GoingNorth
Crazy Cat Lady
Well, the drywall behind the washer and dryer is finally dry. One fan out of the place.
The carpenter from the mitigation company pulled out the particle board bottom of the vanity today...while the power was out due to 8" of heavy wet snow and an inch of ice. He set up his task light and I held my flashlight.
Once he got the bottom of the vanity out (it came out in crumbles) we discovered that a cold water inlet pipe to the sink was LEAKING away!
That certainly explains why things weren't drying in there. So, the plumber is coming BACK out tomorrow afternoon to repair that pipe. On MY dime. Or actually on MY credit card as I can't afford to cough up any more cash and still meet my obligations for the month.
We also discovered that the drywall behind the vanity is soaked. So, before the carpenter can repair the vanity, we have to get the drywall dried out. ANother several days with the honking big fan and dehumidifier in the bathroom.
I spent Saturday night in a local hotel, paying holiday rates in a tourist area for the privilege of being able to take a (long) hot shower; my first in a week, during which I scrubbed myself practically raw, and sleep in blessed silence.
And that's what I did other than coming home to scoop litterpans, feed and scratch kitties, and give Thomas his Valium.
IT was a very boring hotel stay. I ate carryout, ate ibuprofen and penicilling as I've got two teeth going bad and don't know when I'll be able to get to the dentist to get them separated from my head (both are fractured and not candidates for root canals)
And slept the rest of the time. If the equipment is still in the bathroom for several more days, it will mean another trip to a hotel for a cleanliness break. I can't even get close enough to the tub to stand on a towel and take a sponge bath at this point.
Meanwhile, it is supposed to snow and ice all week on and off.
I finally made it to the vet to pick up the RX diet for Thomas wonky innards. With the help of the Valium, he is again roaming the house, fans be darned, but Squeaky hasn't left the bedroom since last Monday evening and isn't eating well. I've been sharing my meals with her. Luckily she has a cast iron digestive tract, so I don't have to worry about people food making her sick.
Thomas' coat is a mess as I can't reach my grooming tools which were in the cabinet in the bathroom. He isn't matted yet, but will take a deal of combing out before he's again presentable.
I did get one bit of news about this. I called the mobile home park manager today to ask if he could recommend a realtor to sell this place (hopefully before it breaks my bank) and he told me that he gets calls all the time from people looking to buy homes in the park, specifically cheap homes in the park, so I'm putting a sign in the window, and he will send people by once this round of mayhem is complete.
Whle the power was out, I made a rather appalling discovery. I quit smoking about 4 months ago. (I use an e-cig) and do not have lighters or matches in the house. It got cold in here, since of course the furnace doesn't work without power. I went to turn on the stove for some heat and realized that it has electronic ignition and I have no way to manually light the gas!
So, off to the drug store to buy some matches. They don't have any. I had to buy a cigarette lighter, which worked for lighting a burner, so I could light a twist of paper towel, stick my head in the oven, and light that.
Miracle I didn't singe my eyebrows off.
So, note to self: if still in this place when grilling season starts, buy a grill lighter.
I do want to mention that I have tranquilizers. I have booze. I have cigarettes and nicotine lozenges. I have not hit ANY of them during what has to have been one of the most stressful weeks I've experienced in the past few years.
Other than that, the apartment hunt is going well. I have several likely candidates in nice areas, though not as close to the state line as I'd like (those are all "Chicago suburbs now) as I can't afford the rents), but rather in the Milwaukee 'burbs, that will allow 2 cats, have rents that I can afford and will accept my FICO scores.
So, some good is coming of all this.
But, those of you who have silence in your lives right now, cherish it. It is amazing how stressful constant noise is.
I don't know how I managed to work in the old computer rooms for half my life without losing my mind in addition to quite a bit of my hearing.
So, that is my sad tale of woe still ongoing. The battle I with the ins co is still ongoing, but the mitigation company is fighting it out with them at this point and I am hoping I won't have to retain a lawyer to get this settled.
Hope those of you who celebrate had a happy easter/Passover
The carpenter from the mitigation company pulled out the particle board bottom of the vanity today...while the power was out due to 8" of heavy wet snow and an inch of ice. He set up his task light and I held my flashlight.
Once he got the bottom of the vanity out (it came out in crumbles) we discovered that a cold water inlet pipe to the sink was LEAKING away!
That certainly explains why things weren't drying in there. So, the plumber is coming BACK out tomorrow afternoon to repair that pipe. On MY dime. Or actually on MY credit card as I can't afford to cough up any more cash and still meet my obligations for the month.
We also discovered that the drywall behind the vanity is soaked. So, before the carpenter can repair the vanity, we have to get the drywall dried out. ANother several days with the honking big fan and dehumidifier in the bathroom.
I spent Saturday night in a local hotel, paying holiday rates in a tourist area for the privilege of being able to take a (long) hot shower; my first in a week, during which I scrubbed myself practically raw, and sleep in blessed silence.
And that's what I did other than coming home to scoop litterpans, feed and scratch kitties, and give Thomas his Valium.
IT was a very boring hotel stay. I ate carryout, ate ibuprofen and penicilling as I've got two teeth going bad and don't know when I'll be able to get to the dentist to get them separated from my head (both are fractured and not candidates for root canals)
And slept the rest of the time. If the equipment is still in the bathroom for several more days, it will mean another trip to a hotel for a cleanliness break. I can't even get close enough to the tub to stand on a towel and take a sponge bath at this point.
Meanwhile, it is supposed to snow and ice all week on and off.
I finally made it to the vet to pick up the RX diet for Thomas wonky innards. With the help of the Valium, he is again roaming the house, fans be darned, but Squeaky hasn't left the bedroom since last Monday evening and isn't eating well. I've been sharing my meals with her. Luckily she has a cast iron digestive tract, so I don't have to worry about people food making her sick.
Thomas' coat is a mess as I can't reach my grooming tools which were in the cabinet in the bathroom. He isn't matted yet, but will take a deal of combing out before he's again presentable.
I did get one bit of news about this. I called the mobile home park manager today to ask if he could recommend a realtor to sell this place (hopefully before it breaks my bank) and he told me that he gets calls all the time from people looking to buy homes in the park, specifically cheap homes in the park, so I'm putting a sign in the window, and he will send people by once this round of mayhem is complete.
Whle the power was out, I made a rather appalling discovery. I quit smoking about 4 months ago. (I use an e-cig) and do not have lighters or matches in the house. It got cold in here, since of course the furnace doesn't work without power. I went to turn on the stove for some heat and realized that it has electronic ignition and I have no way to manually light the gas!
So, off to the drug store to buy some matches. They don't have any. I had to buy a cigarette lighter, which worked for lighting a burner, so I could light a twist of paper towel, stick my head in the oven, and light that.
Miracle I didn't singe my eyebrows off.
So, note to self: if still in this place when grilling season starts, buy a grill lighter.
I do want to mention that I have tranquilizers. I have booze. I have cigarettes and nicotine lozenges. I have not hit ANY of them during what has to have been one of the most stressful weeks I've experienced in the past few years.
Other than that, the apartment hunt is going well. I have several likely candidates in nice areas, though not as close to the state line as I'd like (those are all "Chicago suburbs now) as I can't afford the rents), but rather in the Milwaukee 'burbs, that will allow 2 cats, have rents that I can afford and will accept my FICO scores.
So, some good is coming of all this.
But, those of you who have silence in your lives right now, cherish it. It is amazing how stressful constant noise is.
I don't know how I managed to work in the old computer rooms for half my life without losing my mind in addition to quite a bit of my hearing.
So, that is my sad tale of woe still ongoing. The battle I with the ins co is still ongoing, but the mitigation company is fighting it out with them at this point and I am hoping I won't have to retain a lawyer to get this settled.
Hope those of you who celebrate had a happy easter/Passover