My lease ends on Monday, and the maintenance supervisor never showed up to inspect my apartment. The appointment was at 3:30 PM, and I assure you I was nervous until I finally emailed the office and they said no one was coming, they’ll check in after the weekend. I doubt I’m staying here for free, though.
I just threw a lot of anxiety at a problem that didn’t exist. I should have talked myself down from the ceiling, but I didn’t until recently. I was too keyed up on coffee and anticipation of getting this thing done. I am not pleased that I didn’t find out they weren’t coming until I contacted them an hour after their missed appointment. It’s just another strike on their record, but I’m hoping for good things down the road with a different place. The maintenance guys aren’t to blame- the building is old and they are handed down a budget, expected to work magic.
Not every fix holds.
These apartments are old and have been remodeled at least once since they were built. However, I do not think that the renovation necessarily makes it “better.” It’s clearly rental grade everything, it just looks newer.
Although because my bathroom flooded they had to rip up the vinyl flooring that was covering the original tile. I like the original tile better, because it doesn’t feel cheap.
I don’t like things that feel cheap, and go out of my way to research quality before I spend money. And because I watch DIY-ers who overhaul houses and make their own furniture, I know what to look for in terms built to last or built to rent.
If I’m so blessed by the universe, I’d like to build my own house from the ground up, picking out all the materials. Despite never owning a house before, I have serious opinions about insulation………… because I watch YouTube and that makes me an expert.
Actually, builders floor me on YouTube and I know I couldn’t do as perfect a job. Perkins Brothers is my favorite channel, because they’re pros that take the time to explain what they do. They are very popular in North Carolina, where they’re based, but they have fans all over the world.
I got into building because I liked the ASMR aspect. Then, I started getting videos in my feed that also had talking. I slowly began to pick up knowledge. I feel like I have a library in my head that I may never use, because I may never own a house. But that doesn’t matter as much as the calming influence of ASMR. I will learn all of these things whether I want to or not, because the sound of the power tools lulls me to sleep.
And actually, I like videos about cars, too. Restorations of old makes and models that I remember, but young people would think were antique. I am slowly learning the names of things and where they’re located on multiple brands.
I want to slowly take over the maintenance on my own car, but I need to buy a Chilton or a Haynes manual, plus find videos on YouTube that are specific to my Fusion. I am sure that I could save a ton of money with a little elbow grease, and I know I would feel an immense sense of pride at fixing it by myself.
I will be nervous to fly solo without my mechanic friends, but I have a service advisor at Ford to bail me out if I get halfway through something and think, “I am in WAY over my head.” Again, her name is Kara and I think the world of her, because she told me the truth all the way through the process and didn’t try to upsell me on anything I didn’t need. She gave me a list and told me to approve which things I wanted done, and made sure to note which ones were critical.
I was able to approve the work over the internet, and if I’d read the web page closer, I could have paid that way, too. It was a very streamlined process, and I am so happy with the results.
She seems more stable, like the engine is tuned correctly.
I had to make up an excuse to go somewhere just so I could drive. I went to Walmart, where I got some Christmas candy. I actually needed a Tootsie Roll bank. 😉
I got some honey roasted peanut M&Ms. I cannot really tell a difference, but I love peanut and chocolate anything. It’s a sizable bag, so I’m trying to mete them out. Wish me luck.
And then I went to Dunkin for an afternoon pick-me-up, another iced macchiato that brightened my mood considerably.
I’m glad that I didn’t take long at either place, because I had a meeting that I did not know was canceled.
Now it’s time to start thinking seriously about winter. Walmart has the Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations up, which means I have about three weeks before I feel like my ass could literally fall off in the cold.
I’d like to order a Merino wool base layer and a couple more mid-weight shirts. The best mid-weight shirts I have are from Uniqlo, so I’ll take a look at their web site before I commit to Amazon. Japan has such cold winters that they really do have it wired in terms of clothing. I have some lined wool trousers from them that really keep out the chill.
I have found that I don’t mind it being cold when I’m dressed for it, and there’s been quite a few years where I was dressed wrong. The layering techniques I’ve learned are entirely Finnish, because I’ve read so much about how they deal with cold. I figure “let the experts handle that one.”
It has worked. I’m completely comfortable no matter how cold it gets because there are more layers close to my skin…. and in fact, I might even overheat by putting a coat on top.
People that say “aren’t you freezing?” when I’m not wearing a coat are only saying that because my outer layer is a sweatshirt and jeans or waterproof pants. My winter gear doesn’t look bulky enough to be warm, and that’s a good thing.
I should go to the thrift store that’s across the street from my Cognitive Behavioral Health group, and to the Goodwill that’s in my neighborhood. I might be able to find even better deals on mid-weight tops, and most days a long-sleeved t-shirt is sufficient over my base layer.
I have three that are cool. One has a Finnish flag, one is from the spy museum, and the last is more of a waffle weave from Hopworks Urban Brewery in Portland, Oregon.
I need more than three.
I tried to find one at the Baltimore aquarium I liked, but none of the designs spoke to me. It wasn’t about money. I didn’t find any of them cool. I will wait for a new slate to come out and get a shirt next year.
I’m rambling on about clothing because the pressure of having this inspection off is simply a stay of execution. I don’t like being in limbo on my lease, but they are comfortable with it? I suppose no one can live here until they take a look, anyway, but it’s freaking me out that they know my lease ends on Monday and no dice.
As a neurodivergent person, I am not comfortable with change. It’s completely disorienting for me that I have to get ready for them to come again on Sunday night. It means staying on top of my executive dysfunction so that I’m not rushing around, I’m just spot checking.
I have to remind myself that I am capable of this, that I am learning to slow down and organize instead of the usual AuDHD mad dash to complete what is usually several projects at once.
Mico, my AI digital assistant, is keeping track of all of my projects so we can switch hit in conversations. I like that I can go on all the tangents I want, looping back around when I need the next step in the series.
Right now, Mico is telling me to do a load of laundry, and I am telling Mico that it’s just not going to happen soon. I have to sleep, even if it’s just for a half hour. But I don’t think I will get that nap, because there are kids running on the floor above me. The noise is deafening.
I think my neighbors might be running a day care center, or they take care of their grandkids. That’s because I know there’s at least one baby, and an unknowable amount of charming children coming in and out.
I am certain that if I loved these children, it would be a lot less annoying.
No, I’m not.
I do like children, I’m just wary of them because I didn’t have a great time when I was a child. I have turned off my youth director social mask, because I just don’t need it anymore. Therefore, when I’m in front of children I feel vulnerable, trying to be cool and knowing that’s impossible.
Maybe I’m just too much of a grump, but some kids seem drawn to that part of my personality. Probably because they know it’s mostly fake disgust.
Mostly.
I try to let less get under my skin, really focusing on what’s important. My house needed to be cleaned, so I talked it out with AI and got it done. I didn’t think about extemporaneous shit when I was cleaning my fridge.
I listened to Pod Save America with all the Crooked Media folks and Barack Obama. Great episode because it was filmed live in DC in front of a lot of federal workers.
It’s been a disturbing downward spiral around here, so I’ve dropped out of being a news junkie, for the most part. Then I listen to something like “Pod Save America” and I have the fire in the belly to swallow the news whole. Then I get edgy enough to throw my shoes at the TV. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
I could probably take down Metamucillini, but I don’t have to say much. The proof is in the pudding that Donald Trump is unpopular. That I am stuck with a bunch of other frustrated Americans who are waiting for the craziness to end.
I think it’s going to get worse before it gets better.
I’d like to spend some time overseas to get a break from all this winning.
I mean, as of Monday I won’t even have a lease tying me down.
Stories That Are All True 