I have a dilemma I'm hoping you can help with. For several years I've owned a high-rise condo with a fantastic view. However, one of the buildings nearby has erected an incredibly bright lighted sign. It is twice as bright as the neighboring buildings and has made my view so much less pleasant.

Our homeowners association has reached out to the tenant, and to a city councilman, with no luck. So I'm trying to figure out what I can do on my end.

I've been moving chairs and furniture around my condo, trying to get a curtain or column to block out this particular building.

But the real dilemma is in my bedroom. There is only one position the bed can be in, and the lighted sign is directly in my line of sight. This little jury-rig I have set up (a table lamp atop a chair) blocks the sign almost perfectly - except that if I roll over, the sign appears to the side of the lampshade. The sign is almost exactly the width of this lampshade, and about half the height.

It seems like I need something precisely this high (taller than a table lamp, shorter than a floor lamp) and perhaps a bit wider (so I can roll over) to block one portion of my view, while leaving the rest visible.

Any ideas? One of those big paper floor lamps? (I don't want to block more of the balcony view than I have to, though.) I had thought of a tall plant outside on the balcony, but I am gone for long periods of time and worry that I won't be able to water and take care of it.

Is there some sort of table lamp with a really cool horizontal shade atop an occasional table that would do the trick?