Wondering where to move

Saturday went pretty well.  I didn’t sleep that well , mainly thinking about the rent to own one story townhouse I saw on 200 Huff Heritage.  Fortunately, I took a half a valium around 4 and was able to sleep until almost after 8.  I did the first set of my knee exercises, emailed Melinda asking when my meeting with the tenants was going to happen and complaining about them waking me up again.  I then drove out to the ABC store by Kroger and got 17 boxes so that was a relief. Then I headed out to 200 Huff Heritage and checked the distances to St. Mary’s, to Radford and to Blacksburg.  You can certainly hear I-81 but I need to get inside on Monday to really make a decision.   I asked a fellow across the street and he had no problem from the adjoining townhouses but he did say that at first the highway noise bothered him but then he got used to it although he did put up heavy curtains.  He thought 200 would get less noise so we’ll see.  I left a message and he left one for me about townhouses and I hope to connect with him later.  I took a 40 minute bike ride (up the steep part 4 times) then watched some TV and then cut my hair and got ready for Mass and the Welcome dinner.  Mass was fine and the Welcome dinner ended up well with me chatting with Jim and Barbara and Das and Cece.  I stayed after to help clean up and when I got home I did 25 minutes of piano, watched some of the Louisville / Clemson game, then got to my blog.   

still getting to sleep

Wednesday turned out pretty well.  Knee exercises, reading the Bible and Augustine.   Then I went out to play golf at Auburn Hills (it is 19 dollars during the week but they do have a 30 round special for 750 dollars, which isn’t a bad deal but I don’t want to spend 750 right now.  I shot a 52, which was fine for Auburn because it is a much harder course than the old Meadows.  I rode my bike for 40 minutes in the Perry Street parking area and then headed home for dinner.  I struggled to do my weights and yoga and I didn’t do my piano or my blog.  I just sat and watched Clash of the Titans. 

Thursday was also a pretty good day.  I slept well, did my full prayers and songs at 6:00 (when the upstairs tenants aren’t awake yet), then did my knee exercises.  I then went to get my bloodwork but despite sticking me twice (and getting in the vein), my blood wouldn’t flow so I have to go back tomorrow.  I got a good bike ride in at Hethwood (going up the steeper part 4 times) for 40 minutes and then I decided to dry out the kayak.  I was able to dry it out completely despite it being overcast and I cleaned out the truck, straightened out the tarp, put some more golf balls in my bag and read some of the Idiot and Augustine.  I also had a nice chat with Mary Gorton about writing and religion.  Later I talked with Gyorgyi and we are going to meet for lunch at Lefty’s at 1 tomorrow.  I did my piano playing and later I will do my weights and yoga.  I did get a response from Melinda Dunford and she is not going to reduce my rent but she will try to set up a meeting with the upstairs tenants. 

the rental home search continues

Tuesday was a decent day even if it rained all day.  I started my knee exercises, then called Dr. Poovey’s office about my eyes and the prednisone.  He said that below 20 mg. and I should be fine for a new prescription so I was able to go in at 10:30 and get my eyes checked out.  My left eye is really bad (partially due to the start of a cataract) but Poovey thought a new prescription would bring my eyesight back to 20/30 which would be much better than it is right now.  I ordered new lenses (costing 340 dollars) and I am hoping they will be ready by the 20^th, just before my trip.  I then had a crispy chicken sandwich and a Frosty and then a nap in my truck.  The nap really helped and I thenwent to look at a couple houses, neither of which will work out for me.  I then drove home for another nap and after that went to the Perry Street garage for 40 minutes of flat biking.  I emailed Maddie and Claire, congratulating the latter for getting the job.  She thanked me for all my help.  I talked to Lou and he was doing okay but Cathy probably has a kidney stone so that is not the best news.  I also had a good and funny exchange with my kayak buddy.  I did practice some piano and I hope I have enough energy to do my weights and yoga.  I also edited Lauren’s essay but she is still using her grandad’s experience and that isn’t working.  They fixed the floor in the upstairs apartment and it is a definite improvement. 

Starting the hunt for a house

Monday was a good day.  I did my knee exercises, read some Augustine and some of the Bible, and then headed out to look at some rental houses and go to my office to hand in my evaluation form and my extra employment form.  I chatted with Rosemary some and Moira and then headed out to go back to my apartment, ride my bike (three times up the steeper part),  then a nap before heading out for Holy Spirit.  The group was very good again and they asked me to read the gospel and I did okay.  They did pray for me to get a place where I can sleep, which is crucial.  Melinda called in response to my email pointing out her great concern about the tenants above being able to make noise anywhere in their apartment at any time and she left a message and I should hear from her tomorrow.  I talked to Judy about faith and I am still struggling with a belief in God, the resurrection of Jesus and the resurrection of the body.  I keep praying and going to Mass and Holy Spirit and RCIA so I hope something will happen at some point.  I still have to play the piano and do my yoga and weights so I still have work ahead of me.     

Another great kayak trip with my kayak friend

Saturday was a pretty good day.  I did my knee exercises, practiced piano, went for a good uphill bike ride for almost 40 minutes, watched some football, went to the 5 pm mass, went to look at a rental property at 210 Robin Hood, then ended up taking a walk around Blacksburg.  I sent Melinda an email about releasing me without penalty from the lease and asking her for compensation for the upcoming move.  I also got the notice from social security and I will end up losing 4K.  I would like to question them on it but if I bring it up I could lose even more so I may just accept things the way they are.  That means I will have to dig into my savings this month and next but I will be getting regular checks starting in November.  My travelling situation is going to be almost nothing until I see how the income taxes work out.  If I get back anything, then perhaps a short summer trip will be possible.  I talked to Lou yesterday and he was doing better and he said he would be sad to leave the girls.  He was very thankful for my help and I told him just to heal and that would be thanks enough. 

Sunday started out well.  I was able to sleep until 4:30 but needed to take a 2.5 mg valium to get back to sleep before the tenants started making noise and then I slept almost till 9, which was quite good for me.  I tried calling Shawn again but no response so I was able to get my kayak in my truck (it didn’t feel that heavy so my strength is certainly better) and I am to meet Kate at the bridge at 12:45.  I hope being folded up for so long has not hurt my kayak.   My kayak trip with my kayak friend was a great success and the water was up so we were able to hit two really good holes at the end.  Both of us got covered with water.  Earlier we went up the stream and under the railroad bridge and then we continued our chat.  One of our best trips ever.   I picked up a Jimmy John’s sandwich and then headed home for a nap and then a bike ride (three times up the steeper part) then cleaned out the wet stuff in the truck and played some jazz and some church songs on the piano.  Then it was TV time and hopefully I will do my weights and yoga.  

I will be leaving Hethwood

      Thursday was not a great day, mainly since I was woken up at 1 again.  I couldn’t get back to sleep and got up around 6:30, not well rested at all.  I did my knee exercises and then decided to go play golf and played pretty well.  The last day I can play is Saturday and then the Meadows closes forever.  I talked to Megan Anderson and she gave me a lot of nonsense and below is the e-mail I wrote to her boss:

Dear Melinda Dunford,

      I am writing to you about the lack of success Megan Anderson has had in resolving a problem I never expected to have when I came to Stroubles Creek.

     I was told that the Stroubles Creek area was only for professionals and graduate students (I will be glad to show you my early notes that make it clear what I was told) and that it would be a quiet place to live.  Even if I wasn’t in chemotherapy for kidney lupus (and I had been extremely ill from January to early August), my apartment should be one where I can get a decent night’s sleep.  That’s why I am paying significantly more for this apartment and that is what I expected for the extra money.  I never would have come here if it wasn’t going to be a place where I could rest comfortably and heal.  My doctors will agree that good sleep is crucial to my recovery and I don’t want to die at Hethwood.   I want to also point out that I am a cancer survivor, having gotten colon cancer almost ten years ago and having to have a colon resection and 5 months of chemotherapy back then.   I also suffer from asthma, hypothyroidism and high blood pressure. 

       Let me give you a little history of my Stroubles’ experience.  For the first 12 days I was really impressed.  The apartment above me was quiet and I thought it was because of the solid construction.  I rode my bike, walked around, practiced my piano (through headphones so I wouldn’t bother anyone), wrote some and thought I had found an excellent place to live.

          But on Saturday, the 26^th, I went to bed my usual time, a little after midnight, and at 1:45 in the morning I was awoken by incessant pounding on the floor above me.  I had previously thought that because Stroubles was the most expensive area of Hethwood, it would be better built but clearly the ceiling was not very well built at all.  I called the visitor’s center and left a message and then called the number that was given by your message and talked to Ashley about what to do.  She said that since Hethwood had no security officer that I should call the police, which I did.  They said they sent someone to the apartment to knock on the door but no one answered.  The noise kept up and around 3 I called and two officers came (one a Sergeant Craver), but they refused to go up and knock again and advised me not to go up and knock, and I followed their advice. 

      I talked to Ms. Anderson a number of times and little was done but I would like to focus on yesterday’s phone call after I suffered through another night of interrupted sleep.

      Ms. Anderson said, “That’s how apartment living is.” Perhaps in the rest of Hethwood but that was not what I was told about Stroubles.   She was very rude to me on the phone, and she kept interrupting me.  

      One of the worst things she did was mention the word “harassing” as if somehow my desire to go to bed at 12:15 and complaining when I the noisy tenants above wake me up is somehow harassing them.  That was an utterly ridiculous thing for Ms. Anderson to say.   By their refusal to respond to her requests, I am the one being harassed, not the tenants above. 

       Even more absurd is her allegation that she has not witnessed the noise from above.  Of course she has.  She came over with another woman and a young man (can you send me their names?) and they all took turns going upstairs and walking around and the young man said that the floor needed to be repaired by stabilizing it with screws, and that they would try to do it as soon as possible.  I am still waiting.   Do Ms. Anderson think that the tenants upstairs walk differently than her and her associates?   

       I have only been home two nights in the past week (my friend was seriously injured in a car accident and was in the trauma unit in Wake Forest Baptist Hospital and I went down to take care of his daughters) and both nights the noisy tenants woke me at 1 with their continual noise. 

       All I am asking is that you repair the floor as soon as possible, set up a meeting so I can meet the tenants, express my concerns about how noisy they are and inform them of my illness, and ask them to be quiet after 12:15 (I understand the need to go to the bathroom, but that requires only a few steps and after the floor is repaired the noise should be minimized). 

        Do you think that you are treating me fairly?  I don’t and I want to remedy the situation as soon as possible.  In my view, if I can’t sleep, the apartment is uninhabitable.

Sincerely,

Dr. Justin Askins

Professor of English

Radford University   

After that I went over to help Mary Gorton with the article she was writing and it was pretty good.  She used a lot of good details. 

Friday was a day of relief even though it is going to mean some expense for me and a lot of work.  I spoke with Melinda and she basically said that there was nothing Hethwood could do about the upstairs tenants.  They have the right to walk around whenever they want and they don’t have to meet with me.  She did agree that the floor would be repaired but she said that even if it was repaired the floor was going to be noisy.   I told her that I had my notes that I was told that only graduate students and professionals could rent apartments in Stroubles but that was a lie.  So, halfway through the conversation she offered to let me out of my lease since there was no way Hethwood could fix the problem so I agreed to her offer.  After I got off with her, I called Darbi but she is out of the realty business and she gave me Peg Warren’s number and I left her a message.  I decided to go play my final round of golf at the Meadows and that was fun and I played pretty well.  I later talked to Dave and he thought I should rent a place, not buy one right now, and that makes sense because if I end up not liking it I would be stuck or have to sell it.  He mentioned a lease to own option and I will ask about that.  Fortunately, I didn’t put up any pictures in my apartment and a lot of my stuff is still in boxes so the move is not going to be that hard.  I hope I can find a place in a reasonably short time but after moving my guest room mattress into the living room I did sleep okay.  I hope that will last until I leave.  I talked to Cathy and Lou had a low fever but at least started going to the bathroom so that is good.  They will be back on Sunday and I hope Lou feels better soon.  I also went to see Dr. Hurd this morning and the mark on my face is benign so no problems there. 

A bad accident and my first visit to Winston Salem

Friday was going okay until about 4 o’clock when I got a call from Maddie that her parents had been in a bad car accident.  I asked her if she wanted me to come down and she said yes, and when I called Cathy she sounded pretty bad, didn’t know even if Lou were alive, and also asked if I could come down to look after Maddie and Claire.  I was a Walmart so I ditched my shopping cart and started down.  It was overcast and then it started raining about halfway there but I drove nonstop and got to the apartment around 6:30.  We soon found out that Lou was going to be transported to Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in Winston Salem and that he was seriously injured, with 6 (later changed to 7) and a broken clavicle.  We had pizza for dinner and then spent the evening waiting for updates.

Saturday morning I drove the girls to the hospital and we got to see Lou in the emergency room and he looked pretty bad.  After out visit we went back to the apartment and I rode my bike and I think I pulled my side because it really started to hurt.  I thought I might have to go to the emergency room but I took some Tylenol and that helped a little.  We went back to visit after having dinner at Zoe’s kitchen and Lou had been move to an ICU unit.  He was able to speak but got confused at points.

Sunday was a hard day because after I took Maddie and Claire over to see Lou, all four of us returned to the apartment and then I dropped Maddie and Claire off to see Lou and then Cathy and I drove up to Hillsville to get all the stuff out of the SUV.  Both Cathy and I were shocked at the condition of the Rogue (we had both been expecting some damage to the right front passenger door but the whole right front and been smashed and the right front wheel was almost horizontal.  Clearly the Rogue was totaled, and after a brief crying stint by both of us, we unloaded the vehicle and drove over to the crash site (Cathy wanted to see it) and she decided that it had to be her fault (it seemed to me also that it was her fault) but I kept telling her it was just an accident, words that had little effect on her.  I drove her back to the hospital where she visited briefly and got the keys to the apartment then Claire and I drove back to the apartment and unloaded the stuff from the Rogue.  Then we drove back to the hospital and picked up Cathy and Maddie and we all went back to nap.  We went out to Zoe’s Kitchen for dinner and then I dropped Cathy, Maddie and Claire off and after I had two walks, Maddie and Claire returned and we headed back to the apartment where I watched the Virginia Tech game, a very exciting victory by Tech. 

Monday morning went slowly because Cathy wanted Maddie and Claire to visit Lou so I took them over and then we went back to the apartment.  We finally headed off to Radford around 10 and got there a little after noon.  I dropped her off and then went home to do my knee exercises and my weights and yoga.  I went to bed around 12 but the upstairs tenants woke me at 12:45 and I had a tough time going back to sleep, eventually having to take a 2.5 mg valium and it was past 3 before I dropped off.  I got up around 8 and had my breakfast, then started my knee exercises and called Cathy.  I did some things for her but she wasn’t doing so well so I offered to drive her back down and she accepted.  I got my stuff together drove over and we had a good drive back down, chatting a lot and we went to the apartment, picked up the girls and went to eat at Zoe’s Kitchen before we dropped her off at the hospital and Claire and Maddie visited.  There was a possibility that Lou would be released the next day, which seemed kind of shocking to all of us.  Then Cathy stayed and I drove the girls home.  I watched some TV and did my yoga exercises. 

Wednesday was a good day even though the rain made driving difficult.  Claire wanted to see Lou so I told her to come with me and Maddie and after I dropped Maddie off at Wake Forest, we took a short walk with umbrellas around the main library, a lovely park like campus.  I will ride around it at some point.  Then I dropped off Claire (Eric had gotten there) and I rested in my truck until we got the word that Lou was being released so I drove down to the exit, picked up Claire and with her help we drove in the rain back to the apartment and waited for Cathy and Eric to bring Lou back.  When they arrived the three of us got Lou up the 24 stairs and into bed where he collapsed.  Then I said goodbye and just before 2 I headed off and had a pretty easy drive to Radford and then to my apartment where I took a needed nap and then went for a 30 minute bike ride, then cleaned up my truck, then did some flute playing, then got to my blog.  I want to do 15 more minutes of flute and my yoga and weights, and perhaps go out for some prayers and singing.