Pop goes the weasel! Now shut the hell up
suburbia September 4th, 2007
This weekend while trying to relax my crooked back after my high-heeled shoe fiasco, I almost drifted off to a glorious sleep when I was shaken out of my calm by our stupid neighborhood ice cream man.
Now, I know I’m going to get shot down hard for saying this, but there is a special place in hell for ice cream truck drivers who play the same tune over and over again. A lot of people don’t mind the music at all. I’m not one of them. This guy only occasionally rings the bell, which I do find quite charming and nostalgic. It’s when he plays the same song on loop that I want to run out there and throw spike strips under his wheels and smash his speakers with a very large mallet.
I suppose it wouldn’t be all that bad if it wasn’t the particular song he’s playing. Wanna feel my pain? He came down the street just a minute ago and I managed to hide behind some bushes and stuff to get the shot. Go ahead, I dare you to click this.
Seriously, just imagine that over and over, and LOUD, and it just doesn’t stop and you want to rip your hair out!!! I’ve considered going outside with a fistful of cash, then buying up all his inventory so he HAS to leave. But then he’d realize there’s a market for ice cream on my street, and that’s not what we want now, do we?
There is precedence for silencing noise menaces, so I know I’m not the only one who’s annoyed. Boston’s trying to have it banned. And you might have heard about the guy in Jim Thorpe, PA, who can’t stand his courthouse neighbors who play show tunes five times a day from their bell tower carillon. He’s since backed off his lawsuit, but I stand with him on principle. All he wants is a little peace.
I could almost stand it if Ice Cream Guy weren’t driving his Cartoon Mobile down our street on Sundays. I don’t know who I’m angrier at, him or the thoughtless neighbors who mow the lawn for three hours. Doesn’t anyone consider Sunday a day of rest anymore? Or am I just that old-fashioned?
Stumble it!
September 5th, 2007 at 10:46 pm
One of my neighbors had a mechanical “chime” that was set off by any kind of motion. Evidently it was meant to chase away certain birds that were attracted to their yard. It would go off at all times of the day and night. It was most annoying on beautiful afternoons when a person might have his windows open to enjoy the summer breezes. It took a full year of complaining by two of the neighbors most affected by the sounds.
I would be mortified if someone had to tell me that something of mine was disturbing the peace. In fact, I would never have anything so intrusive, since I am considerate of my neighbors! Apparently the “chimeowner” never had to be subjected to his own nuisance, since the noise traveled away from his house. How nice for him!
Thanks for letting me unload…
ann
September 5th, 2007 at 10:58 pm
Hey, we all gotta stick together. I just wish people would stop buying the stuff! If there’s no market, he’ll go away!
It’s just like the telemarketers. If no one bought their crap, they’d be out of business.
September 5th, 2007 at 11:09 pm
Gosh, I hate that. One time, me and my friend got ice cream. Guess what it was playing? It’s A Small World. Yes, that annoying song with the creepy dolls.
September 7th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
Oh my God, I am with you! It just occured to me that maybe the Gun Shop owners could have have won their argument about the supposed shutdown if there were an open season on ice cream trucks!
September 7th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
A.D. — What’s interesting is that the guy who’s IN the truck has to hear it for his entire shift. As I filmed him, the thought occurred to me. How does he stand it? He must wear a headset or something. No way a human could put up with that for more than a half hour.
At least summer’s almost over and he won’t be bothering us for a while.
September 10th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
i have the same problem in my neighborhood in nazareth. i think the ice cream man knows when i’m taking a nap because that seems to be the only time he drives by my house.
September 10th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
Anon,
Yeah, nap time is pretty sacred to me. I can sleep through the planes overhead (I’m just under the ABE flight path), but I awake instantly if the ice cream guy is a block away. No rest for the weary.
November 23rd, 2007 at 2:44 pm
Well, of course I’d rather rummage through the Junk Drawer than work. Yeah, I feel your pain. I always have a stab of nostalgic joy when I first hear the ice cream truck, but it quickly turns to rage after hearing the song over and over and over.
November 23rd, 2007 at 10:21 pm
J.D. — What I wish they’d do is replace the music with a good old fashioned bell. Makes enough noise, sounds much more pleasant, and I don’t have to kill people.
January 6th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
hi, Kathy,
I just found your blog when doing a search on ice-cream truck noise. I live in Ft. Pierce, FL and here ice-cream truck amplified jingles are an irritating source of noise pollution. Today is Sunday … After a difficult night sleeping, this morning I finally drifted off into a deeper sleep … and wouldn’t you know it, before 11 a.m. I started to hear those annoying ice-cream truck loud-speakers. There were two different vendors, circling around the streets. I don’t know who is buying ice-cream before noon on Sunday, but apparently some are.
The problem is that none of vendors obey the law … They are not legally supposed to amplify the system so that it can be heard more than 300 ft away, which is about one block distance. They play it so that it can be heard several blocks away … up to a half mile, so one hears it for long periods of time as they wind in and out of the streets.
I used to live in Arlington, MA in the 1980s and there the ice-cream truck guy would just ring a bell. It was a pleasant sound and since it was acoustic, not amplified, it is more harmonious with our nervous systems.
I would not mind the vendors if they were limited to the acoustic bells. In some areas, like Rochester, NY, they are. Thanks for posting on this issue. The soundscape is a resource and people too frequently ignore this aspect of our environmental well-being.
January 6th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Susan N. — I’m glad you found my story. I hope it helped you to know you’re not the only one in pain. It just hit me that some people have to be subjected to this noise nearly year-round. I’m at least only subjected to it in the summer. But Floridians and others have to hear it all the time. You have my sympathies. I once wrote a letter of complaint to the ice cream truck company, but never mailed it because I don’t want to be known as the woman who hates kids and ice cream. I don’t. But it would have looked that way.
March 20th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
I have a question, is it considered soliciting when driving through private subdivisions? When there is a sign at the front of the neighborhood that says “no soliciting”?
March 20th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
RatherNotSay — Good question. I checked my township “Peddling and Soliciting” code. Here’s the first part of it:
“It shall be illegal for any person, association, partnership, firm or corporation to engage in peddling, canvassing, selling, soliciting or taking of orders, either by sample or otherwise, for any goods, wares, services or merchandise from house to house or upon any of the streets or sidewalks within the Township, unless he or she shall have first obtained a permit from the Township Zoning Officer.”
So the part about “…upon any of the streets” makes me think the ice cream man needs a permit. He might. But that would say nothing of the noise he makes. That’d be covered under the noise ordinance, part of which follows:
“Noise which disturbs.
No person, while on public or private grounds located within the Township … shall willfully make or assist in the making of any noise or diversion, including but not limited to noise emanating from automobile horns, engine whistles, bells, sirens, radios, amplifying systems, animals, or otherwise, which disturbs or tends to disturb the peace or good order of the citizens of the Township…. For the purpose of this chapter, “noise” is defined as the presence of a sound or sounds of such intensity, duration, frequency or character which annoy, disturb, or cause or tend to cause adverse psychological and physiological effects on a person or persons. ”
If I wanted to make a case that we are disturbed by the noise, I could, under this ordinance.
March 20th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Thank you Kathy for your quick response! (and for posting this issue…I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who finds this most irritating).
I did find, in my county’s community resource guide, regarding noise, here’s what it says:
” NOISE: Amplified sound from vehicles:
1. Amplified sound from vehicles:
The operator of a motor vehicle is breaking the law if any electronic device used for the amplification
of sound, which is located within a motor vehicle being operated on a public street or alley, is played
or operated so as to be audible from outside the vehicle at a distance of 50 feet or more. This does not
apply to motor vehicle alarms or the emission of sounds from emergency vehicles such as police or
fire or rescue vehicles.
2. Radios, Phonographs and Musical Instruments
It is a violation of the noise ordinance to play any radio, phonograph or musical instrument in such a
manner or with such volume, particularly during the hours between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., as to
annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort or repose of persons in any dwelling, hotel or other type of
residence.”
It really doesn’t bother me that they come, goodness knows the kids LOVE it, but the blarring noise, the songs, I can feel my blood pressure rise when I hear it coming from the neighborhood next to us…I just start to cringe! Needless to say, I’ll be calling the county sheriff next time I hear them coming. (and hopefully nobody in my neighborhood knows it was me!) ;o)
March 20th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
RatherNotSay — Your county’s rules are even better than my township’s. I wouldn’t mind a bell that is hand-rung. It’s the amplified music that drives me insane. I can hear them coming blocks away, which would probably be a violation in your town because of the 50 foot rule. I found that the mayor of NYC banned the used of amplified music only when the truck is at a standstill. It was a compromise, so as not to upset kids and their parents. Even that would be a plus. It’s the constant noise that I would like them to end.
March 21st, 2008 at 10:23 am
Hi Kathy – I couldn’t agree more. I would even like to hear a cow bell!…now that would be more appropriate for an ice cream vendor. I called the sherrif’s department yesterday afternoon…and the deputy acted as if he had no clue of the law and he’d have to look it up…I, of course, read to him what I had found on the county’s website. He also said this was the first anyone has called about it…I was surprised to hear that! With the holiday weekend coming up, I’m sure I’ll be calling them again tomorrow, while I am peacefully planting my spring garden varities in my yard. This time requesting they come on out to “warn” to the driver…I’ll take some quiet enjoyment snickering to myself when Mr. Deputy shows up.
March 21st, 2008 at 7:23 pm
RatherNotSay — See, the thing is I would probably be seen as a child-hater if I suggested the noise was bothersome. I’m all for kids getting their ice cream, but I’ve only seen one family actually buy from the guy. For all the racket he makes, and how little sales are made, what’s the point? Please comment back here, or email me, if anything new happens on the ice cream truck front. I’d love to know if you’re successful in getting them to use an alternate method. Mostly so I’ll know what to expect if I try!
March 27th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
I am keeping with this issue on this blog as it concerns me greatly. I just left Florida after 3 months in a neighborhood where there were several ice-cream trucks making rounds each week. The law there is that the trucks are not allowed to amplify their jingles when they are stopped. But it is never enforced.
After doing some research I came upon an article about a town in NJ that banned the amplified sound systems, and then had that ban challenged by an ice-cream vendor in court. Here is the link. http://www.telecottage.com/icecream/story10.html
The federal judge ruled wrongly. There is no constitutional right to make as much noise as you want. The Bill of Rights is about protecting speech content, not the loudness or method of conveyance.
Commercial speech is regulated all the time in our society — for example regarding the size and location of commercial signs. If WalMart wanted to hire someone to take a loudspeaker and go through neighborhoods announcing a sale, I doubt that would pass legal muster as protected “speech.”
People’s homes are their havens for restoration. Commerce is conducted everywhere else in our society. The right of citizens to the peaceful enjoyment of their homes should take priority over the right to sell a product by means of a powerful, loud sound-system. Trucks with electronically-amplified sound-making devices have no ethical right to go through residential neighborhoods and disturb residents.
I am not opposed to ice-cream trucks. But they should be limited to acoustic bells for sound-making.
Good luck to RatherNotSay. Let us know how it goes.
March 30th, 2008 at 6:33 am
Susan N. — Thanks for your contributions here. I feel like we’re up against Goliath. I can’t see anyone supporting me if I go to my township to complain. But you make such valid points, especially with your Walmart comparison. Honestly, who would allow that? But they don’t mind the racket of ice cream trucks? It doesn’t make any sense to me. Homes are supposed to be our havens. I’ll certainly post back here (and email you and RatherNotSay) if I should make any waves. I dread the first ice cream day.
April 26th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
My municipal code has the same prohibition from ‘barkers’ but the ice cream truck is as popular as ever. Noisy jerk. I’ll be happy when this issue is resolved.
April 26th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
BarkingDogATLAS — I’m not sure it will ever be. I’m terrified to make waves about it. I don’t want to be known as the lady who hates children. I don’t, but that’s how it would go down. Brilliant site you have. It’s about time!
May 8th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
I have been struggling with an ice cream truck appropriately called Mr. Ding-a-ling that blares “The Entertainer” by Scott Joplin. I used to like (and play) the song but now I have a Pavlovian response of extreme irritation. I’m just amazed that a solicitor is allowed to blast their jingle throughout a neighborhood as loud as a siren.
The truck has a knack for coming around just when I’m taking a nice afternoon nap at which point I can’t even stay outside for the next half hour. Intolerable! Apparently, disturbing the peace is allowed if they are selling ice-cream.
May 9th, 2008 at 5:27 am
Hi, Andrew — I’m grateful at least that none of the trucks in my neighborhood blare that song. I hate it and would surely go insane. You know I feel your pain. The one currently torturing me plays “Music Box Dancer,” which isn’t that bad. But he plays it extremely loudly. If you want to see/hear it, check this out:
Music Box Dancer
September 13th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Music Box Dancer in it’s own right isn’t that bad but if you’ve heard it for 3 years it sends chills up your spine! Our ice cream maniac says he prefers the song to all others. When asked if maybe some music rotation might be better; he responds, “Nopers”. Brilliance. Thank the Lord, Fall is around the corner and that song will get parked for a few months.
September 14th, 2008 at 6:49 am
Cy — You’re right. The song isn’t that bad, but when it’s blaring over and over and over, you learn very quickly to hate it. I think I heard one truck last weekend, but I don’t expect any more for a glorious nine months!
September 16th, 2008 at 10:54 am
Kathy you are so exactly me it is too funny! Ok I live in a complex right by the swimming pool (where all the kids are!) so when the annoying ice cream truck comes he pulls into my parking lot and backs right up to my kitchen window (with the annoying backing up truck noise beep-beep-beep-beep mixed with the twilight zone caliope music). Thank you for posting this – I always felt so mean that I hate the ice cream truck guy. And the music always sounds like it’s off key, too! haha
September 16th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
kat — If I go to my township and complain and get hate letters, will you run to my defense? I feel your pain. I really do. I don’t have it nearly as bad. But I’m thrilled the weather is getting cooler and we’ll be ice cream truck-free until next summer. Weeee!
September 19th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
This whole summer, I have been haunted by someone who has found my neighborhood to be a lucrative ice-cream business area.
The sound of the ice-cream truck used to be a once or twice a week welcome surprise. Now I can count on the loser to come chiming by every single day for the same two-hour block which just happens to be 5-7 pm, after work.
The worst part is the song is distorted, out of tune/key and is poorly sampled. It runs about 20 seconds and then repeats. The music stops mid-measure to repeat which is extremely annoying.
One time when I heard the chimes I commented, “Here comes the bloodsucker.” Now my 2 1/2 year old daughter, who had a pre-existing fear of the mysterious child-predator’s song, refers to him as the “bloodsucker”. As soon as the song is heard, she ceases any activity and insists that she be held despite attempts to prove the ice-cream man, though annoying, is harmless (hopefully).
To me, this whole Ice-cream truck thing is a little out of date. During the depression or at some ancient time before everybody had multiple freezers located at their residence, the ice-cream man provided salvation. Now, I don’t see the difference between the ice-cream truck and a McDonald’s truck going around blaring their annoying “pied-pipper”esque siren song. The later would never be tolerated.
Lately, a big stink has been made regarding the vending machines located in school’s and how they provide children with an unhealthy choice of food to waste their lunch money on. A similar fuss needs to be raised regarding the sugar-truck that seeks out new addicts of their tasty frozen goo.
I know, at least in my city, nothing will be done, mostly because when there is a city-code violation that I report, the dispatcher and subsequent police officer is usually unaware that such an ordianance existed at all, and it usually turns into a nice little instruction period, of which the ego-heavy police officer is perturbed with.
Like others, my wife thinks I’m just a grumpy fart, but as a music-lover I cannot tolerate this butchering of the classics.
September 20th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Randy — You are right (and others mentioned it, too) that it’s no different than if McD’s or anyone else drove down the street screaming for a sale. “Come out! Come out and buy my wares!” I wonder if we can get them on solicitation instead of a noise ordinance? Every time I think of writing to my township, I chicken out. I’m afraid my newspaper will catch wind of it and I’ll wind up being the Woman Who Hates Children. Maybe the nostalgia will wear off eventually and they’ll just go away. ‘Course I’ll probably be dead by then. Thanks for writing. I’m with you 100%.
September 23rd, 2008 at 3:56 am
Kathy, has the situation been improved since then? It seemed that the Ice Cream Guy and the annoying neighbour has turned you into an angry person in some way.
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September 23rd, 2008 at 5:32 am
Handbag for life — No, it has not improved. Unless you call a change of seasons an improvement. There are less and less ice cream men screaming down my street. If you read the comments, you’ll know I’m not alone in my anger.
February 24th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
The Barney song. I lived with that thing in my head for almost ten years. Then the kids got old enough to MAKE FUN of the Barney song, and I got that for another few years. Fun times.
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February 24th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
The Mother — Oh, man. I’m so glad I don’t know the Barney song. Even if I think hard about it, it’s not coming to me. I guess I’ll be gearing up for the stupid ice cream man soon. Spring and summer are just around the corner. Oh, the joy.
March 2nd, 2009 at 5:42 am
Summer is just finished here even though it is still hot. The ice cream truck around here just rings a cow bell, that’s bad enough.
I love your blog – I need to read more and comment less I think.
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March 2nd, 2009 at 6:39 am
goldcoaster — I’d kill for just a cow bell. That would be nostalgic to me and a lot less annoying. I’m glad you enjoy the blog. There’s always something crazy going on here. Welcome to the party!
May 3rd, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Well, today was cool and rainy but Mr.Ding-a-ling was back in action and louder than ever. I was in a good mood and now I can’t believe that I have to endure this for the next 6 months. I’m trying to envision a hopefully-not-too-distant future where folks will be amazed that this residential noise pollution was once legal. Although technically, most ice-cream trucks already violate town noise + solicitor ordinances, it’s just that people let it go because we don’t want to seem like we’re denying the kids their ice-cream!
In my neighborhood there’s a nice little mom+pop convenience store that could put a mega speaker on their roof and blast The Entertainer all day, I wonder if that would be ok since they sell ice-cream? I just can’t believe this is still happening these days. Maybe we should make a website!
May 4th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Andrew — I’m dreading the first appearance of our stupid truck this season. Yes, I’ve read about the noise and solicitor violations people try to “get” them on. But to no avail. And you’re right. I don’t want to be “that nasty lady” who doesn’t want kids to have their ice cream. But, come on! Isn’t neighborhood peace worth something too? I’d rather buy $500 worth of ice cream for all the kids on my block for the summer than listen to that racket again.
May 22nd, 2009 at 10:18 am
The only reason I welcome the ice cream truck is because we once lived in a duplex where our neighbor was always drunk and yelling at the sports channel in cow language. At night, the tv mumbled infomercials through our walls because his roomate said she needed that “lull”.
May 23rd, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Audrarian — Oh for crying out loud. I’m glad you’re not living there anymore. So many reasons. I’ll tell ya, having good neighbors is so important. Mine helped me mow the lawn today. I feel blessed.
May 31st, 2009 at 1:00 am
wow—-such hostility!!!
i am an ice cream truck lady!!!!i am truely saddend that so many people hate me!!i’m just trying to make a lil extra money!!
Kathy–maybe you should offer the ice cream guy a bit of $$ to stay out and have an ice cream social for the kids once a month during the summer–i know if someone offered me a few benjamins to stay out–i’d say sure!!!
ohh well–ya’ll have a great day!!!
lezlie–the happy ice cream lady!!!
June 29th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
well here is my ice cream truck song. Turkey in the Straw, with synthesized clapping. Dee da diddle (clap clap) dee da diddle (clap clap) dee da dee (clap) dee (clap) dee (clap clap) and so on. It drives me f___ng crazy. Little did I know that I would ever complain about an ice cream truck but I’ll tell you what, it is torture. I can hear it every day for at least an hour as it makes its rounds around my neighborhood. I just moved to this neighborhood from a more “urban” environment and the first time I heard the ice cream truck I was like “Awwww….an ice cream truck. How sweet.” Not so much anymore!! What ever happened to just ringing a bell!!
July 1st, 2009 at 10:58 pm
To the ice-cream truck operator who posted here, we are not opposed to you. I was just in Rochester, New York this past weekend and I heard the Good Humor guy coming around with a cow bell on top of his truck. It was not an invasive sound, but pleasant and not overly loud. I love the idea of the ice-cream truck. It’s just the electronic amplification as a means to get attention has to go. Those sounds are very irritating to our bodies and we citizens have a right to peaceful enjoyment of our properties.
July 7th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
lezlie the ice cream lady — My hostility is directed at the noise, not the selling of ice cream. I loves me some ice cream. It’s like hot dog cat vendors. They can sell on the street all they want, it’s just that they do it quietly. I feel I work so hard during the week for two glorious weekend days and when the silence is broken for half an hour by annoying music, I want to scream. I appreciate your input.
can’t believe I hate ice cream truck song — I hear ya. I really do. I would love, love, love if they would just ring a bell. People can hear that just as well as the stupid songs they insist on playing and we’d all be happy. This should be a no brainer.
Susan N — I agree with you 100% (see my comment above). There is no reason they can’t switch to ringing a bell. Hell, I bet someone can figure out a way to make a ringing bell sound artificially so their arms don’t get tired. Oh, to dream.
July 8th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
We have two of them this year competing for “airtime”. Hopefully the result is that neither can profit enough individually so they’ll both go out of business.
And to Lezlie the Ice Cream lady….The “no soliciting” sign on my door, the enrollment on the “national do-not-call registry”, and my robust spam filters can’t seem to keep that pedophile from invading my home.
August 18th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
I spent a couple of months in Okinawa, where many things are sold by wandering trucks. So the bread lady would drive by in the mornings shouting in Japanese, then the musical propane truck would come by, then in the afternoon there was some kind of meat bun lady who would sing as she drove up and down every street. Also there was a PA system that played music at 7am, but that’s unrelated.
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August 19th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Randy — One can hope. And don’t you ever wonder if they make more than twenty bucks a night for their effort. Lousy ROI, if you ask me.
Steve — “some kind of meat bun lady” LMAO! Your whole comment cracked me up. ARen’t you glad you don’t live there anymore. Cripes. The racket! How could you enjoy any of your time there?!
September 23rd, 2009 at 11:08 pm
I’m actually far more annoyed with neighbors who take a really long time to mow the lawn. Bad memories from my childhood I guess…. right now I’m living in a condo in Manhatten so I’m sort of immune to the quirks of suburban living. I used to hate the icecream man (especially if he parks outside my house!) but right now I miss it. It’s funny how we can even start to miss things we hated.
Thanks Kathy, this post took me on a little trip in nostalgia.
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September 24th, 2009 at 4:09 am
TEV — I am too. The problem with mowing is that too many people leave it for the weekend and they stagger the times they do it. So you could theoretically be listening to mowing for 4 hours straight (or longer).
December 3rd, 2009 at 2:26 am
I completely agree with you. It is truly painful and irritating to have the noisy stuffs around you. Sunday is a complete rest day and people should be banned to spread noise pollution any more in the public place.
December 30th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
If they only played some good rock music then it would be alright lol. Because i’m with you, I can’t stand the same ol’ musical tunes they play.
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January 9th, 2010 at 6:02 pm
Haha yep that is bad, a little variety shouldnt be such a hard thing to do.
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:39 pm
Well, I understand your hatred for ice cream men, but look at it from the other side. You only have to listen to the music when they drive by. They have to listen to it ALL THE TIME. They’re already in hell. A cold, tasty hell.
February 24th, 2010 at 10:14 am
So many things are a matter of circumstance, aren’t they? I,too, hated the ice cream truck, or Good Humor man as we called him with heavy irony. Especially I resented his having ruined for me, by tape-loop repetition, Scott Joplin’s rag, “The Entertainer.” But that was before my next-door neighbor bought himself a diamond-bladed saw. These babies can cut anything,but are mostly used on rock. Do you know what the sound is like when such a saw is applied, say, to granite,or to pieces of bluestone? Especially do you know what it sounds like at dusk, while you are setting out dinner on your own patio table, on a beautiful August evening in Michigan, where precious few such nights occur?
Perhaps you do. And as you sit there eating, being philosophical about how stone dust is now a condiment on all your food, hoping your neighbor will lose interest in his new toy before dessert, or his hand, at last he takes a break to get another beer. In the blessed silence, soon to be broken again, there it is, heading your way down the block. All at once “The Entertainer” is charming to you again, nostalgic. What you had come to loathe is now sweet. How wrong you were! How small-minded. You sip your wine, tasting now of a quarry in upstate New York. And this seems just.
February 24th, 2010 at 7:37 pm
Barry — You should look into your town’s noise statutes. In many places it is against the law to have an outdoor shop. Your neighbor is turning your residential area into an industrial area. Attend a meeting. I got my town to adopt a noise ordinance regarding loud stereos in cars.
I no longer live in an area with ice-cream trucks (thank God!), but I am heading down to visit family in FL next month and the ice-cream trucks there are torture. If only all municipalities would ban the electronic amplification, we could still retain the ice-cream truck tradition with mechanical bells, as they do in Rochester, NY.
February 25th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Susan N.
Yes, I could go to town hall and complain, but here’s the thing. Our town is tiny, the smallest incorporated city in the state. As a matter of principle–and self-preservation–it’s best to stay on good terms with those around you. As for the neighbor with the saw, true, he is sometimes oblivious, but he is also unfailingly generous in helping lifelong apartment dwellers who should have stayed that way, but who bought a house. Guess who that is.
April 18th, 2010 at 8:47 pm
I feel your pain! I used to live right across from a gun club. That was horrible! Thank God we were able to sell that house! Ice cream sounds really good now….
September 4th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
Pop goes the weasel is a annoying tune, I was rise in NY use to love running down the street behind Mr. Softy. And I do cut my grass on the weekends, around NOON.