"The city is alive, the city is expanding, living in the city can be demanding"

So sings Jemaine Clement of the comedy-folk duo Flight of the Conchords in the song Inner-City Pressure. While I don't share sentiments with the whole song, for me, that lyric rings true. 

He's right, to a point, a city can take on the form of a living entity. Growing, shrinking, changing, putting on 10 pounds over the Holidays, and getting weird lumps that it should probably get checked out, but never does. 

I know all about the expansion, I'm right next to the construction of a brand spanking new apartment building. Construction is coming along nicely, looks like it will be a good place to live, but it's been a bloody racket to live next to since I've been living at my new place.

I live on the top floor of my apartment building which is nice (and basement apartments equal spiders, no thank you) but it gets hot, the heat causes the need to sleep with my window open and that means I'm awoken every morning by banging and hammering and, uh, bricklaying if that makes a noise. I'd say it does. It isn't the most delightful noise to wake up to, I'd much prefer a song bird and a babbling brook, but those are the breaks. 

I held off writing about this because I figured it would pass, but it's been two and a half months and the noise is still going strong. A nice weekday off of work last month started off rather relaxing but quickly had me searching for a Fortress of Solitude to escape the noise. Weekends bring noise every now and then, too. Normally I'd applaud their solid work ethic and go-get 'em attitudes, but I need my beauty rest. Two and a half months down and who knows how long to go, hopefully not too much longer. 

This is all a part of the ups and downs of city life. The upsides include a four minute walk to a 24/7 grocery store, lots of good luck due to many picked up pennies, and being able to order a donair at 3 a.m. if one so desires. They'll even let you pay with your lucky pennies, but you can tell they don't like it. The downsides are late night sirens, early morning construction and lack of parking.  

I don't have an ideal solution. Save for the construction company giving out noise-cancelling Beats by Dre headphones to all neighbouring residents, there's not much anyone can do. Though, maybe if I decide to run for mayor (which I'm still debating), I will make that a by-law. Noise cancelling headphones for all! That, and I'll actually enforce the anti-idling policy of Metro Transit. Vote for me. Or don't, sorry, I'm just tired. It's been hard to get a good night's sleep around here lately.