More on Mold Damage

The end is near for completion of the kitchen.  Today the cabinets were installed.  I had an appointment with the counter people also.  I learned that I need a new sink because the old one was installed to go under tile while the new one has to be attached over the counter with a lip.  I ordered a spice rack to be attached to the door of a cabinet.  Installation included altering the shelves, so I abandoned that project. Today revealed another plaster job when all is complete.  New things don't always fit where old things are removed, yada yada, yada....

Prior to this awaited day, I had to have lots of work done.  See "Mold" in prior story.  I left the last job in the trusted hands of the person I hired to plaster and prepare walls for the painter.  I went out of town during the job.  I paid the man in advance, then he went out of town and I haven't heard from him.  I'm looking for a partial refund because he didn't finish his work.  My painter had to do sanding before painting.  So now I need that plasterer back.  Do you think he'll show up????

 

A Day to Remember Sept. 17, 2007

September is one of the busiest birthday months in my little circle. I just did the math and it seems that as soon as a baby is born someone in the family starts on another because June is the next busiest birthday month.  There is no truth to what I’m saying even if there is some logic to it.  It just seems that way.

 

In any event, I just returned from what will become a lasting memory for me and for those I love.  My sister, who shall remain nameless for the world because she can’t believe her age yet,  (her name begins with  J) is turning 70 this month and I couldn’t stand the idea that I wasn’t going to share and honor our seventy years together.  There are a number of legitimate reasons that I couldn’t go to Chicago.  Laura, her daughter, was cajoling me into using a buddy pass that she could obtain through her airline job.   I managed to rush to completion a major issue of  the construction process I’m dealing with. A window of time evolved when the family was going to be together for the holiday from which I could  escape from the workmen.

 

I told Laura.  She got right on it and checked all the possible flights out of Las Vegas.  She promised not to breathe a word to anyone about our plans.  Using a buddy pass means your travel standby, which doesn’t always get you to your destination in a timely manner. That could have botched our plans.   In fact I had to wait for the third, actually fourth, flight out to get to Chicago on time for the dinner. I arrived at the airport early enough to get on the flight that was scheduled before my scheduled ticket, but they had already rolled over about a dozen people.  Needless to say the hope of getting to Chicago was diminished by each departure that left without me. To make matters worse, I had the witch of the north to deal with at the counter.  She had the nerve, when I had a legitimate question, to put her closed sign up when I appeared in front of her after standing in line. From that insult I had the sense to go to another counter for information and advice.  It must be clear from the start that I arrived in good time and I’ll state here that the flight back to Las Vegas went flawlessly, first flight out.

 

By the time I deplaned we were sure to be a little late for dinner.  Laura picked me up.  While driving I suggested that she call to give some excuse for her tardiness.  She thought that would upset my sister more than the wait, finishing her reason with” she’ll call me if she’s worried”.  We were about two blocks from the house when Laura’s phone rang.  By then it was easy to say  “ almost at the door “.

 

For the entire preceding month the family was asking me to come in for the holiday and to be with my sister. I just couldn’t commit. They all gave up on me.  That helped to keep the surprise alive.  I had planned my entrance before I got to Chicago.  As we approached the house Laura gave me a sweater to put over my head and I slumped down so it didn’t look like another passenger was in the car just in case someone was looking out the window.  She went ahead which caused the focus of attention to be on her arrival.  After a minute I got out of the car and called my sister from my cell phone.  Because her attention was on getting everyone seated and served she was somewhat anxious to get off the phone.  I was relentless.  While talking I had already entered the house, luckily most everyone was on another level of the house and didn’t see me, I said to my sister, “well, I’m sorry you don’t have time for me” and by this time I’m right behind her and needless to say she almost passed out to see me there;  and as each person came up from the lower level, one at a time, they had the same surprise for themselves.  I never had so much fun or joy to see everyone’s face.  A day to remember. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sopranos Last Supper

If this text is written without a photo, it’s because I failed to figure out how to insert them.  In any event, the journal today is about the weekend.  How lucky to get a phone call from my friend, Elena inviting Jacques and I to The Sopranos’ Last Supper, an interactive dinner theatre.  I have photos of Tony and the gang, all of whom sat at our table from time to time.  It was lots of fun, with music, jokes, competition for a new inductee to the mob and interactive dancing.  Some of the characters behaved “out of character” or I should say “in character” in circumstances that were out of character.   Elena and I like to dance. There were several opportunities to dance without our non-dancing partners.  I danced with the Man himself, Tony, and Elena had a wonderful dance with Junior, the guy with the big black glasses, remember him.When in Vegas, especially if you are a Sopranos fan, you might enjoy taking in the show. .  It would have been an expensive evening if we had to pay for the tickets that Elena won at a convention gathering for travel agents.  So, you might want to check it out if it’s playing in your town.  They cut the dinner down to an anti pasta here in town.  It was good but I heard they originally offered a nice meal.  A fun night out. 

 

 

 

 

Prescription Drugs

 such ironies occur in my life that I can’t help write about them:

 

This was a headline this AM  and the story that follows was sent by a friend.

 

Prescription drug abuse grows in U.S.
September 06, 2007 07:12 AM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - More young U.S. adults are abusing prescription medications, particularly painkillers, according to the government’s annual report on substance abuse released on Thursday. Full Article   > A lady walks into a drug store and tells the pharmacist she needs some cyanide.  > >   The pharmacist said, “Why in the world do you need Cyanide?” > >   The lady then explained she needed it to poison her husband.> >   The pharmacist’s eyes got big and he said, “Lord, have mercy—I can’t give you cyanide to kill your husband! That’s against the law! I’ll lose my license, they’ll throw both of us in jail and all kinds of bad things will happen! Absolutely not, you can NOT have any Cyanide?” > >   The lady reached into her purse and pulled out a picture of her husband in bed with the pharmacist’s wife. > >   The pharmacist looked at the picture and replied, “You didn’t tell me you had a prescription

 

MOLD MADNESS

Mold Madness

 

If you're thinking of moving to Las Vegas, bring your electrician, plumber, carpenter and painter.  You never know when you’ll need them.  Surely nobody here wants to take responsibility to recommend one.  I’ve had so many no shows since I moved here that my plans now include making a second appt. for the same time slot.  I feel like an airline that double books.

 

Next to Death Valley and Phoenix, this has been the hottest place in the country this summer and it’s been relentless.  I don’t think we had a day under 100 for almost 40 days.  Very unusual.  But I’m off the subject.  Since the average humidity hovers somewhere between 5& 15 degrees one would think that mold could not be an issue in the Southwest.  If it could happen, it will happen to me.  And it did happen to me.  My condo was damaged by mold from the abandoned apartment next door that got flooded.  Months later my place is still torn apart, with a tenant living there.  I need an entire new kitchen due to someone else’s neglect.

 

Why, you must be thinking is she talking about this?  It’s a reminder to see if you have mold insurance.  If mold is ever found in property you want to sell, forget it!  This is in addition to the dangerous health hazard that is claimed to exist by all experts involved.  Understand your home owners insurance policy.  Floods, water and mold are all different.  But really, I just have to get it off my chest. 

 

It’s facinating, the reporting, demolition and clean-up process that precedes rebuilding.  The first line of defense is these guys in space suits.  They are followed by a team of real suited guys with clipboards, cameras and measuring tapes.  They all file detailed reports including photos of the meters that they bring showing the reading on the dials before and after the clean-up.  The affected area is sealed off with heavy duty plastic where they can create a vacuum with this huge machine to keep the mold contained and for the final mold test.  The doorway is formed by a floor to ceiling zipper.  The good thing is that they leave it for the reconstruction that creates an inordinate amount of dust due to new dry wall and sanding.

 

Did I mention the cost?  You don’t want to know.

 

The apatment next door was completely gutted so my poor tenant was living with openings to both places until I hired a carpenter to put up wall board to at least seal off the two places. I am now ready for the following steps.  Not one of these people was my original line of defense, so you can take it from there.

1.      Getting a cabinet guy (oye vey)!!!  Ended up at Lowes and are they wonderful.  Who knew it could be so easy.  The guy I was going to hire was supposed to get back to me a week ago so that I could give him a deposit.  I took it as a bad sign when he didn’t. After a few days I went to Lowes. I also interviewed a carpenter who was going to use the old stuff and put things back to its original shape.  The cost was so high it was better to start  with all new cabinets. 

2.      Need more demolition, remove all top cabinets before final repairs. Need a demolition and hauling crew.

3.      Hired a Taper, he tapes the wallboard that the carpenter I hired earlier installed. He also has to texturize the walls that have to be repainted.

4.      I hired a painter who will follow these guys and get the place ready for cabinets.

5.      Cabinets get delivered one day and installed another.

6.      Then the estimator comes to measure for the new counter top.

7.      New counter gets installed

8.      Hire a plumber to hook up all the utilities in the kitchen.

 

And there you have it folks, as easy as pie...and did I tell you this costs a lot, a lot of money. (I know I did)  This all started mid-April.  And did I tell you I’m fighting with the condo board because of their negligence that caused all this in the first place.  And did I tell you I’m being committed in a few days??? Huh, did I tell you??

 

LABOR DAY

 

LABOR DAY CELEBRATION

Today was celebrated in the usual fashion.  I  prepared a dish to bring to the barbque party being held at a friends’ home.  Not to make you jealous for those of you who love my cole slaw, but that’s what I brought to the party.  The crowd was diversified between relatives, friends and their children. There were teachers, musicians who work at various careers, a woman from New York who has my former career in financial services and a couple of us retirees who were able to bring our pasts up to date for the crowd.  As the party dwindled I found myself in the midst of the musicians.  They  think so much like those of us in the visual arts. The very work that brings so much satisfaction to our lives is such a struggle to hold onto while earning a living at something else.   I was thinking about the day now that I’m home and how the conversations wandered.  I came to the conclusion that we actually honored the very reason we were together today, Labor day.  We talked a lot about work.  While we talked about music a little, someone brought up the subject of a film that was made about Wal Mart.  It seems a great number of people who are regular shoppers are troubled by the reputation being portrayed of Wal Mart.  Their plan is to boycott Wal Mart for their evil and greedy practices as was portryed in the film.  As the conversation deepened we discussed how the company behavior affects workers on every level.  We talked about the people who work for pennies in foreign lands and about how the low paid workers here in this country struggle to survive and how many people will loose jobs if the company looses money.  While I don’t pay a lot of attention to corporate news, I’m aware of a number of stories regarding changes in Wal Mart’s practices and found myself defending some the accusations, which, after questioning, discovered the film is a couple of years old by now.  We all agreed on one thing.  Sam Walton probably had his heart in the right place when he dreamed up and started Wal Martbut somehow since his death the corporate entity took a turn to the greedy side.  Personally, I think Wal Mart is trying to make amends but it sounds like the dyke is leaking in too many places to placate the new rebels. Today we talked about our work as well as concerns  for low paidwage earners here and abroad.  We even discussed unions.  As far as I’m concerned Labor Day was honored at our party.

 

Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL.com.

 

God Is

Saturday, September 1, 2007

GOD IS

 

My experience learning from Tenya:  (A personal view of my understanding)

 

 Hashem (God) Is...(Quite a unique thought from me, wouldn’t you say?).

 

In the few weeks of Chabad teachings for me to date has been the  reality of the  awesomness of Hashem and minuteness of our reality compared to that of  Hashem (God).  Today we approached the essence of faith.  Now explain this.  Last night, the night before my Sat. AM session today,  I watched a TV special about Atheism.

  A portion of the show took place with a scientist’s explantion of evolution.  He was asked about how and why birds got feathers.  After explaning his bottom up theory of evolution (it didn’t take thousands of years for birds to get feathers), which means there weren’t bumps that over time grew into feathers after many

conversations between the cells, he said ‘YOU HAVE TO HAVE FAITH’ (in the theory).  That was the most surprising answer I’ve heard from a scientist.  From what I understand, with my limited knowledge of these things, all of theoretic science is based on the faith that the theorist is correct.  And what I’m learning is that there is no language for "what is God".

Language is the diminished reality (given by God) that we possess in order to express our reality and/or the esoteric thought(s) that we describe as intelligence.

This is exhauting.  I need to rest.