High rise alarm scary

I live on the 6th floor of a senior high rise. In the six months I have been here the fire alarm never went off but it went off building wide yesterday. I didn’t want an apartment on the higher levels as I am afraid of fire (absolute phobia) and it makes walking down the fire stairs hard and painful when you are disabled.

I got to the fire stairway with a neighbor. Just then the building supervisor came running down and said to just stay where we were. Thank God it was a false alarm. Someone burned their dinner and then opened their apartment to air it out, thus setting off the alarms. They are extremely loud. I am hard of hearing, but it was still super loud. No sleeping through that.

I hope that doesn’t happen again. If I wasn’t already partially deaf I would be after listening to that. I was on my way out anyhow and had to wait until they unlocked the elevator. They are immediately locked whether manually or automatic I do not know.

I may have to shut my windows today. If the wind is not blowing it usually doesn’t make a difference in here, but today the wind is blowing and it is cold since I climbed out of bed and from under the covers. I am also not warmly dressed.

My door quit locking the other day and I had to call the emergency weekend maintenance as I might live in a building with a locked coded entrance and guards, but I didn’t feel safe enough to sleep with it unlocked. I don’t trust the neighbors as I have been warned that we have a lot of thieves in here. The guard came up and worked on it til he figured out that it would lock if I lifted the door as I turned the lock. The next day maintenance came and fixed it.

Something is going on out in the hall way. I can hear lots of voices, but not what they are saying.

I have an ant infestation. Those little ones that look like dirt until they move. They are coming out of the drain. They LOVE the ant bait traps with poison. And they are not working.

Just closed the living room windows. The bedroom is still halfway open, but if it doesn’t warm up soon, will close that one too. Our temperature is less than 50 degrees Fahrenheit, but the wind makes it colder.

Tessa –

Advocate for mental health and invisible illnesses, also a devout Christian

Author – http://www.finallyawriter.com (this blog contains my old work mostly although occasionally I do add something new here), new work is mainly on this blog http://www.tessacandoit.com

What is a “STOP” sign?

Well here in America it is a red octagonal sign that says stop on it and means stop, cease, desist. Well it is supposed to. Nowadays it means speed up and beat out the car in the right of way lane. Oh yeah and you are just checking to see if your brakes will work at the last minute. What the hell. I almost got t-boned as they call it around here as the car with the stop sign realized at the last minute he wasn’t going to make it out in front of me. I had the damn right of way. Freaking moron (being polite here).

Now the cops are too busy monitoring constructions sites that are everywhere or taking coffee breaks in groups in some parking lot or another. America is out of control.

I just had an accident less than 2 months ago and unfortunately that was my fault and I am not completely sure what happened. I can’t even find the spot. I really hate driving.

Tessa – advocate for mental health and invisible illnesses, also devout Christian

Author – http://www.finallyawriter.wordpress.com (this blog contains my old work), new work is on this blog http://www.tessacandoit.com

 

Life in a senior high-rise continues

Life here is constantly changing and partly due to the loss of so much life on a constant basis. Your neighbors come and go constantly. Kind of unnerving at times. The quiet can get to me at times. No tv since I can’t afford cable. I do have Netflix which helps, but miss a lot of my old shows. At least I do have a stereo that takes tapes and DVD’s besides a radio tuner.

The only reason I am on here is that I have what they call a hot spot on my iPhone that comes with my unlimited (hah) data. Verizon is just as sucky and lies like the rest of them. Haven’t hit my limit yet where they will slow down my data.

Still trying to downsize. I have so much stuff and some still at dad’s. Need more room here first. Always said I was a hoarder and now it is coming back to bite me. I can’t ignore it here. There are inspections. Including fire inspections. No extension cords, surge protectors only. My biggest challenge is the flat surfaces and not putting things away, just putting them down. Oh and the daily haul of trash to the chute, this floor and the recycles all the way down to the lobby where the only laundry is. 4 washers and 4 dryers (for 100 apartments).

Working on my budget. Part envelope with cash and computer for all the auto-pay stuff, plus my drs are paid out of the account.

My pain is a  little better. Not gone, but not constant horrendous pain so that is an improvement.

I just cleaned everything out of my bathroom again for this so-called remodel. The guys came back and fixed their shoddy job sort of so this is probably for nothing and my daughter worked hard putting everything in a place. It is all in a storage tub now. I did take pictures as someone suggested to me to help me put it back.

So sorry I haven’t had time to read any blogs lately, well not many anyhow.

Later all!

Tessa – advocate for mental health and invisible illnesses, also devout Christian

Author – http://www.finallyawriter.wordpress.com (this blog contains my old work), new work is on this blog http://www.tessacandoit.com

 

Ahhh life in a high rise

The view around here, remember it is a senior high rise is wheelchairs, electric scooters, old lady shopping carts (that is what we called them but you need one here), and many types of walkers and canes.

The ambulance is here at least once daily most days and some days more. Not all come back.

Today I took a neighbor who needed a ride into town. It is sort of an unwritten rule that those that drive take those that can’t.We have one lady here who is 102. Don’t know if any older or not. I was the driver when my ex was in the Marines. All the wives were stuck without cars and I had ours at the time and then eventually we got another one since we were both working.

My pain is in remission today. I am so happy.

Tessa – advocate for mental health and invisible illnesses, also devout Christian

Author – http://www.finallyawriter.wordpress.com (this blog contains my old work), new work is on this blog http://www.tessacandoit.com

 

Life in the Senior High Rise

My oldest daughter is working hard to get me situated. Being disabled is not easy. Today was rough and my body is aching something fierce. Pain pills not even touching it and because I have an epidural on Tuesday I get no arthritis medicine since it is an NSAID. That is not helping and my knee is still an issue.

I am broke now that I have to pay for rent and electric and 6th floor AC is expensive since it is so hot up here from the heat rising. I have gotten a few things I am eligible for and hoping for help with the electric bill. Applied on Tuesday.

Starting to adjust to living on my own, but it is different. I am not sleeping although not sure why. Whether it is being alone or what.

Tessa – advocate for mental health and invisible illnesses, also devout Christian

Author – http://www.finallyawriter.wordpress.com (this blog contains my old work), new work is on this blog http://www.tessacandoit.com

 

Continuing Life in a Senior High Rise

The sirens are constant. The turnover is constant. Some just someone getting hurt and others are death.

Plus there are the ones moving out (usually against their will) because the family decides they can’t live on their own any longer.

I am still struggling with the alone part. I am waiting on my therapist to come back from a family emergency. They say she is here today. I am trying to get her to do Face Time as my leg can barely hold me up again and I am not able to climb their stairs and since the building is ancient there is no elevator, plus I need to go to the Office on Aging and get help applying for help with my electric bill. They have help for low income families. I have to get it done as soon as possible. I had to wait for the first electric bill. I i did get the cooling grant filled out. The website says I am too late and their office says there was an extension to the end of May and mailed me an application and I had the dr fill it out. I will be glad when all is set up.

Tessa – advocate for mental health and invisible illnesses, also devout Christian

Author – http://www.finallyawriter.wordpress.com (this blog contains my old work), new work is on this blog http://www.tessacandoit.com

 

Life continues in the Senior High Rise

I am shy and quiet and tend to prefer being with people like me. I made one of my first friends (actually exchanged phone numbers and everything). Things started to change when I didn’t come to bingo every night they hold it. I am sorry I have a life, family, dr appointments etc. She is pulling away and that is fine. I prefer the other group I recently met and they are taking me under their wings.

I found myself drifting to the wilder ones and I am so much more happier with them. And tonight the quiet one started some kind of trouble with one of my new friends. Now I don’t know the whole story, but she said something obviously nasty to my newer friend. She did tell her that you don’t treat people that way. Wish I knew exactly what happened.

I have won some of the bingo games. One tonight he said he would add an extra dollar (we play small) if someone got the 4 corners in the first 4 calls. Just then I yelled “Bingo!” The first one to ever do that since they have been playing.

Still have a ton of stuff to put away. Daughter helped again plus my son-in-law put in a new brake light and my brakes are all new. Hopefully no more car maintenance until I can save some more up to pay for it. I have a very tight budget. Got my first electric bill.

I am in pain today. More so than usual and now I have a ton more boxes down so I can go through them. I have to get rid of this stuff.

The last couple of days have been cool and rainy and stormy. Tomorrow is supposed to be hot so will be turning the air back on. Being on the 6th floor might be great in the winter, but tremendously hot in the summer and we pay our own air conditioner whereas they pay the heat and hot water.

Tessa – advocate for mental health and invisible illnesses, also devout Christian

Author – http://www.finallyawriter.wordpress.com (this blog contains my old work), new work is on this blog http://www.tessacandoit.com

 

Life in a senior high rise

This has been quite an experience. It has been one month now.

Today I set off the alarms for emergencies such as falling etc. The guard (yes we have guards here) was pounding on the door. Scared the hell out of me but hey I know it works.

So far most of the time I get in a handicapped spot and don’t have to worry about the  placard since I got license plates instead. Some of the closer spots are not handicapped so sometimes it is better to park there. This is at the back door. My guests have to come in the front so I can use the intercom and buzz them in or else I have to go downstairs and let them in. They have to sign in anyhow might as well come in the front although that means they have to walk around to the front door. There are a few spots in the front side of the building, but they rather park out back so if they do they get to walk around. I have an intercom for a reason.

We have been getting a lot of rain and thunderstorms this week. I am on the 6th floor and can see the trees below me swaying in the wind. A unique experience.

I can’t remember if I mentioned the knee going out and the trip to the hospital since I couldn’t put weight on it. Stayed one night and then sent home with no one to help me. I was using a walker for when I had to get up and I had my family take the food and medications and put them down on the counter. The only thing they did for me was a referral for home care, but even though they were covered under my insurance it wasn’t for the services they wanted me to have. They couldn’t get that through their head. Thus I was on my own. Thank God I have hand rails in the bathroom. So far I had one shower. My leg isn’t strong enough to hold my weight to get in and out of the tub so back to basin washing.

I have put a lot of money into my car. The accident cost me $500 in repairs and now another $500 for new brakes and calipers before I have another accident. The brakes just catch and slam the car to a stop as if I slammed on the brakes. Very disconcerting and now I am waiting til Friday for the parts and repair. Only drive if absolutely necessary.

These unplanned expenses are coming out of my apartment fund for things I need. It is dwindling fast. I have to make a very tight budget and live by it and it doesn’t leave much for fun things. I will be lucky if I can get food all month. Since it is public housing my rent is 30% of my disability check so everyone is different. Though it is considered senior housing, they have disabled people like me who are younger. I think the cutoff is 50 for them and must be 62 for a senior. I am 61 1/2.

This apartment is a fair size, but Tessa the hoarder is having a hard time letting things go. I did a bunch before we moved and now I find I must get rid of more. And they do inspections here and can’t have a mess, Trash must go out every day to the trash chute in the hall. Recycles must go downstairs. Kind of annoying, but they are trying to avoid nasty little critters. Exterminator comes tomorrow.

Tessa – advocate for mental health and invisible illnesses, also devout Christian

Author – http://www.finallyawriter.wordpress.com (this blog contains my old work), new work is on this blog http://www.tessacandoit.com

 

Preparing for a move

I still have no idea when it is going to happen. Therefore I can only go through my stuff and sort it out as to what is going, trashing or donating. I can’t pack what I might need since I don’t have a date yet. The stuff I am not using I can pack now in readiness. Of course, the longer it takes I might have to do some unpacking such as extra meds and such.

This hasn’t been great for my anxiety and I will be increasing my anxiety medicine at refill time. There is just so much to do with no real dates. I am making lots of lists of course so I can refresh my memory. Don’t want to forget things that need doing once the move is made. I haven’t moved in 14 years.

Most of my stuff is still upstairs from when I moved in and then moved down here. Carrying stuff up and down the stairs is left to my son, but my work has to be done when he feels like it. If I get my dad to take a chair upstairs I can just work up there and rest my back as needed. It still tires easily and hurts.

Tessa – advocate for mental health and invisible illnesses, also devout Christian

Author – http://www.finallyawriter.wordpress.com (this blog contains my old work), new work is on this blog http://www.tessacandoit.com

 

Housing woes!

My letter said they were doing interviews for a March 1 move in. No one in Public Housing answers the phones including their receptionist. March 30 after calling several days and leaving messages asking what was going on since I had been told that I had been approved and would be going to see the apartments and make a choice, I went to the office in person. The woman who interviewed me said they were remodeling the apartments and I would be called a few days in advance once they were ready to do the tour and see if I wanted to live there. I don’t have a choice really so what I think of them doesn’t matter.

She said all I can tell you is that you were approved, but I have no idea when. She told me to do light packing if I want.

I think the fact they don’t answer their phone is ridiculous and wastes more time if they have to come out to the reception area because people have to show up to talk to someone and they complain about interruptions. Answer your phone which takes, but a few minutes or at least return the calls if you don’t want people showing up at the office.

And don’t send out letters with move-in dates if you don’t have a definite date. My dad tells me just remember what country you live in, hmph!!

I feel as if they are playing games with me. Social Services is worse. They look down on the people it is their job to help. I don’t know if it is just the USA or other countries too.

Tessa – advocate for mental health and invisible illnesses, also devout Christian

Author – http://www.finallyawriter.wordpress.com (this blog contains my old work), new work is on this blog http://www.tessacandoit.com