And there was much rejoicing!

Both air conditioner and toilet are now fixed. The air conditioner was a contacter, I think, a switch in the unit outside that comes together when you turn it on that only one side was working on, and then the toilet was the seal inside the tank. Apparently they weren't too bad. Thanks to the maintenance guys at my complex for their help!

A relatively pleasant day so far

I didn't go to bed till late last night, around 2 am, but I woke up this morning feeling rested. I'm still hacking, and I do feel more tired than normal, and I think my speaking voice is very near a baritone rather than soprano (and singing is right out), but I do feel slightly better. I did manage to take some books back to the library, including one that was a couple of days overdue, paid my fine, brought back a 'lucky day' book that was a 14-day-loan that I realised never actually got checked out to my account, didn't sound the alarm, and generally I'd absconded accidentally with in the act of trying to check it out. They were happy I brought it back. I'd gone all the way over to the Beaumont branch to get a book that had been an Audible special today that is called The Ten-Cent Plague about the early days of comic books, censorship, and generally how people lost their minds over the things in terms of their influence of young minds. It sounded interesting, and for all that I once worked at a comic book store, I don't know much about that period or the problems they encountered.

Then I took a couple of friends to an appointment, went and found some socks at Gabriel Brothers, got them from their appointment, we went to Subway to eat, Kroger for dog food, and then I dropped one off at home and one off at work. Now I'm home, and I've got the windows open, and it's sunny, the birds are singing, and I'm feeling tired but good. I need to go check out my e-mail; a glance tells me that I got several dealing with the UPS delivery yesterday (totally unexpected) of a second refurbished computer, without power cord, keyboard, or mouse, that was shipped by mistake. So I'm going to go take care of that, take my contacts out, take a nap, then get up and try to do some things around here. I'm here for the rest of the afternoon and evening (I do have to get A at work at 1 am), so it would be nice if I could get some stuff done, especially as they're doing a walk-through/inspection of the apartments Tuesday, and of course, while better, things are pretty cluttered.

We're not playing the game tomorrow, as both the game master and I have been sick, and when he explained that to Brenda, she was happy to stay away from plague. So I'm going to focus on getting better and not push to do notes today unless I feel like it, and get some rest tomorrow, too. I also need to remember to request my unemployment cheque tomorrow, and then Tuesday there's the eligibility review. I'm also hoping to go back to rehab on Tuesday, if this crud will work its way out of my system.

Well, today's been pretty much a bust

Mainly because I've been moving slowly with the temperature change and I've had no caffeine to speak of. I didn't even get up and take a proper shower till about 3 pm. I've gone out now and spent $3.54 of the last $3.74 I had on caffeinated soda, so I can get through the weekend. I really should break myself of this stuff, or at least learn to drink coffee.

So except for some music listening, I've done practically nothing of what I should. I'm usually better motivated than this. On the other hand, I'm not going to beat myself up about anything. Brenda is in North Carolina, so the notes do not have to be finished tonight. I think I can go to the library the day after Thanksgiving and do my research (although I will have to take that book by the book drop tonight or tomorrow morning, as it's due). Reading I can still do. The closet I can work on this weekend, before my session on Monday. So it'll all work out.

Being home, resting, and watching the autumn colour out my front window, the birds, the folks walking their dogs, all reminds me of the three months I was off with my ankle break four years ago. It's hard to believe it's been that long since I was hit by the car. It's the longest continuous time I have ever been at my home. I tend to find reasons to be out of it. You'd think I'd be comfortable alone and at home by now. I am much better, though, very much so. But I still tend to stay over-long with friends as much as I can so I don't face a silent apartment. I always feel lonely here, I guess.

I found out the other day the downside of questing with a party on Habitica. Someone didn't do their dailies, and the entire party took so much damage that I lost all my health (although it did let me revive), a level of experience, all my gold, and a special item. None of us were pleased. I nearly left the party over it. But I stayed, and things have been better. I have discovered that I'm probably the oldest member of the party--there's a 25-year-old Dutch student, and an eleven-year-old who has something like three accounts and has a lot of levels that I think he finagled somehow, rather than building up over time. But hey. To each his own. I'm at level 109 after almost a year. It would have been 110--I'm almost back to that, at least. I've found all the regular pets, plus two special ones, have made all the regular pets mounts, and found them again. There is a key you can purchase in the shop that will let all your beasts and mounts go, and you can start collecting them in your stable again. I'm considering it. The achievement stays, but I'd get to use the eggs, hatching potions, and food I find to start over with that. There is also an orb that can, for free, start you out in another class after level 100 is achieved, so you can work towards going through all the classes (mage, rogue, warrior, and healer). I think I'll wait till my anniversary, which is in December, for that.

I've nearly completed the Earthsea and Greek reading challenges. I'm only 1% through Aristotle, but once I get through his complete works, and hopefully can do that before the end of December, then I'll have completed that. I'm working my way through The Other Wind now, and the bonus is Tales from Earthsea. So, it's coming along.

Okay, Sabbath ends shortly. I think I'll read some Aristotle now that I have woken up and it's nice and quiet, in case YKWIA calls after dark. Actually, I'll probably call and check on him. Hopefully he had a nice, quiet day. I suspect he has been more productive. But you know, I rarely have an entire 'day off', so I'm not going to feel guilty about not doing much. And there's always tonight. But first, there's Aristotle.

PS I did look to see how much the bread yeast was, and it was on sale, but for $4.99 a jar, or $4.49 for 10 packages. Too rich for me. Maybe I can borrow some from YKWIA to get me through till Wednesday. Because we normally would get paid on Thursday, which is Thanksgiving, we should be paid on Wednesday this week. Here's hoping.

Apparently

The leak came from my water heater, which has now been replaced, my carpet has been cleaned in the hallway, and a large industrial-strength fan is drying it as we speak. Yay! I don't know why the water wasn't actually showing up in the closet that holds the unit, but hey. I Googled the life expectancy of a water heater, and it's 8-12 years. I'm in my thirteenth year here, and I've had one replaced before, but it's probably been about that. That one had a much bigger leak, which is part of what threw me off. But I couldn't figure out where else it could have come from, since the wet area was between my kitchen and bath. The closet with the heater is between those two rooms. I am glad I rent in this case, so it doesn't come out of my pocket. And I suppose the inspection went well.

I had a good deal of success in the cleaning. While the house wasn't spotless by any means, it was navigable. My bed is made. Anything that hasn't been put away is at the periphery of the rooms, stacked neatly, or on the couch or dining room table, and the latter are in boxes. However, I got three-and-a-half hours' sleep last night, and I'm really tired. I went to physical therapy after work and am very relaxed due to the manual therapy, and I think I'm going to lie down for a bit and rest, and then get up when it's time to take my meds and do that.

At least the apartment is now in a place that I can work on things a little at a time, starting with those closets, as my therapist suggested. But not tonight. Not at all. Heading to the bedroom for some quiet time. :)

PS I searched my blog for the last time the water heater went out, and it was actually ten years ago, September of 2006. So that wasn't too bad. And it didn't get quite so wet. The new one is a Whirlpool and looks all bright and shiny. :)

Time to go to bed

And work some more in the morning.  My plan is to get up at 5 in the hope that I'll definitely get up by 6 am.  I've put the bedclothes in a pile.  The bed is cleaned off.  I'll take out the trash and recyclables in the morning,  and try to straighten up a bit more.  But while there's definitely clutter,  the trash is gone. It amazes me how much I had to work on the bedroom just to separate the things to go and the things to keep (for now,  anyway). It's a start.  Considering I still had the boxes of Yule ornaments out under everything,  this has been about ten months in the making.  The library books are now together,  except one to go back,  which is next to the front door with my purse and keys.  I've done what I can,  for now. My neck is bothering me,  but I daren't take the muscle relaxer,  but I will take some ibuprofen.  And I need some water before I go to bed. Good night.

I had a good session with my therapist

I'd sent him the pictures I'd shown him before and in the e-mail told him about the upcoming inspection. He pointed out that they weren't inspecting my housekeeping, but rather checking to make sure the windows could be opened, there were no active leaks, changing the filters, that sort of thing. I feel a little better. The plan is still to clean tonight, but I'm not going to kill myself, but rather try to do what I can to make it look habitable and allow them full access to the apartment.

I had thought to rent a Rug Doctor machine, but I'm concerned that the leak may be ongoing. It had pretty much dried, but there was more last night. I'm going to call them tomorrow to check it out. I told my therapist that of course that would mean admitting that I didn't call before. He said to just tell them that I didn't think the leak was ongoing and I had thought I'd taken care of it (which is true).

He wants me to start the actual process of overcoming hoarding by beginning with my bedroom closets. Part of my problem is that I simply do not have the room to put things that should go into closets there, like clothes, because I have a bookshelf in one and a shelving unit full of things like cables and electronic stuff that I haven't used in years, waiting for that time when they 'might be useful', in the other. These need to be gone through and removed to make the closets useful again. He suggested this because he found that people who hoard generally have no place to move the truly useful things to, and then bog down and just rearrange it (as my friend calls it, the tidal method of cleaning).

It's going to be a busy night. Here's my plan of attack:

Begin in the bedroom. Put things that are on the bed in their places. Change the sheets and make the bed (all the bedclothes are on the floor, taking up space). Put all the clothes that are on the floor on the bed and in their hampers. Fold the clean ones; put the others aside for laundry. Put what I can away in drawers and in the small part of the closet that is free. Put the things to go up above in the closet there. Close the closets. Throw away any trash and recycle whatever I can. Neatly place things either in their place or at least temporarily have them out of the way of reaching the window.

Then I need to go back to the dining room. For that, I think it would be best to just dump things into paper boxes to be sorted later, and put them stacked up in the living room near a bookshelf or something. Once I get that free, it means later I can fill the aquarium (although not necessarily tonight).

Next is to finish the little bit of the living room and sweep/mop the linoleum and vacuum the carpet. I think the Rug Doctor would take too much time. If the leak is ongoing, it needs to be fixed first, anyway. I'm still owed a free carpet cleaning for continuing my lease. Maybe I'll just do that, as the cleaner and solution would be about $45 otherwise.

Okay, I know I'm better at planning with good intentions rather than doing. I definitely need to go ahead and start. It's nearly 7 pm now.

I will not panic, I will not panic...

Five days. I have five days to make this place look like it belongs to a neat, sane person (or at least as close as a hoarder with certain issues can).

Another very productive day

This morning I went over to YKWIA's at 7 am (so I got up at 6) and got him up for his appointment this morning. I then took him to the appointment, dropped him off at home, and went to the office. Unfortunately, while I'd been at his house I'd gone through my morning routine--taking my oral meds, checking my blood sugar, taking my Byetta and insulin. That in itself is not bad, but I then totally forgot to eat the peanut butter and crackers I'd brought with me for breakfast. I realised it while I was at his appointment. By the time I got to work, I could tell I'd gone low on my blood sugar; it had been a nice 122 this morning when I'd tested it before I took my meds. Now it was 58. I ate something and started feeling better very quickly. I still can't believe I actually forgot to eat.

After that, I checked my e-mail and then tackled the bound journals. Over the course of the rest of the morning I rearranged and moved four shelving units (twenty-four shelves) of very heavy journals, some as old at 1919. I still need to move some of the Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research unbound journals that were shelved with the bound ones (the journal changed its format from monthly hardbacks to larger paper journals a few years ago, which really messed with my OCD). Then I need to move the rest of the bound ones (about a eight shelves) over. That will give me some empty shelves between the books and journals to work with.

I looked up when I got to the point where I was too hot to go on without sitting in the front of the fan for a few minutes to find that it was almost lunch time. I had lunch with my normal lunch bunch, and one mentioned that there was a mobile hearing test station out front for the day that was offering free tests to kids and adults who came by. It's called Songs for Sound. Well, I took the test (you pressed a button on a monitor whenever you heard the tone). My right ear is better than my left, but I'm in the category of mild issues, which considering I'm nearly 50 isn't bad. I've never been around really loud noises regularly, and I've never really played my music very loudly, either. In fact, at work, if I'm listening while I do the data entry, I can usually hear the pages overhead still. Basically 30 decibels was normal. The tones I could hear in my left ear started at 45 decibels, and my right was 35. That's not bad, at all.

After that, I did my data entry, the referrals, the charge reconciliation, and responded to some requests for information or sheets. I called an insurance that we just got in-network with that we're getting a lot of patients from to clarify whether they needed a referral to see a specialist, because the summary of benefits said yes, it did, but I'd been told patient by patient that they didn't need one to see us. Thankfully, I found out that this particular plan does not require them for a specialist (we're an orthopaedic clinic and hospital). Yay (and there was much rejoicing). So those won't clutter up my queue anymore.

While I was on the phone with the insurance company, the therapist I've been trying to reach tried to call me. I left a message for him, and he called back, and we were finally able to make an appointment. Also, yay. It's a first step, anyway, to getting better with the anxiety and hoarding issues. It still amazes me that I can keep my desk at work and my car in nearly-pristine condition, but it's like I nest in my house and try to wall the world out with all the stuff. Hopefully he can help me find real solutions so I don't keep up this cycle.

Now I'm home. I was going to stay late at work to make up for this morning, but I'd finished everything I needed to do for the afternoon job, and I wasn't ready to tackle those last shelves yet. I'm on my gas light again. Fortunately, we get paid so tomorrow morning on the way to work I should be able to fill up, and I am going to try to go in a little early and then go get my allergy shot after work, since I missed their late day. Which, drat, I just realised is today, and they just closed this minute. I could have gotten it after all. :( I was a little focused on coming home and using as little gas as possible, though.

I've plugged the computer up in the living room to charge and I'm listening to music from my phone. I left today with the blinds closed, so I've opened them, and the sun is streaming through, though it is low in the sky. It's hard to believe that it'll be autumn soon. Yesterday I put new inserts into my Mary Janes (you blow dry them to heat them up, put them in your shoes, and then walk on them, and they conform to your feet), in preparation for the new season without sandals.

I finally started my period 4-5 days late. I have a gynaecology appointment the last week of this month, so hopefully I'll learn more about whether or not I'm truly in perimenopause or not, but I'm pretty sure I am.

Okay, I think I'm going to do some reading for a little while. I'll probably write later, but if not, good night.

I don't know why I was so tired

I slept a couple of hours, waking up around close to 8 pm. I really needed that, apparently. Now I'm up and I've connected my television to the wireless router so I can watch Netflix and also listen to Pandora. I have an Ella Fitzgerald channel playing now ('As Time Goes By' from Casablanca is playing right now, even though that's Dooley Wilson), so it's very mellow in here. I may talk with a friend on the phone later; I'd called and he was just getting out of the shower, so I told him that I didn't have anything pressing but if he'd like to call me that's fine, too. I've still got the windows up, so the blinds are open. I'm looking around the room. So much to do. So not wanting to just now. I think I will water the plants again (I did just a few days ago, but they're already dry). Also, I need to do dishes and then gather laundry and have it ready for tomorrow. I don't know if I'll get the fish tanks taken care of today, but I need to soon. And I think I will straighten up the living room so it doesn't look so cluttered, which is a bit of a challenge. The books are all on shelves, for example, but there are more books than there are really meant to be, for example. And I need to take the air mattress out of the living room (I thought I might have a guest) and back to the bathroom, where it normally stays. So basically, I need to work on some little things that will improve life around here. I think one of the Habitica challenges puts it as 'Personal Management', the daily stuff that you have to do to have a good environment.

It's a challenge to deal with my stuff--not only am I basically a hoarder, although I've de-hoarded a lot periodically throughout the years, but also my apartment is only 750 square feet. But I was recently looking at apartments for someone else and that's bigger (and cheaper) than a lot of places in Lexington. I'm paying $550 a month, and that's on the low-end of a one-bedroom fee, for a larger apartment with a lot of storage, and all utilities except electric. We have a pool, tennis court, fitness centre, basketball area, laundry, and they just opened a fenced-in dog park the other day. They're making a lot of improvements here lately, too. I'm starting my thirteenth year here, soon. And while we don't have balconies or patios, we do have a large porch off our building (ours is a little different than the rest, which makes it great for getting pizza). Plus there's the windowsills for plants. :) I'm on a long lease, which gives me a break on the rent. I think the standard fees are $555 for a one-bedroom and $655 for a two-bedroom. And pets just require a pet deposit and $20/month (not for each pet, but for any dog or cat), and I see some pretty big dogs here, so I don't think there's a poundage limit. It's a quiet neighbourhood in east Lexington and very convenient to a lot of stuff--shopping, hospitals, etc., plus I have a ten-minute drive to work every day. So I'm happy here.

Okay, enough about the apartment. Time to work on it, with Billie Holliday and Natalie Cole in the background--and of course, Ella. :) Good night, if I don't blog anymore tonight.

I've been mostly relaxing

this evening, when I should have been working on the house. I didn't exactly crash, but I did take a nap, using a new application that was free through Amazon today that uses your phone as a measure of how well you're sleeping. It was interesting. I don't think I'd use it every night, but it does give some insight into how much you toss and turn, etc. It's called Sleep, and the unlock key for the paid version is available for free, along with a bundle of various applications worth $140. Just follow the link from the Amazon App Store. I got a few of them. Some had been the free application of the day in the past, so I already had them.

There seems to be a small war going on in my apartment building, one which I plan to stay well clear of. There was a collection of different-coloured sticky notes taped together haphazardly on the front door this morning with all sorts of masking tape, with some sort of missive (I didn't read it, as I was heading to work and was in a hurry) of how dogs bark and it was addressed to whomever complained to the leasing office. There is an apartment with two small dogs who go off at the least bit of noise, something new for our apartment building, as it's always been rather quiet. Now I am a dog person, but I admit, it annoys me. There are other dogs in the building, but you would never know it. But these guys go off the moment someone enters the building. So while I didn't complain, I can understand why someone might have. And we've recently had one of those general 'clean up after your dog' reminders sent out from the leasing office, to be ignored if you don't have pets or clean up after them. So I do wonder if there is anything else going on. Anyway, the sticky notes were gone when I got home today, and I got the impression that they were perhaps taken down by the office, so the person who put it up isn't getting any points as a good tenant, and while I can't be certain it was that apartment, surely the leasing office knew who the complaint was against. When I had a dog, she did not bark. Period. I was very lucky in that regard. And when my friends seriously considering finding another home for one of their dogs, who would probably love to be an only dog, I did not take her because she has a high, shrill bark and goes off easily. I don't mind people having pets at all, but I don't think it's right to assume the rest of the world is wrong because they don't like your pet's barking. The sticky note collection spoke volumes about the pet owner, and it seemed very immature. We're an apartment complex of mostly working people. There aren't a lot of students or the like. Noise isn't generally tolerated. Loud parties do not happen; our courtesy officers are also police officers and will give citations. But more to the point, people are mostly considerate. I turn down my music, for example, if my windows are down, the moment I turn into our parking lot with the car. I don't play the TV or music loud. I think it's reasonable to expect some quiet, especially at night. Now I will say the dogs don't bark constantly--only when someone is going in and out of the building, and that's good, at least. But we'll see if this escalates. My impression though is that the pet owner will probably not be here that long with that attitude.

I crashed

I left work about 3 pm to take a friend to an appointment. Afterwards we went to the pharmacy and to Long John Silver's for dinner. I dropped him off, came home, got all comfy, and laid down with the intention of getting up in about an hour (sound familiar?) That was at 7:45 pm. Sometime around 10 I woke up briefly, then fell back to sleep for what I thought were mere minutes, and then woke up just after midnight. I got up, checked my e-mail, did a little accounting, and paid a bill. I knew I was tired from a very busy weekend, but didn't know just how tired. But I feel better. I'll go back to bed in a bit, but wanted to get up and write for awhile.

One nice thing is since I was waiting for him at the appointment, I went from chapter four to chapter sixteen in a book I'm reading (Witch Way to Murder, which I mentioned the other day), and so I'm about halfway through the book and enjoying it. I haven't read a paperback in awhile and I forgot the pleasures of tucking a small book in your purse and having it at hand when time permits. Granted, with my Kindle or tablet, it's likes toting lots of paperbacks, but it's just not the same, somehow.

I ordered something from Amazon today (not a book), and finally broke down and joined Prime. As a result, it looks like I'm on track to receive my item actually by tomorrow (it's coming from Indianapolis) rather than two days from the order, which is great. I decided between what I order, the free Kindle lending library, and the instant videos, it would pay for itself rather quickly. If I had wanted 2-day shipping on this alone, for example, it would have been $10 by itself.

Sears called today to verify my address for delivery of the box springs on Thursday. I went ahead and confirmed. They'll call me Wednesday night after 6 pm with a 2-hour window for Thursday. The only concern I have is that when I got the item plus delivery, I don't think they included the haul away. Recovering from my ankle injury, I'm not sure I can, even with help, get my old box springs to the Dumpster area that's designated for large items. It's not far away from my building, but far enough. I either need to call and see if I can add that to the order or see if the delivery guys are willing, if not to haul it away, to take it to that area for me, as a backup plan. They may.

I think I'm going to try to get up a bit early tomorrow and do some straightening up. The apartment is starting to look a bit frightful. I still need to take the recyclables out, and the loveseat is piled high (I tend to use it as a landing area when I'm doing a lot of coming in and out.) Of course, I'd planned to do some of that tonight, but hey, we'll just shift the timing a bit. It doesn't usually take too long to get things caught up, it's just a matter of getting up and doing it.

Tomorrow is work and then physical therapy. I missed my last session because I did not feel well but I'm determined to do better tomorrow, although it may be my only session this week because Thursday may be an issue due to the delivery.

Okay, heading back to bed and to my comfy new blanket. It feels like being wrapped in teddy bear fur. :)

Still having issues with spotty DNS errors

Odd.

But I will not let that put a damper on my day. Today I went to the optometrist and got a pair of bifocal contact lenses and ordered my others. Apparently I'm a tad bit more nearsighted, but my actual contact prescription didn't change that much. I went by the optician connected with the practice, Pal Optical, and bought some more cleaner for glasses to keep in my purse, since after several years, I've finally gone through the spray I had before, mainly because I use it to clean my tablet and phone screens with a microfibre cloth. :)

After that I grabbed some breakfast and did a little shopping. I got back with some nice work pants, some blouses, socks, bedding, and a couple of purses from Gabriel Brothers, but no jeans, which was actually the point of going out. That's the only problem with that store; because they are a reseller, the prices are low for good quality things, but the selection is spotty. I'll try somewhere else for the jeans. But the other things I can have for work and the bedding is something I've needed for awhile. The purses I really didn't have to have--but I like purses like some women like shoes, so what can I say? They were very nice and very low in price.

I came home, cleared some stuff off my phone, which was labouring without memory, texted Brandon a bit, and then took a nap. Now I've eaten and it's time to gather up some of the stuff that's been piling up in my house and take it to the recycling and trash receptacles. Then I'm going over and taking a friend to the grocery and visiting. So I'm glad I took that nap. :)

Okay, I'd better get going. Hope you're having a good weekend.

One thing about being homebound

is that I've discovered just how busy our maintenance staff is. Yes, there are over 200 apartments here, so you expect them to be, but I constantly see their trucks go back and forth by my window as they ferry tools, appliances, and various other items back and forth across the property. They've always been very attentive to my needs, including one time in the middle of the night when the water heater leaked all over the carpet, stopping just short of some books that were stacked. Anyway, I'm very thankful for where I live. They've been great in the eight years I've been here.

Yay, they've come and the carpet is really nice

The same guy who came last year did my carpet again. Since I was between vacuum cleaners last time and he was very chastising, it was a relief to see him happier about my floors this year. I would definitely recommend Terry's Carpet Care in Lexington for your floor cleaning needs. My apartment seems somehow bigger (although that could be because every horizontal surface in the place has something on it. The magazines are on the loveseat, my laundry is on my bed). Still plan on doing laundry today and straightening some more, but I'm going to take a break now and actually enjoy some time off in the midday.

Time to sign a new lease

I asked the leasing office to leave a new lease for me to sign, since my hours don't coincide with theirs except sometimes on Saturdays, and it was on my door when I got home. This way, I can just drop it in the mail slot. I will make a copy first, of course. I'm going for a special with a 13-month lease, which will mean my rent will only go up $5 this year. This marks eight years since I moved here, going into the ninth year, and I don't want to move anytime soon. I wish I could afford one of the two bedrooms, which have about 300 sq ft more in space, but 1) I can't, and 2) I'd have to pack things up and move them. The number of books I have alone is amazing (and I think YKWIA has far more than I). Things I like about my apartment: They're nicely maintained. The leasing office staff are very friendly and responsive. It's in a quiet neighbourhood. I haven't had a horrible rent raise since I moved here. In eight years it's gone up something like $45, in increments. And a couple of years they didn't raise it at all. Also, we have police officers who live on site and act as courtesy officers/security. It's on the first floor, which is good, as I don't think I could manage the stairway daily. They've been very understanding on those occasions when I was struggling to get my rent in, which thankfully hasn't been the case of late. The site is located near shopping, a grocery, restaurants, a library, most of my doctors, and a hospital, even for walking. It's a quick trip down the road to work on the bus. With my luck with cars, being on the bus line is terribly important.

Things that would be great to have: I'd love if they had individual porches/balconies, but I live in a building with a large front porch and one of these days I'm going to check and see if they would mind me raising some things in containers. I can't imagine it being an issue. I just haven't had the money to get planters and all the stuff that goes with container gardening, like dirt and plants. :) I'd love a little more space, but I have 750 sq ft, which isn't too bad. The bedroom has one whole wall devoted to closets. I'd love an indoor pool. But our outdoor pool was filled with water the other day and soon will open. I'm really going to try to use it this year, now that I'm working regular hours for the first time in what seems like forever. Back when I had the second job at the gas station, I was getting home after it closed. Then when I started the data entry job at the hospital, I'd get home about 8, and usually didn't feel like doing anything by that time. Now I get home between 5:15-6:15 pm, depending on whether I get a ride or take the bus. Oh, and I wish we had washer/dryer hookups. Those are only in the two bedroom apartments, which are $100 a month to rent.

Of course, if I get the job in the consumer health library I applied for the other day, I'll have a longer commute, and they pretty much expect you to go to their doctors on campus. But to have a full-time library job after so many years of part-time status, in an environment such as that, helping people find answers to their health information needs, facing unique challenges every day (those words may come back to haunt me), that would be great, and worth the longer commute. And who knows, I might be able to afford a car, and it would be a straight run down Alumni to get to campus--although parking on campus is such that the bus may be a better option. :) We'll see. I have to get an interview first, and all then there's the whole process that goes with it. Wish me luck and keep your fingers crossed for me. :)

My living room is almost back in order

They did, in fact, fix my window panes today, which is great. Granted, my view is primarily one of a parking lot, but at least it is no longer marred, plus there's no cool air seeping in. When I put the plant table with the books on its shelf back in front of the window, I also put back the torchiere that I had moved to the bedroom. It was nice for reading in bed, but I rarely do so. I am, however, on the computer a lot, and it was simply too dark in this corner of the living room without it. That means the priter stand is not quite flush with the desk, but oh, well. I'm going to wait until tomorrow to put the rest back; I need to take out the recliner and that really should be done in daylight. But I am now set to be able to watch TV again. And I really should tonight, but I'm not quite ready to. Besides, I started reading Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children and am rather hooked. So I may do some reading as well, in a little while.

Good news

I talked with the leasing manager today, and there will be no filing until the 18th. Since I can pay my rent before then, I'll be okay, except for some late fees. Whew!

I'm home early today because our computer system went down and what I do as a data entry clerk depends entirely upon it. I was also fortunate to get a ride. This worked out great because I had forgotten to call the leasing office and didn't think about it until I went through my apartment door. So I was able to talk to them before my rent was technically late--always better. Sometimes prayer is a wonderful thing--things tend to happen to help bring things about.

They're blocking off our parking lot in front of my building to work on a retaining wall.

I think I'll use the extra time to get the rest of the recyclables out, if the containers have been emptied, and put books on shelves. That leaves dusting and organising some CDs, cleaning the microwave, plus a tiny amount of straightening up, and the living and dining areas are finished. I'm going to count cleaning the aquarium out as a separate thing. I might even get the bathroom cleaned tonight as well--it's in good shape, just needs a once-over.

The kitchen needs a lot of organisation. I have some stuff in the cabinets that need to come out and get thrown away. Plus the cookbooks are just piled on the island shelves when they should be standing up and in their proper place. And I need to wash dishes and clean the counters, that sort of thing. It may take a few days to totally re-do.

The bedroom isn't bad, in itself. But the drawers and closets are another matter entirely. Let's not tackle that just yet. It's not like anyone goes in there but me. :)

I am somewhat miserable

This morning I discovered the floor in front of my walk-in closet was wet. My air conditioner is leaking badly. Now everything that was in the closet--fortunately, no books, just clothes and floor cleaners--has been distributed between my bathroom and bedroom. Most of it is actually dry or slightly damp and may be saved. One box is sodden and needs to go out to the dumpster, although I think I need hazard gear to do so (see below). They've got a horribly noisy blower on the carpet to try to dry it out, and it's obviously been wet for awhile, because my skin and nose are protesting terribly (I am extremely allergic to mould) and I finally had to break down and put the CPAP, which has filtered air, on. But that isn't helping the itching I'm having. The universe is definitely telling me to clean my apartment.

This morning I was taking out recyclables and knocked over the grocery cart. I didn't realise it at first but that, in turn, knocked over and broke an unopened bottle of laundry detergent, right in front of the door to the apartment hallway. So there's that, too.

I also have to have a tetanus shot tomorrow because on Wednesday I ran into one of those old-fashioned bulletin boards surrounded by glass and metal, scraping my arm. It's been 12 years since my last tetanus shot (that was when I stabbed my hand with the old-fashioned letter opener trying to open a staple cartridge for the copier. They took my letter opener away from me and gave me one of those new-fangled plastic ones with the enclosed safety blade). Of course, it couldn't be as simple as just taking a shot. We have a vaccine that's kept at work called TDaP (for Tetanus, Diptheria, and Pertussis). But as a child I reacted against the Pertussis version of the DPT shot (Pertussis being whooping cough.) My arm swelled and became red. So I can't take the TDaP. Fortunately they've ordered some non-pertussis vaccine for me. I love working in a hospital for these sorts of things. But I need to learn to watch where I'm going, too.

Tomorrow I'm going to try to get up early and take care of that sodden bit and work on the rest of the house and do some laundry. Wish me luck.

That's a relief

Today a couple of contractors came to fix my bathtub faucet and I have to admit, I was a little anxious about letting complete strangers have the run of my apartment without supervision. Fortunately I found nothing out of place when I returned 13 hours later, which is good, because the one oops they did was that they forgot to lock my door. :) It's good to live with a police cruiser parked outside.

The new bath fixture looks wonderful. They left a note that I can't take a shower until 9 pm (since they had to pry out tile and then retile afterwards to get the new one in), but I take mine in the morning and wasn't even home till 10:40 so that was fine. Hopefully this will fix the chronic issue of hot water running at the faucet. Yay.

Should I be concerned

that a fire truck or two and an ambulance came up with lights flashing (but no sirens) in front of my apartment building, stayed awhile, and then eventually left? Hopefully nothing was truly wrong. One of my gaming buddies got a scare Saturday night when part of her complex caught fire and burnt down. She and her things were alright, although she and her neighbours were evacuated until 4 am and the smoke detectors didn't go off--they were roused by people banging on doors. The apartment her sister occupied until recently was gutted, having been close to where the fire began. Scary.

It's been a weird day in that we had a huge storm with lots of lightning, car accidents all over the place (including a very bad tractor trailer accident that closed the Interstate), and flash flooding (although I don't think it was on Louisville's scale). Fortunately I got from one workplace to another right before the storm hit.