Reflections of My Life

I am keeping my fingers crossed that it won't rain. At least not until later in the afternoon. My friend and I are taking the bus to Walmart. That is one of my favorite things to do. I feel independent when I get on the bus! It is so much easier than putting my walker in a car. Plus the groceries can stay right on my walker seat and I push it up the ramp and into the bus. Just leave them on the seat until I bring them into my kitchen. Easy!

I missed the meeting with the manager the other day. I didn't even know about it. I heard though, that they are going to be taking the carpeting out of all our apartments. Not sure how I feel about that. It would be a good precaution to fight the bedbug problem. I had thought that myself in the past.

Not sure how well I can walk on bare floors though. I will probably get some kind of rugs but smaller ones that I can handle. Just have to make sure they don't move and that I can use my walker on them. Rabbit will not walk on bare floors but he has his runners and most of the time that is where he stays. I will know more after I talk to the manager.
 

hollydolly said:
I understand about having to control the bug problem , Kat. however Rugs can be very dangerous... and also the noise level will be raised quite a lot if the floors are bare.. so perhaps that should be raised as a potential problem before carpets are taken out..
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I don't think it is up to us or even the manager. There are all types of changes happening here but nothing anyone asked me about. They just say this change will be taking place. Not sure how experienced this management company is with HUD buildings. There are certain regulations in place.

They wanted to rent an empty room on the lower level to a business. First they said we could use it for a library then decided no, they wanted to rent it out. Our manager was pretty confident that HUD would not allow that. She was right.
 

Pepper said:
Katlupe, are you aware of NYState Medicaid Program called Freedom Care?

FreedomCare: Hire a family member or friend to care for you​

Freedom Care
https://freedomcare.com
FreedomCare allows people to choose who provides their care and the caregiver gets paid instantly after their shift.

Do you think you can get paid to help your son????
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No I can't because my rent would go up if my income increased. I don't think I could do aide work for him. Mostly I just take care of his bills and getting him what he needs. He cleans and cooks pretty well. He is not really able to have an aide because you have to have a doctor say that you need an aide and he will not go to a doctor. He seems to be doing okay living here.
 
My day turned out completely different than what I thought. I decided to ask this woman on a group I belong to on fakebook about her bf hauling trash and old furniture to the landfill. I just wanted an idea of how much it would cost so next month I could try to come up with it. I needed my bed taken out of here and didn't want to give it away since it had been involved with bedbugs in the past. I hadn't slept on it since 2020. It was taking up precious space.

She replied back he would do it for $75. I thought that was reasonable since I think the landfill charges $30. for mattresses. The steel frame he could sell. So I asked when he could do it. She said he could be here in an hour. He was! I had the whole area ready and had Rabbit's cage in the kitchen. So when they came I just put him in his cage. He offered to do any other moving help I needed but I didn't need any. I don't want to fill that space up just yet, if ever.

I vacuumed and cleaned the whole area. Rabbit didn't know what to think of this change. He explored the whole area where the bed used to be. Anyway, I am tired out from moving things out of there so it would be out of the way. Then I had to put it all back. They were quick! I liked that.
 
I am liking that empty space in the area the bed used to be in. It is like a separate room due to the way I have the dressers positioned. Now Rabbit thinks it is his room! I am sure I will use it in the future but just not now. I have other things I have to go through of and get rid of.

Yesterday evening, the elevator had to be reset again. At least now, a few people who live here know how to do it. I am worried about it this morning because I ordered groceries from Walmart for Rabbit & Jeff. Rabbit needs his! So I will have to be brave and go down on it this morning. Hopefully I will hear people using it this morning when they leave for church.

Yesterday I worked a bit on my houseplants. I really need a bag of African Violet soil and repot the two I have. They need to be cut back because they are almost too big for their pots. Though AV like small pots, I would like to have a way to water them from the bottom though. I am going to make a DIY wicking system for their pots. I think that would work.
 
This morning I was surprised by an invitation to a Mother's Day coffee downstairs in the community room. One of the guys served us then left. It was just us women.........not all of us mothers, but we all had one. It was enjoyable and the new lady I met the other day came also. It turns out she knew some of our long time tenants because she lived here in 2017. My neighbor/friend across the hall was not sure she wanted to go since she lost her 2nd daughter in December. Afterwards she said she was glad she came. She included some happy memories about both of her daughters.

Then I came home and have been working on and organizing my vanity. I put the supplies I used for Rabbit's cage in 3 of the drawers. Now they are easy to get to, nearby the cage & hidden from sight. Earlier I did as much as I could on the bookcases but they need even more work. Now I got to clean his cage and then it will time to think about supper.

At least this year, I got a Happy Mother's Day from my son since he lives here! Happy about that and happy he is here.
 
Teacher Terry said:
For the past 30 years any home that I have bought I immediately remove the carpet and install pergo. It’s so much easier to clean and better for my allergies. You can use area rugs.
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I don't know what kind of flooring they would be installing if any. Probably cheap whatever it is. After all this is low income housing. But they still have to follow HUD regulations. Area rugs was my idea too.
 
I have been on a new schedule. Not that I planned it that way. Just happened. I have been waking up at 3 every morning now. Then I try to sleep longer but usually don't go to back to sleep. Then I get up at 4. I realize it must be because I have been getting off the computer before 7 some evenings. So I fall asleep earlier than I used to. I try to watch a video but many times wake up to it being over. I am now used to watching then in halves. Half one night and half the next.

I was exhausted last night because I have been doing a lot of cleaning lately. Yesterday I was able to spot clean some dirty spots on this carpet. Even though they said they are taking them out, I can't stand looking at the spots. I think they were from Rabbit's feet after he stepped in his soft poop in the past. So it was under the bed (he must have hidden it from me!). I cleaned and organized the vanity. Now I only have one pile of papers left and half of it is photos.

Today I have to walk to the bank and then come back and do my laundry. I let it go too long again. That is the problem of having too many clothes. Today I am having some new clothes delivered and looking forward to those. That is why I need to have my laundry done because then I will want to wash the news ones before wearing.
 
katlupe said:
I don't know what kind of flooring they would be installing if any. Probably cheap whatever it is. After all this is low income housing. But they still have to follow HUD regulations. Area rugs was my idea too.
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I found out yesterday that they are not taking our carpet out of our apartments. It is only when they do the floors in the empty apartments instead of putting in carpeting they are putting in a type of flooring that is slip-resistant.
 
I didn't want to tell you all but...........yesterday, I got stuck in the elevator again. This time it quit and I had 4 bags of Jeff's groceries (including ice cream and meat) on my walker. I called one of the guys that lives here and they tried to reset it but it would not reset. He called 911. It had stopped on the first floor so I hit the exit button and the door opened and I got out! Then 3 of the people who live here came up the stairs and I told them to cancel 911. But it was too late.

My friends here (not 911 guys) took Jeff's groceries up to him and told me they would help me go up the stairs to my apartment. They came back and one guy took my walker, one guy stayed in front of me, one behind me and the woman in the group held my right arm and I held onto the railing. I went up one whole flight! I can't believe I did it. It did not hurt me as much as I thought it would. The police questioned me about being stuck in there. There was about 8 of them!

This morning the manager was here and the elevator was fixed (for now I guess. I am not counting on it). I think this new company will do something about it. I do not want them to remove it and take weeks to put in a new one. So not sure what can be done. But.......I am not moving from here nor do I want to. I really love my apartment,,,,,,,,my home.
 
katlupe said:
I didn't want to tell you all but...........yesterday, I got stuck in the elevator again. This time it quit and I had 4 bags of Jeff's groceries (including ice cream and meat) on my walker. I called one of the guys that lives here and they tried to reset it but it would not reset. He called 911. It had stopped on the first floor so I hit the exit button and the door opened and I got out! Then 3 of the people who live here came up the stairs and I told them to cancel 911. But it was too late.

My friends here (not 911 guys) took Jeff's groceries up to him and told me they would help me go up the stairs to my apartment. They came back and one guy took my walker, one guy stayed in front of me, one behind me and the woman in the group held my right arm and I held onto the railing. I went up one whole flight! I can't believe I did it. It did not hurt me as much as I thought it would. The police questioned me about being stuck in there. There was about 8 of them!

This morning the manager was here and the elevator was fixed (for now I guess. I am not counting on it). I think this new company will do something about it. I do not want them to remove it and take weeks to put in a new one. So not sure what can be done. But.......I am not moving from here nor do I want to. I really love my apartment,,,,,,,,my home.
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Oh Kat, so sorry about than dang elevator again! I'm glad at least you got out of the car and your friends helped you! 🌹
 
I have an opportunity to put some of my extra things in a city wide yard sale this week-end. We can donate a portion of our profits to our building's social club and if I put things out to sell in it I think I will do that. I just want to get rid of things........I really do. BUT.........when I take the item out and look at it I feel sad about getting rid of it.

For an example, I have several of those old canning jars. The ones from Ball, Kerr, Atlas or Mason. With the wire bails. I have a few I use for storage. The ones I have in my cupboard have been there since I moved here. Didn't use them for anything. For one thing they are too heavy for me. I will look today and then talk to our guy in charge of our sale table in front of our building.
 
You must have many memories of canning from your homesteading days. We went through our very large supply of mason jars and lids about 20 years ago. We must have gotten rid of hundreds of jars. It was nuts. Canning does bring back great memories though. We put up as much as we could for the winter months. Pickles, Jams, Jellies, preserves, tomato ( everything ), dilly beans, and so much more. When did you clean up your gardening canning project?
 
Paco Dennis said:
You must have many memories of canning from your homesteading days. We went through our very large supply of mason jars and lids about 20 years ago. We must have gotten rid of hundreds of jars. It was nuts. Canning does bring back great memories though. We put up as much as we could for the winter months. Pickles, Jams, Jellies, preserves, tomato ( everything ), dilly beans, and so much more. When did you clean up your gardening canning project?
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When I moved from there to this apartment I gave up that life. I canned not only vegetables and fruit but meat also. We lived for 6 years without any refrigeration. So to preserve anything that needed refrigeration I had to can it. Meat was a big one. I also did milk, cheese and butter. I bought fresh raw milk from a friend and would bring it home and process it. It was a lot of work but I was proud of it.
 
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Husband & I grew up with mothers that canned.
I think living that way so many years ago is what has kept us healthy.

I did canning/freezing when our sons lived with us.

Now its much easier for folks to pick up some sort of processed food to make a meal with.
IF they aren't 'eating out'.

Recently had discussion with a friend about how much processed food his daughter's family eats.
Then he mentioned about how his 3 year old granddaughter was on the move all the time.

Could that be from too much processed foods?
:unsure:
 
katlupe said:
I have an opportunity to put some of my extra things in a city wide yard sale this week-end. We can donate a portion of our profits to our building's social club and if I put things out to sell in it I think I will do that. I just want to get rid of things........I really do. BUT.........when I take the item out and look at it I feel sad about getting rid of it.

For an example, I have several of those old canning jars. The ones from Ball, Kerr, Atlas or Mason. With the wire bails. I have a few I use for storage. The ones I have in my cupboard have been there since I moved here. Didn't use them for anything. For one thing they are too heavy for me. I will look today and then talk to our guy in charge of our sale table in front of our building.
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Kat, I have cases and cases of the old canning jars with the metal bail top, sitting in the shed for the last 20 years. They were given to me and I've never used them. I can a lot but with regular jars.
 
CathyHorn said:
Kat, I have cases and cases of the old canning jars with the metal bail top, sitting in the shed for the last 20 years. They were given to me and I've never used them. I can a lot but with regular jars.
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I never canned in them but at my house in my pantry I used these jars for storage. Now I have not used them. The old canning jars are worth money if you look them up. Especially the blue ones. Mine probably are not worth that much but I could put them out in the yard sale. I presently use the wide mouth canning quarts and pints and jelly jars in my kitchen all the time. I would not get rid of them. I left a ton of them in the cellar at my house.
 
Sliverfox said:
Husband & I grew up with mothers that canned.
I think living that way so many years ago is what has kept us healthy.

I did canning/freezing when our sons lived with us.

Now its much easier for folks to pick up some sort of processed food to make a meal with.
IF they aren't 'eating out'.

Recently had discussion with a friend about how much processed food his daughter's family eats.
Then he mentioned about how his 3 year old granddaughter was on the move all the time.

Could that be from too much processed foods?
:unsure:
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In my opinion, I think most of the processed foods is full of bad ingredients and children should not be raised on it. I did not know better myself as a mother and maybe that is the problem with my son now. He eats foods that I don't even like to think about.
 
Today was a good day for me. I did my laundry and while I am down in the laundry room I bring my gel pens and coloring book and color. People see me in there and come in to talk a bit.

Everyone was busy getting things ready for the yard sale on Friday and Saturday. I am not taking part in it because my knees are hurting a lot and I can't walk much right now. I wish my mobility chair was working because I could really use it now. If it is not going to be fixed I need to get rid of it. It is heavy having to move it from in front of the shower. I have to push it and even on manual it is not easy for me to do.

My neighbor, the one who was hit by a car when he was on his bicycle in Feb, FINALLY came home! Today! He gave me a big hug. He was wheeled to his apartment in a wheelchair. Not even an hour later, I saw him heading out to the street on his bicycle. He was eager to get out and see all his friends.
 
Today was another good day. So far. I put together my box of stuff for the yard sale. I would have had more if I could have reached the high cupboards easily but could not. Haven't seen much of Jeff lately. He's not too happy with me right now. Wasn't my fault though he acts like it is. He wanted cash and when I went to the ATM machine at the bank close by (where I usually get cash from his account for a fee) it said it could not complete the transaction presently. ???? Since then I have not been too good at walking and that is far (for me). I will try tomorrow. I hate to walk all that way and it say no again. But I will do it.
 


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