las vegas

Thursday was a good day.  I got a reduced rate on my room because of the problems with the air conditioning, the TV, and the phone.  I rode the stationary bike for 40 minute and used the weight machine.  Then it was time to drive and it was raining so I had to drive slower.  I did get the wiper blades replaced at an Advance Auto Parts in Richfield and then stopped at Kolob Canyon and hiked the trail by the upper parking lot (about a mile).  Then I stopped at the Eureka Casino and lost 6 dollar playing slots for 30 minutes, quite entertaining.  After that I finished my drive to Dave’s and we ended up chatting for hours, eventually getting very stoned, and finally getting a pizza and salad delievered. 

Friday was a very lazy morning with Dave and I chatting for hours then finally going out for breakfast around 2 pm.   We then returned home and I helped him replace some strange light bulbs in his chandelier.  I tried to fix his ceiling fan pull cord and the bulb in his bathroom light but was unsuccessful.  We went out around 6 pm to the marijuana dispensary and it was pretty crowded with all kinds of marijuana, bulk stuff, rolled joints, and food items.  We then went out to eat at a very decent Italian restaurant and I treated.  Then we drove back and smoked some first the medium joint (which was pretty calm with me taking two hits) and then the higher powered joint (with me taking a half puff and getting pretty high).  Nice night going to be at almost 2. 

Saturday I got up around 7 and started my knee exercises, then did some financial stuff (both my TIAA account and my AXA accounts did much better than expected so that was a nice surprise).

back to Colorado

Monday was an uneven day.  I didn’t sleep that well but I still was able to accomplish what I wanted.  I got to rent a City bike and rode over to the Field Museum and back along the harbor.  It was about 35 minutes of riding.  I walked back to the Amrtak and then found out that the train wasn’t leaving until 3:35, so I had an extra hour and a half to kill.  I had eaten a good veggie salad earlier instead of pizza but now I went over to Beggers Pizza and had two small slices.  Then I went back to the station and got on the train around 3:10, with it leaving on time.  I  read more of the book and started Mary Bland’s book.  I also figured out that once I retire I will have to stop paying Tracy back or else I will run out of money fairly quickly and that would be a real disaster.  I have put a lot of money in my will and that is the best I can do. 

Tuesday was the day of my visit to Patty and Josh and Gianna and Grace.  The train got in on time, around 8:30, but I couldn’t find a cab so I ended up walking some then taking the 16^th Street Mall bus to Welton then walking up to 20^th.  The rental was pretty easy, and then the challenge began.  I got on I-25 and I was a little anxious until I got out of the City, then the driving became easier and I even drove 70 at points.  The GPS got me to Patty’s house and little Grace (2 years old) was so cute and I played various games with her and then I took her and Patty out to lunch at Panda Express, then we went to Cottonwood park where Grace played on the slides and the swings, with boundless energy.  I enjoyed her immensely and then we went to pick up Gianna and she was a beautiful 7 year old and she also enjoyed me immediately.  I joked a lot with her and she really seemed to savor my humor.  Then Josh arrived and he seemed like a very decent man.  We decided to go to Red Lobster for dinner and it was a very fine dinner, with Gianna asking for a lobster tail and I agreed.  Josh and I had the shrimp fest and that was very good.  When I left them to drive to my hotel I told them I regretted being out of touch with them and that I hoped to see them again soon.  They felt the same.  At the Garden Inn, I was disappointed to find no stationary bike, but I did a set of very light weights since my back is still tender.  When I got to my room I was too tired to work out so I just watched TV and eventually went to bed around 11:30.

Wednesday started out as a rainy, overcast day and as I drove along 24 the weather remained poor.  After about a half hour on 9, the weather cleared and I started looking for a place to fish.  I found and okay spot on the Blue River but it wasn’t tempting enough.  Eventually I found a heavily used access point on the Eagle River and cast a couple of lures through all the water I could reach but no hits.  I then drove on until I found the Gypsum Ponds Wildlife Area and I cast into some really nice looking pools but to no avail.  I then drove on the Glenwood Springs and was able to rent a bike from Canyon Bikes and I rode through the Glenwood Canyon and that was very satisfying.   I got a nap in after my ride, then drove to Grand Junction where I stopped for supplies and gas, then drove on to my rather expensive room at the Comfort Inn (123 before taxes) but I wanted a good clean room and the room was exactly that.  I did my knee exercises, then my yoga stuff before heading for dinner at the Tamarisk restaurant, where I had chicken fajitas.  A good day and tomorrow I should get to Dave’s by 7 pm. 

Golfing with Mary Gorton

Friday was a very good day.   I did my knee exercises, got stuff together for the trip, read some Augustine and Joshua, rode my bike for 40 minutes, then went off to play golf with Mary Gorton.  We had a lot of fun and you can tell she knows how to play golf.  On her good shots she hit the ball further than I did but her putting and her strategy let her down.  Playing from the red tees, I shot a 51 and she shot a 61 and since it was the first time she has played in a year, a 61 was a very good score.  My only problem was that I pulled my back a little lifting her bag in and out of my truck.  She doesn’t use her irons so I will ask her to leave them out or she will have to handle it herself.  We went to dinner at India Gardens and then I came home for a nap and then piano and my blog.  I will see if I can do my yoga and weights tonight.  Both Lou and Cathy are not feeling well and I offered to go shopping for them but Lou said they were okay for now.

Fishing at Trail's End on Walker Creek

Thursday worked out pretty well.  I did my knee exercises, got some stuff ready for Sunday’s trip, read some of Joshua and Augustine, took a 40 minute bike ride, played 30 minutes of piano, then headed out to Trail’s End to go fishing (I caught three but had a lot of hits).  I drove back to Hethwood and took a walk for 20 minutes, then worked on two of Lauren’s essays, on my Bridges proposal for CEA, and now my blog.  I will also try to finish my spring book order.

A Walk with Rob

Tuesday was a decent day.  I did my knee exercises, emailed Melinda about meeting with the tenants upstairs, dried out my kayak, rode my bike for 40 minutes, drove over to Walmart to get my new lenses and my meds, then drove up to Roanoke to get the wrap around sunglasses.  After that I gave the flute back to Glen at Valley Propane and then drove home for a quick nap and then a walk with Rob, which was a lot of fun.  Then it was home for dinner and a nap so I could edit Lauren’s essay, then my blog and now it is TV time.

No Townhouse to Rent

Monday was a difficult day but some good came out of it.  I got up and did my knee exercises then headed out to see 200 Huff Heritage.  I liked it inside and the master bedroom was quiet.  My only concern was the wall between 200 and the neighboring townhouse.  When Jean mentioned that she was showing it to another buyer later, I really wasn’t sure what to do.  I asked if I could wait till the woman who lived next door came home and I could hear the TV and her dog barking.  Jean said she would call me later, so I called Melinda a couple of times, leaving messages but she didn’t return my calls and I wanted to talk to her before I committed to the townhouse.  I talked to Dave and he made me feel that I should rent it so I emailed Melinda and finally got a response, which said that they would refund me the rest of the September rent.   I called Jean but bad news, the other party had rented it.  I was very frustrated but fortunately the Holy Spirit meeting calmed me down.  I also got an email from Jen and she doesn’t think working with me will be beneficial so I emailed her my thanks for all her time and wished her well with all the things that she was doing.  Right now I am still an agnostic, but I would like to have a loving intimacy with Jesus.  We’ll see.   I rode my bike for 40 minutes at RU and I also visited Dr. Trivedi, who had a cancellation where I got a blood booster shot.  My hemoglobin was slightly lower but not much so I should be fine throughout my trip.  Frustrating day but I am feeling pretty good and Dave called later and helped calm me even more.    

Thousands of Red-winged Blackbirds

Sunday was a very fine day.  I did my knee exercises, then played the piano for almost 30 minutes, then got all my kayak gear in the truck and headed off to meet Kate.  I got my kayak ready and then did a few things on the truck.  She got there before 1 and soon enough we were on the water for a leisurely trip (the water level was 2.3).  We couldn’t go around the island but we eddied out there and then slowly paddled down to the good rapids which were much lower than our last trip when the water was probably over 3.0.  The rapids were still fun and then we saw an incredible sight, two large sycamores loaded with thousands of red-winged blackbirds, with some of them splashing in the shallows.  It was very impressive.  Then after splitting up I watched the end of the golf tournament at Applebees and headed home for a quick nap and a 40 minute bike ride.  I still have my weights and yoga to do but that will come later.  I did have a nice conversation with Lou and he was appreciative of all my help.

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.