Home and tired, ready for bed

I made a special trip to Danville this evening after work to visit my mom, who is in the hospital, and this greeted me as I pulled into my apartment complex afterwards. Pretty, yes?

Sorry I didn't write last night; my stepfather and I and a friend and I were exchanging phone calls regarding my mom, who is being a somewhat difficult patient, but otherwise I think should be doing better soon, or at least let's hope so. I brought her a pretty pink-and-yellow miniature rose to help cheer her up.

I did get word from the Kentucky NAMI group that I am officially accepted as a teacher for the Family-to-Family class and they've sent the agenda for the training, which is pretty intensive; essentially all eleven classes are covered, with additional information, in a two-day training. But I am excited. And even though driving up is still a little anxiety-producing, I did well in rush-hour traffic down a state road today, so that was good practice. The training is at Sullivan in Louisville, and that's where Brenda takes her son for his classes, so I think I'll ask her about the construction I've heard about.

I got a note on my door this evening from my leasing agent about expanded options for lease renewals that include an 18-month lease with only $5 increase in rent. I think I'll take that one. I've been here for 10 years and don't anticipate moving any time soon.

Okay, I've gotten home, I've alerted my friend that I'm back, have eaten a McDonald's double-filet-of-fish meal, and am a bit pooped. I have to get up at 6:30 in the morning because it's my allergy shot day and I go into work early. So I'm heading to bed, I think. Good night!

Well, the morning was rough, but the day improved

I decided to forgo the Farmer's Market after all, as I felt rushed and couldn't really browse. I dropped my books off at the library but didn't go in. I did get the lease turned in, although I almost missed the agent and was actually pulling out of my parking space when she came walking up. Then I went over to my friends' house and we did the grocery run and some other projects, and watched some videos, had some fun. Tomorrow we're going to try some dog washing; three dogs, $12, one hour, thanks to Incredipet, since there's no game.

Feeling tired and I have a headache. I'm thinking of going on to bed early rather than doing some things I need to do around the house. They'll keep till tomorrow, I think. Hope your Saturday went well.

Not surprisingly, I overslept

So I'm getting a later start to my morning than I liked. But I'm ready to go; I have the lease signed, the books ready for the library, etc. So it's just eat a bagel and then I'm off. Brandon texted me a photo of the sunrise at their present location, which was lovely. :) I did get a couple of VERY early morning texts that I thought was him at first but it turned out to be some sort of scam to determine if my number was legitimate, I think. Someone texted a picture and another one where it tried to send a read receipt back to the person. I deleted them without sending such a receipt. If they're going to do this, I wish they wouldn't do it at five in the morning. Grrr....Then I lost a contact. I am 98% sure it is not in my eye, although now my eye is red from my searching for it. I can't see it, I can't see out of that eye, and if I put my glasses on, it's normal. But I'm not sure what happened to it. I guess it went down the drain (no, I did not close the drain--mine doesn't do that anymore). I like to never got the other one in, the first one I put in. So I had to take that out and now I'm wearing my glasses and my eyes are irritated. :(

Okay, finished with the bagel. I'm going to go to the leasing office, farmer's market, and library, then head over to my friends' house (who have already called; that's what woke me up eventually). Have a great day.

So tired I'm actually blogging from bed

I should be doing some laundry, but instead I have my feet up, am sitting in front of a fan, and am listening to Natalie Merchant. I was really tired last night when I got home from the vow renewal, so I didn't do any blogging. It went off really well. I got to meet the couple's friends and family, it was lovely, and it was kind of nice to dress up and go out. I got several compliments on my dress, but alas, no pictures (Brandon did try, but my camera is a little tricky and my phone was turned off so nothing would interrupt the service, and I didn't think to put it back on.) But any sort of social situation with lots of people I don't know is always very hard for me. I don't mingle well, for one. I usually latch onto the one person I know, which I couldn't do much there because of course, he was one of the principals in the whole thing. It was a very nice mix of all sorts of people, though, and I did enjoy myself. I stayed through the meal, cake, and toast, but didn't really do any dancing. I'm really no good at it. I got home a little after 10 and then filled a friend who missed it in on things. Then I went straight to bed. I so should not have stayed up the night before with the computer.

Now the happy couple are on a road trip as a getaway (the kids are with family). I took a friend to an appointment this afternoon and then we had dinner together. Then I headed on home about sunset, stopping at the liquor store for some wine for my monthly libation and the bank so I could get some cash for the farmer's market tomorrow. There was an ATM at the store, but I was NOT going to pay $3.25 to some no name ATM for taking my own money out of the bank, when I could just drive down the street and get it for free. In the bus days, of course, I'd have probably done it. On my way back to the house, I was in the right-hand lane of a double left turning lane on Man O'War when someone turning left from Richmond Road turned into MY side of the median, into the empty extreme left lane next to me. They then realised their mistake and tried to go over the median, scraping the underside of their car pretty badly. It was a stupid mistake, but I could see it happening given the lower visibility at dusk. But I'm glad they didn't wind up in my lane. At least everyone was okay, although I doubt their car will be.

My plans for tomorrow:

1. Stop by the Bluegrass Farmer's Market
2. Turn in some library books, pay my fines (I lost track of the time this past month a bit)
3. Sign and turn in my lease
4. Help a friend out with a project
5. Do laundry
6. Work on the game notes (although I think the game will not be on, as it's Father's Day Sunday and Brenda will probably be doing something with her family)

If I can accomplish all that, I shall be happy. If I can also watch some videos that I'm behind on, I'll be doubly so. Okay, my back is hurting from sitting up in the bed. Good night.

I am hot, I am sweaty, my feet hurt, and a bird pooped on me--

but at least I am home, in air conditioning, with my shoes off. And the shirt is one that I once spilled a good portion of automatic transmission fluid on, which eventually came out, so surely bird poop will. I don't think it actually hit my hair or body, although I am tempted to hop into the shower just to cool down. It's in the mid- to upper-70s and it's late evening.

I worked today, of course, and then a co-worker dropped me off at my first stop of the evening, saving me about forty-five minutes, but still, it's nearly 8 pm and I'm just getting home. This evening I:

1. Picked up some things from Incredipet for a friend.
   
2. Got my hair cut (I can't tell yet how it really looks, as I am windblown and sweaty).
   
3. Got my bus pass.
   
4. Picked up some alcohol pads and a bit of food until I can do an actual grocery run.
   
5. Dropped off my (signed) lease, with a note saying, yes, I'd like the free carpet cleaning.

Yay for getting paid today, although most of it will go towards rent. If I had thought about it, I would have had my co-worker drop me off at the bank and gotten my rent together so I could drop it off with the lease, but no, I didn't until after the bank was closed. The bank has later lobby hours tomorrow, and then there's Saturday, and I have until the 5th, so I'm not in danger of being late.

So far things have been pretty good this week, although I've run into a couple of glitches. I have a report to do by Monday but have bad data to work with, and the person who can give me the correct data is off sick. I have some surveys to compile so that I can get my needs assessment finished and get a library committee meeting together, but the file for the form became corrupted, and I have to create a new one and then manually enter the data, since it won't scan the old form. And I need to catch up on some statistics and filing, but tomorrow's a little slow so I'm hoping that will work. It feels like today is Friday, and everyone else seems ready for the week to end as well. One of my bosses won't be here tomorrow because (yay) she's having her hooding ceremony for her doctorate (she has graduation Sunday). In nursing, they pin you when you get your BSN, and have the hooding ceremony when you attain your PhD. I'm very happy for her.

Not to sound superstitious, but I've found two lucky pennies in one day. That must be good for something, right?

This morning, as I walked from the bus stop to the hospital, a lovely cardinal perched on the sign singing, and it let me get pretty close before flying to the bushes. I wish I'd gotten a picture.

What else of import happened today? Oh, I did get a chuckle while reading through my lease before I signed it. There's a mistake where instead of making sure the lessee does not make any alterations to the apartment without the manager's consent, it says there will be no altercations made. Let's hope not. :)

Okay, I've had something cold to drink and ate a light dinner. Lunch today was grilled salmon, grilled vegetables (asparagus, spinach, peppers, and onions), sweet potato 'fries', and a small salad, which I thought was very sensible and healthy, and it disproves several persons' opinions that for a vegetarian I don't eat vegetables. I just don't eat as many as I should, which is sad, because I love vegetables. But I tend to let them spoil in the fridge (there's salad makings that seem to be okay in there right now, but they have been there two weeks), canned ones aren't as good for you (but I do eat those), and often our cafeteria vegetables are either fried or wilt on the heat tables by the time I go to lunch. But I am making a concerted effort to eat more of them. And the salmon was very good today, as were the vegetables.

I usually check the news about this time, but frankly, I'm a little tired. I am not going on to bed, however. Really. Maybe a shower would pep me up....

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. :)

Well, it's official

Listening to: 'What Ever it Takes' by Lifehouse (can't embed, sorry)
Reading: Storm Front by Jim Butcher (yes, I found it!)


I signed my lease, so I'm here for another year. I like my apartment complex. It's quiet, neat, and they're very prompt with maintenance. (Yes, it would be nice to own a home, but those unexpected expenses can get you, too.) We're the only apartment complex in the area (there are townhouses and duplexes, but mostly single-family homes) and it's convenient to most of east and central Lexington. It's mostly families and single professionals (partying students are not encouraged) and I have a police officer who lives on my floor who also serves as a courtesy officer. As a special bonus, they're throwing in a complimentary carpet shampoo, which is about $45 otherwise. My rent is going up $15 a month, but that seems pretty par for the course these days.

Well, that's all I have for now. I go to do the shipment at the store in about an hour. Hope your day is a good one.

PS I was looking up Lifehouse, and got to this (the song is by lead singer Jason Wade as is called 'From Where You Are'). It's a pretty simple yet strong auto insurance commercial from Allstate regarding parent-teen driving contracts.

I've felt wonky all day

but the good news is I just checked my blood sugar and it is at 126, almost normal. It has been elevated before I eat anything at the beginning of the day still, and my haemoglobin A1C was 7.5% (it should be 6% or less), and my triglycerides are up, so they want me to come in to the doctor's office tomorrow to go over my labs. Dr Nesbitt is going to put me on TriCor for my triglycerides. It's just one more pill to take. Sigh. But hopefully it will make me better.

With an eye to eating healthier I went to the co-op and found some low-carb tortillas, whole grain bread, pomegranate jelly, strawberries, and some non-Chiquita bananas (check out the post that explains why) and instead got some Dole organics. So somewhere in this town there are other brands, yay). I also got some of my favourite incense to relax to. I'm thinking of renewing my owner's membership.

I also am renewing my lease on my apartment. I called the office today and they'll draw up the paperwork for tomorrow. It's not up until May 31st, but I figured I might as well be prepared. The rent's going up $15, but that's not TOO bad. Plus I get some sort of gift for renewing. I'll have to check them out. But regardless, I have no plans to voluntarily move any time soon. It's too much trouble, and I think my friends are all moved out from the last couple of times. I think I've lived here three years now, going on four. Another few won't hurt. Plus, it's a straight stretch of road to both of my jobs.

I'm excited that Heroes is coming back tonight and I'm definitely planning on watching.

Well, I guess that's it for now. Hope your day has gone well.