Things that Wake Me Up

I currently live on the third story of a classic old apartment building in a quiet, suburban town. One would expect peace and restful sleep on warm evenings when the open windows allow a slight breeze in. Oh, no. Having long passed the point of complaining, it has gotten to the point of absurdity. Here is what my slumber was interrupted by just last night:

Semis change gears right in front of my building
so their engines can roar at any moment during the night.

No joke. Facility workers have been repainting the exterior of our building
as early as 7am for the past four weeks.
I have been awoken on multiple occassions by talking workers
directly outside my window on the third floor!
They could see me in my "hebby gebbies"!


School children loudly enjoy their last moments of freedom
as they pass my building between 7-7:30am.

This morning, a bagpiper rehearsed at 9am for a funeral service
that let out at noon. I vaguely remember thinking "I know this song"
while hearing the bagpipe drone through my dreams.

The final kicker was as I was trying to quickly finish a paper
that was due in an hour, a car alarm went off.
I could see the car and no one succeeded in turning it off
for about ten minutes.

All of this after falling asleep at 5am...
Early to bed tonight 'cause it's almost time
to start the whole process all over again.