Paul Goldfinger, editor. (Quality of Life Department @Blogfinger)
We had posted a piece called “There’s Always Something” early in June. It was about a Grover who had a dilemma regarding what to do about noisy neighbors. Link to \”There\’s Always Something\” on June 3, 2011 There were 22 comments.
Now we received another comment for that article from a couple who are visiting in the Grove. The writer is using a pseudonym, but her complaint is interesting as we are hearing from the flip side, and her comment would be lost to view if it lands on that June post, so here it is:
“My hubby and I came down to Ocean Grove to visit my sister-in-law and her family. I’d like to say that everyone here is so warm and friendly, but after today I doubt we will ever come back here to visit. My husband is a professional bagpiper who played some wonderful sets late this morning out in a public park well away from everyone. While nearly everyone who passed by thoroughly enjoyed his music, there was one person who didn’t care for bagpipes and complained. Our two little dogs barked at 7:30 a.m. to go outside. A cranky old man across the way was very nasty to us complaining about the noise. I did apologize but feel very offended because we both are over 50, are not loud obnoxious people one bit, yet we’ve been treated like the “Snookie” crew.
These folks need to know when and where a REAL noise complaint should be made. We’ve been listening to organ music all day long since we arrived and that doesn’t seem to be a nuisance to anyone. I feel sorry for old crabby intolerant people who need something to complain about.”
Editor’s note: Oy vey—anybody have a suggestion?
When I first moved into the Grove on Memorial Day 1993, my neighbor in the apartment next door, who had three young sons, was great. You never heard a peep out of them – until Sunday mornings, when, for some reason, she played a popular song at the time, Color Me Badd’s “I Want to Sex You Up,” over and over and over for hours on a record player on our shared porch at a volume just loud enough to filter through the open porch door and windows starting at about 8 am. (I have no idea why.) If asked, she would turn it down for a few minutes and then turn it back up. Since our building’s electrical system couldn’t handle AC units at that time, we finally ended up closing the porch door and windows early in the morning on Sundays and putting fans in all the windows on the west side of the apartment to dilute the noise.
Dog barking is an issue for apartment dwellers everywhere on this earth. When my parents used to bring their three to visit us at my place, my dad would set his alarm for about 45 minutes before they normally went out in the morning and kept the leashes on a rack of hooks so he could just stand them underneath them to get them clipped to their collars with minimum fuss, and gave them each a Milkbone as they went into the hallway so they wouldn’t bark when they went down the steps. Our dogs were Popsicle eaters, so if we were going out without them, he would crush up a Popsicle sans stick in a bowl for each of them and be the last one out the door when we left, putting the bowls down as he headed toward the door. When we got home, particularly if it was late, he would open the door and throw Milkbones on the floor before it was all the way open, and then get their leashes on them and give them more Milkbones on the way down the steps. (Yeah, they were spoiled, but they were at the Shore, too – why shouldn’t they get some treats?)
Some people have resorted to muzzles to keep their dogs from barking while visiting, but I’m not in favor of that unless you have a nervous dog who tries to bite or nip other people or dogs when you’re walking them.
As much as I love bagpipes, they give me horrible PTSD and anxiety attacks from 9/11 and the days after, but the music is so beautiful, and Ocean Grove is very lucky that your husband chose our town in which to practice. He brought even ore joyful magic to a place that is already amazing.
I hope you come back and visit. Think about your dogs’ behavior and what tricks and tactics you can use to minimize their barking. Once you find the figurative currency that unlocks your dogs’ best apartment behavior, they’ll start associating the smells of the Grove with an understanding of what they’re expected to do and look forward to receiving their vacation goodies.
Good luck and please come back to visit, bagpipes and dogs in tow!
I’m the original “Anonymous” who complained about Snookie and Company. I felt bad that my original post stirred up some controversy about loud music from Asbury Park and people having summer fun in the evening. That’s all a great part of living in a shore town. I enjoyed the fact that my ex-neighbor used to practice his bag pipes on his porch. Ironically, the only complaints came from howling dogs!
My gripe is with noisey, oblivious weekenders who yell and slam doors from 1 a.m. and beyond. Last weekend, the police left my block at 3 a.m. after breaking up a houseful of potty mouthed teenagers. I certainly don’t want to spoil anyone’s fun, but 3 a.m.?? C’mon!
Bagpipes are always love/hate. I suggest you leave them home next time. I think you know which side I am on. No offense.
Welcome to Ocean Grove, get used to it. Everyone complains about everything and if nothing is done, everyone knows the chief/mayor/governor/president
Don’t deprive the rest of us Ocean Grovers the opportunity to hear a good piper because of a pair of cranks. I’d welcome him to do his thing on BROADWAY next time. Nothing but dog lovers down here where the grass median is the most popular dog place in town.
I don’t know where your husband did his practicing the other morning but all our neighbors thoroughly enjoyed it.Just another thing that makes Ocean Grove Ocean Grove As for the “cranky old man”-he probably was just that-a cranky old man. I may sound a bit like Ann Landers, but aren’t you a bit sensitive? OG has lots of noise all the time and we seem to get by. Don’t measure all of us by those two. Come back again and enjoy all the wonderful folks that don’t complain.
Don’t let one crabby patty spoil the wonderful side of Ocean Grove, the people, the dogs who are welcomed everywhere, the numerous activities that are offered, the eclectic shops….need I continue. Some folks may be fortunate enough to live and enjoy the Grove year round, others may come and go during the season, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t learn to share. Even young children are taught how to play nice with others in the sandbox.
Also remember a cranky old man will always find fault, even in the best of times. Enjoy your stay….& give him a big smile when you next offend him….he won’t know what to do…..
I heard the bagpipes. It wasn’t late morning, I think they started around 9-9:30am. But I loved them! I hope your husband continues to play in the park. Don’t let one turkey get you down.
As for your other issue, we live so physically close together in Ocean Grove, barking dogs @ 7:30am is going to tick people off. And I’m a dog owner. I live in an apartment building and go out of my way to make sure my pups be quiet as to not disturb the other tenants. But that’s just me.
Ear plugs?