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

 

Between the accident and the new brakes, drums and calipers, money flies out the window

The only thing saving me right now is that I had saved money for the move and things I needed for the apartment. My kids had convinced me to get rid of my household goods after I had been living with Dad for so long. Now I need that stuff. Things might be cheaper at Walmart and the dollar stores, but having my old stuff would have been cheaper yet.

So between the accident 4 weeks ago which was $500 and the new brakes, calipers and drums another $450 just went down the drain. My cushion is almost gone.

Don’t think I mentioned it, but my son’s car is probably totaled. A girl claiming to have only been going 30 MPH hit his heavy car and shoved it 15 feet and up onto the curb. He was in the house. The neighbors came and got him. He wanted a new car, but this was not the way to do it. They will probably total it. The rear axle is broken and the tire is flat and who knows what else. Probably won’t get enough to buy a new car or at least one that is in decent shape and not need constant repairs where this one was finally getting to. What a mess!

It is raining today and has been for days now. Good thing is that I don’t need the air conditioner on right now, a fan on just me is working fine. Haven’t gotten the first electric bill yet.

I still have to set up my budget.This is going to be tight. Hope I can actually eat on what is left after bills. The bankruptcy gave me a new start, but there is still cell phone (and the hot spot runs my WiFi), auto insurance, renter’s insurance, health insurance in addition to Medicare and prescriptions and a ton of doctors. I just have to get well. I am trying to spread the doctor appointments out, but the epidurals for the spine pain are 2 visits per month. I might be able to scrape 1 more appointment in there per month. I now have another hospital copay, as well as the deposits for my electric with the first bill. Been learning how to set up a budget on Youtube. There are a few different ways. I know the envelope and cash way is preferred by many, but not my thing. I prefer to pay everything out of my bank card or automatic withdrawals. Rent I have to pay by check. For years I didn’t have to worry about it, unless it was a car repair.

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

 

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

 

Public Housing, a chance to have my own place before dad passes

Believe it or not Public Housing called and I have an interview for an apartment. There are 150 of us and only 6 apartments. The odds are against me. I had lost some of my important paperwork and spent the last 2 days frantically searching for them. Eventually I did find them.

 

It is not the town I wanted, but I have no choice. I have to take whatever I can get. It is actually across the street almost from when I lived in that town before. I also didn’t expect an interview so soon. The waiting list is 5 to 10 years, but I have been on it only a year and a half. They usually only take 100 people at a time, but this time took 150 and I was number 148. There are signs, but still the odds are against me.

 

I have to get the cat to the vet and registered with the township. I have her certified as a therapy animal and they have to take her.

 

I am anxious, scared and excited at the same time.

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