Reflections of My Life

One thing I have noticed about this elevator business..........it is bringing tenants closer together. We all have this common problem and people who never talked to each other are now communicating to each other.

Back in October I was planning how I was going to reach some goals I had set for myself. They included going to appointments and have things taken care of that I needed to do. The elevator has caused me to put them on the back burner. When it is fixed, I will now have to start over.

One is my dental issues and that is like pulling teeth to get an appointment. lol It is tough. I hate that part of it for sure but I needed to do it. I got over my fear of going back to get the rest of my teeth (or most, they will not take all for some reason) extracted. My appointment was made three or four months in advance, then the elevator broke and I had to cancel it. I have not dared to make another appointment until I know for sure I can go to it.

Now I need to work on projects and things I may have started but did not continue. I have not seen Sonny in 16 days. That is the most we have ever gone. This is a time when he is going through some serious health issues. He has been to his doctors several times in that time period. I talk to him several times a day on the phone but that is not the same.

Today should be a good day.
 

katlupe said:
One thing I have noticed about this elevator business..........it is bringing tenants closer together. We all have this common problem and people who never talked to each other are now communicating to each other.

Back in October I was planning how I was going to reach some goals I had set for myself. They included going to appointments and have things taken care of that I needed to do. The elevator has caused me to put them on the back burner. When it is fixed, I will now have to start over.

One is my dental issues and that is like pulling teeth to get an appointment. lol It is tough. I hate that part of it for sure but I needed to do it. I got over my fear of going back to get the rest of my teeth (or most, they will not take all for some reason) extracted. My appointment was made three or four months in advance, then the elevator broke and I had to cancel it. I have not dared to make another appointment until I know for sure I can go to it.

Now I need to work on projects and things I may have started but did not continue. I have not seen Sonny in 16 days. That is the most we have ever gone. This is a time when he is going through some serious health issues. He has been to his doctors several times in that time period. I talk to him several times a day on the phone but that is not the same.

Today should be a good day.
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I must admit I was worried you and Sonny had a fight, now I understand. I have been going through not stop doctor appts since the first of the year. I know you are anxious to get your teeth taken care of.

If eveyone is banning together in the building, are there people there in better physical condition? Are there some that have a car? Maybe you all could get together and help each other. If someone has a car, they could take a group once or twice a week to the store. Those with mobility could bring groceries up until the elevator is fixed. I know it is not ideal but maybe as a team, you could help and look after one another? Is that a possibility?
 
Blessed said:
I must admit I was worried you and Sonny had a fight, now I understand. I have been going through not stop doctor appts since the first of the year. I know you are anxious to get your teeth taken care of.

If eveyone is banning together in the building, are there people there in better physical condition? Are there some that have a car? Maybe you all could get together and help each other. If someone has a car, they could take a group once or twice a week to the store. Those with mobility could bring groceries up until the elevator is fixed. I know it is not ideal but maybe as a team, you could help and look after one another? Is that a possibility?
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No, Sonny won't fight with me. He knows he wouldn't win. :ROFLMAO:

Well they are not banning together that much. Just inside talking together. A good many of them have their own cars but they don't really go places with others too much. The trouble is they would still have to down the stairs and back up with groceries. The ones who manage to do the stairs have a hard time carrying anything up the stairs. Most people are disabled and/or elderly. I don't think anyone lives here who is in really good health.
 

I just received my Instacart order! We have food now! My maintenance man brought it upstairs for me. Takes about half a second for him to go up the stairs.

This morning I clipped my bunny's nails. Put him on a blanket on the table by my computer and he was interested in all the stuff on the table. Not mad at me I guess because he is sitting right next to my chair.

Raining now, but roads were slippery earlier so my friend didn't come today. I have a new aide coming on Monday and wouldn't you know the one who did not show yesterday called me today. She said she forgot what day it was yesterday because of Monday being a holiday. Well, I know if you work as an aide and possibly most of health care, it wasn't a holiday you would have off.
 
I finally caught up with you Kat. I am sorry to know Sonny is unwell.

This elevator nonsense is finally getting attention. So glad to hear this! Also, I'm delighted to know the TV station is coming to do an expose of this condition at your place! I would love to see it!

Please let us know how that goes. Stay well, my friend. :coffee:
 
RadishRose said:
I finally caught up with you Kat. I am sorry to know Sonny is unwell.

This elevator nonsense is finally getting attention. So glad to hear this! Also, I'm delighted to know the TV station is coming to do an expose of this condition at your place! I would love to see it!

Please let us know how that goes. Stay well, my friend. :coffee:
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Thank you, radish. Sonny is on oxygen now. Even when he is sleeping. I know this is bad news but he thinks it is good news because he feels better. He says if it keeps him alive that is all he cares about. And now I can't even see him because he cannot walk up all those stairs.
 
katlupe said:
Thank you, radish. Sonny is on oxygen now. Even when he is sleeping. I know this is bad news but he thinks it is good news because he feels better. He says if it keeps him alive that is all he cares about. And now I can't even see him because he cannot walk up all those stairs.
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oh no.... that's terrible news for you Kat, :( he is more than your partner and friend , he's your handyman too

MY ex husband who has Emphysema.. and has chronic breathing problems is fighting the need for Oxygen.. he says that if he has it once he'll come to reply on it continuously and he wants to put that day off as far as possible.. He uses a portable breathing machine system, can't remember it's name but he told me what it was called.

He struggles for every breath, terrifying to witness tbh.. and lives on the 3rd floor of a building with very steep stairs and no lift.. so even when he does his shopping, he can't take it upstairs, he has to rely on a male neighbour taking it up for him... as a very independent guy, that goes very much against the grain for him.

I'm so sorry for Sunny.. but if he's not struggling for very breath, it's got to be a big relief for him... just so sad that it's prevented you from seeing him..
 
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katlupe said:
I am trying to prepare myself. To find other ways to get things done that he used to do for me. It is all I can do.
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Do you have the Nextdoor app ?.. round here people use that to find relaibale handymen. I'm going to try one for the first time, he has got lots of Kudos on there for being clean and tidy and good at his job... might be worth a try for you if you have the App..
 
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hollydolly said:
Do you have the Nextdoor app ?.. round here people use that to find relaibale handymen. I'm going to try one for the first time, that has got lots of Kudos on there for being clean and tidy and good at his job... might be worth a try for you if you have the App..
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I belong to some fakebook groups that are local and one is for people looking for work or people looking to hire someone. I see some for handymen that get really good reviews. I thought of that because I want someone to come to my apartment and put the new caster wheel on my mobility chair before spring.
 
katlupe said:
I belong to some fakebook groups that are local and one is for people looking for work or people looking to hire someone. I see some for handymen that get really good reviews. I thought of that because I want someone to come to my apartment and put the new caster wheel on my mobility chair before spring.
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Good idea.

I need some large pictures to be hung on my wall.. I have concrete walls so it needs a masonry drill, which is too heavy for me to hold above my head.. so I'm hoping I can get this guy whose been recommended to come and do it..
 
hollydolly said:
Good idea.

I need some large pictures to be hung on my wall.. I have concrete walls so it needs a masonry drill, which is too heavy for me to hold above my head.. so I'm hoping I can get this guy whose been recommended to come and do it..
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Good idea. I thought about driving my mobility chair to the local tire place about two blocks away and have them look at the caster wheel. I have the brand new ones that Sonny bought. But I am kind of afraid of driving it anywhere with the caster wheel so unsteady and vibrating. Afraid it will fall off.
 
Through out this whole mess with the broken elevator what keeps me from going nuts from not leaving my floor is that all of a sudden my son is coming here to check on me! He, as you all know, is disabled and lives in his own world of ghosts and spirits. No friends. No activities that I know of. Comes here almost daily to get some money (his money, I handle it for him) or food. The last two days he came here not needing anything but to see if I was okay and if I needed him to take my garbage out. Of course, he hadn't been here for the three days before that. Still I am liking him coming to see about me for a change.

Today WBNG news is coming to interview some of the people who live here about the elevator. Then hopefully they will video the stairs and go to each floor. I don't see how this will actually help because Conifer will have a paper trail proving the elevator company has been working on it and ordered a part for it. I would like to see them to be made to have a full time assistant for us. Someone who will even do our laundry if you do not have an aide. One of the aides though had a hard time making the climb to the third floor carrying groceries and then later laundry.

They give us the Emergency number on the elevator and it is also the number we have always used for our Emergency Maintenance. Then Rich calls us right back, usually, but I called it the other day and he said he never was contacted by them. I used to trust him but not anymore. Course he does not want to lose his job and has to do and say what Conifer tells him.

Our old manager is assisting us in this crisis. She cares about us and was fired in 2019 because they said she went over budget. Then when the next manager came in they told her not to get too friendly with us.

Here is the emails she received from Conifer over this. I do think her getting involved has been what got them to say that they will assist us with garbage, laundry, mail & groceries NOW.

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hollydolly said:
ring them first and ask if they'd be prepared to look at it..
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This would open up a whole new addition to their business if they could fix it. There are a lot of people here driving these and the scooters around town. Then when they have to locate a repair person it is from the company who makes them and way over priced. Some repairs are routine and more than an actual vehicle.
 
katlupe said:
Through out this whole mess with the broken elevator what keeps me from going nuts from not leaving my floor is that all of a sudden my son is coming here to check on me! He, as you all know, is disabled and lives in his own world of ghosts and spirits. No friends. No activities that I know of. Comes here almost daily to get some money (his money, I handle it for him) or food. The last two days he came here not needing anything but to see if I was okay and if I needed him to take my garbage out. Of course, he hadn't been here for the three days before that. Still I am liking him coming to see about me for a change.

Today WBNG news is coming to interview some of the people who live here about the elevator. Then hopefully they will video the stairs and go to each floor. I don't see how this will actually help because Conifer will have a paper trail proving the elevator company has been working on it and ordered a part for it. I would like to see them to be made to have a full time assistant for us. Someone who will even do our laundry if you do not have an aide. One of the aides though had a hard time making the climb to the third floor carrying groceries and then later laundry.

They give us the Emergency number on the elevator and it is also the number we have always used for our Emergency Maintenance. Then Rich calls us right back, usually, but I called it the other day and he said he never was contacted by them. I used to trust him but not anymore. Course he does not want to lose his job and has to do and say what Conifer tells him.

Our old manager is assisting us in this crisis. She cares about us and was fired in 2019 because they said she went over budget. Then when the next manager came in they told her not to get too friendly with us.

Here is the emails she received from Conifer over this. I do think her getting involved has been what got them to say that they will assist us with garbage, laundry, mail & groceries NOW.

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OMG!!! The defensive attitude of the Management company beggars belief !! ...and they state that the Elevator is a Luxury.. what ?

They have absolutely no right allocating upstairs accommodation to disabled and elderly if they feel that an Elevator is a luxury!

Good thing the media are coming to cover this .. because someone need to bring them to bear about their lackadaisical attitude towards their elderly and disabled tenants..
 
I did exactly what I said I would not do...........I was interviewed on camera by the WBNG News this morning. She asked me what I wanted to tell people and once I started...............I had a lot to say. Hope it does some good. Then she wanted to video my walker, my apartment door and the elevator. Then she videoed my neighbor and her driving her mobility chair down the hall. She did not want to be interviewed on camera. What an emotional day this has turned out to be.

I am fixing my breakfast now since I didn't eat earlier. Went for my walk but was nervous about all this stuff so couldn't settle down to eat. Now fixing bacon and eggs, my favorite meal. Later if I can view this video online I will see if I can share it here.........even though I HATE being on camera and how I will look. It was kind of spur of the moment so could not make myself look any better than I do. Haven't been able to go to my hair appointment either, had to cancel it, so my hair does not look very good either. So that is that.

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katlupe said:
When you are young you do not see yourself with health issues as you age. Yet those issues creep up on you sometimes slowly, as in my case. Though in my mother's case, it was very sudden because it was like she was great one day and not so the next. She had Cushing's Syndrome and it was a horrible life for her after that. Mine started as having stiff knees that just got worse. And now I have Lymphedema which is in my feet, ankles and legs. So pretty much that is what limits my mobility. My therapist says exercise will help. So I am walking for that. I used to do race walking, so now I say I do slow walking. With a walker. But at least I am moving.

It seems to me, at least in my case, that when I was younger I was focused on beauty more. What I looked like and what I could do to look better. I did skin routines that involved expensive products, like Clinique. Having my hair and nails done regularly. Suntanning. Expensive perfume. Make-up mirrors. Nail dryers. Fancy purses and shoes. Walk-in closets. A home gym as well as a membership at an exclusive exercise club. Even my car was part of my persona.

Now it all about health and my aging process. Learning to make life comfortable, but easier. Making sure when I buy a shirt or blouse I can put it on easily due to my shoulder hurting. Finding shoes I can wear as my feet swell during the day and who cares what they look like. How do they feel is the big thing. Forget make-up. All I use now is eyebrow powder since my eyebrows disappeared. One day they were there and the next just gone......

I make it a point to shower, eat, clean my apartment and Rabbit's cage and do laundry. I fear getting lazy about it and then not catching up. Maybe not now, but if I live long enough, later on. There has been people in my building who have had issues with those things and it seems like once that happens they go downhill. Well, I am not going downhill without screaming and kicking the whole way. Living in clutter or a dirty home causes you to be depressed and unhealthy. So not going to do that.

So on that note...........I have things I need to do.
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Words of wisdom! I also have the same philosophy of "not going downhill without screaming and kicking." Focusing on health has become a priority for me, too.
 
katlupe said:
I did exactly what I said I would not do...........I was interviewed on camera by the WBNG News this morning. She asked me what I wanted to tell people and once I started...............I had a lot to say. Hope it does some good. Then she wanted to video my walker, my apartment door and the elevator. Then she videoed my neighbor and her driving her mobility chair down the hall. She did not want to be interviewed on camera. What an emotional day this has turned out to be.

I am fixing my breakfast now since I didn't eat earlier. Went for my walk but was nervous about all this stuff so couldn't settle down to eat. Now fixing bacon and eggs, my favorite meal. Later if I can view this video online I will see if I can share it here.........even though I HATE being on camera and how I will look. It was kind of spur of the moment so could not make myself look any better than I do. Haven't been able to go to my hair appointment either, had to cancel it, so my hair does not look very good either. So that is that.

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Wow! So glad you spoke to the news station, @katlupe ! The word needed to get out, and you did it! Keep us posted. Thanks!
 
palides2021 said:
That sounds like someone trying to avoid being sued! Have you thought of talking to an attorney or the Better Business bureau? "The wheels that squeak the loudest get heard."
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We have spoke to everyone we could think of. Most of the time they have brushed whoever contacted them off. One lady here has gone in person to just about every government office in town. I can't wait to see what she said on the interview.
 

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