stereo, etc.
Hopefully you’ll be able to shake these soon.
Not to get technical but, if you were a one legged soccer player wouldn’t you technically be hopping around? And if your eye goes rolling across the floor, it will be the eye that is irritated...not just you.
Have you tried HeadOn? With commercials that annoying it has to work.
Poor Dingo! At least you still have your sweet rainboots.
Oh Dingo, that sucks :( Please don’t lose your eye, otherwise I’ll have to buy you a patch and a parrot. Aaarrgghhh.
Bummer. Should have booked a trip to someplace tropical (have you SEEN TGAW’s site lately? Sheesh!). And taken me with you, of course.
you can always come seek peace at my place, dingo! and by peace, I mean wine.
I get migraines almost weekly, and while it sucks having them so often, it’s taught me to get good use out of those pain-free moments.
I’m having one of those days where my daughter is harassing my dog and I want to kill somebody because I can’t get a moment’s peace so while I feel sorry about your eyes falling out and everything, I have my own problems.
I also have a feeling this will post as my husband. We’ll see.
See?
It did.
PROBLEMS I tell you!!!
Love, Crissy
I couldn’t remember exactly which post was about text message-abbreviations....so I’m putting the link here. It’s pretty HIGH-larious!!
http://unemployeddad.com/2009/01/14/unemployed-dad-online-scholar/