It is before 5:00 a.m. and I have been awake for a couple hours already, after being slow falling to sleep. Even my sleepy tea did not help much in easing my brain to sleep. Between the comforting words of the Bible study and the soothing massage on Thursday, I slept well that night. Friday night was a different story.
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After posting my blog yesterday morning I busied myself with more paper sorting, filing, and shredding. The previous night I had put a credit card-type card through the shredder and it sort of jammed. I hit the reverse switch and it popped back up again. Flipped the switch and put it through again just fine, but then, it would not stop running! It seems it is now jammed in the "ON" position so I must switch it off after each piece is put through. There was already a crack in its face but now this, which might require a purchase of new one, as there is a ton more paper to go through in my back bedroom.
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At 11:30 I was to meet my downstairs neighbors at La Nop, our usual Friday ritual and was surprised that Jeff came with us. We talked some about the flood damage and such, and again they, Tracy mostly, assured me that 'it's all good' and just an 'inconvenience' and an opportunity to redo some of the things she wishes they'd done differently the first time. I breathed a sigh of relief again because it seems like they are handling it okay, might even rent one of the penthouse units while Donna is on tour, so they can stay in the building.
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In the afternoon I was back at my desk and then it was rest time, even though I had done little heavy lifting. Penny called to arrange for the clothing transfer so we did that around 5:00 pm and then planned to meet again around 6:00 at the cabana. In the meantime, I saw that Gus's car was back in his stall so I took his laundered towels, the photos, and the two books to replace the wet ones down to him. I had to face the music, and perhaps the wrath of Gus. He was so nice, welcomed me, and thanked me wildly for doing that. In essence, he feels badly that it happened to me (the leak) and I feel terrible that it happened to him (the leak). Gus told Butch, "This couldn't have happened to a worse person" which took me aback because it does not sound very good. What he was saying was basically I was the last one this should have happened to, but I knew that. He was telling me his story, about the insurance adjuster being there and the after effects of the leak. Evidently there was more than we could see at first, but it appears it might be cosmetic or a bit of drywall replacement with some paint. Plus replacing his ceiling tiles and several floor tiles that popped up.
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Parting with hugs, I went out to meet Penny who was waiting alone poolside. It was a cool night, and she was loving it. I was sorry to make her wait for me but she was fine, enjoying the evening. We had our dinners, with me ordering Danny's homemade brats with saurkraut and Penny, the sliders. As we sat and recapped our weeks, she spotted Michelle on the catwalk in my building so I stood up and waved to her. She came down for a while after putting her poodle upstairs. Michelle is hosting a house concert on her 5th floor balcony on the 10th and both Penny and I are planning to attend. Later, our condo president joined us, while walking his dog, and shared some conversations and such stirring within the building and the Board regarding this current mess. Of course, the insurance companies will hopefully settle it and all will be happy, but the water issue, the 'mystery main' and all that needs to be discussed. As much as I like Tommy and all that, I wish he had not sat at our table last night. It caused my heart and brain to be troubled yet again.
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He had some sad personal news as well as his wife of three years and he are getting divorced. Tommy had been single for 53 years and says he will never say the words "I do" again as long as he lives. Prior to their marriage, his wife was well grounded in her faith and practicing thereof but as soon as they were married, she never got into. He even offered to go to church with her, even though he is Jewish, but she would not do it. "People change" was the mantra both he and Michelle used during that discussion. That is fairly dramatic, though, in so short a time. Everyone is having a battle going on around or inside themselves, it seems.
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Tommy had had his place listed for sale a while back and said he wishes it had sold then, as had Gus, who expressed the same sentiment about wishing his had sold last year when it was listed. Many of us bought there at the height of the market, paying the prices required at that time, but now when it comes to selling them, well, not so much. Michelle, who is a realtor, has hers listed for sale too and realizes she will not get the improvements made to her place back when she sells. Only a percentage of the improvements can be expected to be made back, like when folks add a pool to their property. It makes it more appealing to the buyer but adds only, I think, 15% to the value. Fortunately, I did not remove any walls or do more dramatic remodeling, mostly redecorating on my part, except for the updating of cabinets and such in the bathrooms. If I would decide to list and sell, Michelle thinks I should be able to get about what I paid for it, as one unit like mine on the 4th floor recently appraised just a bit higher than I paid.
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Well, I think I might try to rest my eyes a bit more before I get up. Judee, my first floor neighbor, may come by to look at a table I am letting go to a good home, or thrift shop, as the case might be, this a.m. If Judee does not want it then Donna wants to see it. If she does not want it either, I will have Mike and Andy haul it to the dumpster on one of their trips when the carpet gets pulled out. Martie is coming this afternoon when she is done working to help go through the art supplies and crafts in the guest room. I might work some in there before she arrives to get us started. But, first, let's try for a nap....
