Post by drbanks on May 5, 2018 21:10:02 GMT -5
And it's starting to be a major problem.
Testimony first:
I am not a hoarder, but I can be a slob, and when my brain fell into that dark place over the winter, let's just say that life skills got put on hold. My apartment is a mess.
Earlier this last week, the building maintenance guys came over to fix my AC, which they did, but apparently got freaked out over the state of my apartment. I came home Thursday night to a note from the rental office suggesting that if I didn't want to have to find a new place to live, I'd better do something about it pronto. Words like "terms of lease" bandied about.
So, I did my usual way of dealing with this.
Thursday night, laying in bed, sucking my thumb, completely decompensating
Friday morning, asked a friend for help. Not east
Friday noon, realized to an extent, I can buy my way out of this, so I contracted with some industrial strength cleaners to come out next week and do what they can
Friday afternoon, I walked over to the rental office, sat down with the manager and kissed a serious amount of behind. I gave her my action plan, begged a little, and promised to let them do the kitchen appliance upgrades that'll raise my rent by $75/month.
The latter is strategic because they keep upgrading the apartments and if the existing residents don't let that happen (and pay extra), they'll find a reason to not renew their leases so they can rent to someone new who will pay.
I like my apartment. I've been here since the summer of 2000, and it's the longest I've ever lived in one place in my life. I don't want to move.
Today was step one of the clean-out. My friend came over and as we're throwing away absolutely everything (well, not everything, I found a brand new cast iron skillet still in its box under my dining room table - but I put it in the cupboard and threw away the box)
I just can't believe how low I sank this winter.
My friend says two things to me:
1) I either need a bigger apartment, or I should rent some "maker space" somewhere, because what I have now isn't fitting.
2) At least until the emergency is over, the one thing that'll probably bother the landlord the most is all the plants with all the leaves falling off. She suggested, strongly, that I get rid of all of them until I can get the apartment really clean and satisfy the landlord.
So, we just terminated some nice healthy plants, including my beloved 'pubes, Jalapenos and Bulgarian carrots. I'm going to try to hang onto the two extras in my bedroom, but everything else is either disassembled or will be by day's end tomorrow.
She also pointed out what should have been obvious, which is simply that I don't have room for 15 active aerogardens in my apartment and need to start getting rid of some.
Sigh. Like I said, I am not a hoarder, but I'm sure looking like it lately. By way of defense, I have absolutely no emotional attachment to most of that crap and would happily pay someone to haul it off for me. That in a nutshell is what makes me a slob rather than hoarder. But to an observer, the difference seems moot.
Until I come to getting rid of aerogardens. Sigh. Well, usually, if it's something one can't face doing, maybe it really should be done.
I've been meaning to get rid of four harvests, none of which are in very good shape, anyway, and putting the Farm Plus in their place. 24 pods worth of harvest swapped for 24 pods worth of farm plus. Seems like a reasonable trade. I've got a couple more harvests other than that, and I guess I can let those go, too.
The Extras, Ultra and Bounties are another issue and the Farm Plus is "pry it out of my cold, dead hands" material.
It has been a VERY difficult week for me, starting with a hacking cough in an 80 degree apartment, ending with a much cooler apartment, but the sword of Damocles hanging over my head.
And one really pissed off Maine Coon Cat, having to put up with strangers moving everything around, and one in particular who kept insisting on picking her up.
Looks like I'm finally shutting down the EcoGrower and Rainforest planters tomorrow.
I might even have to take time off from work this coming week. Not happy at all.
Testimony first:
I am not a hoarder, but I can be a slob, and when my brain fell into that dark place over the winter, let's just say that life skills got put on hold. My apartment is a mess.
Earlier this last week, the building maintenance guys came over to fix my AC, which they did, but apparently got freaked out over the state of my apartment. I came home Thursday night to a note from the rental office suggesting that if I didn't want to have to find a new place to live, I'd better do something about it pronto. Words like "terms of lease" bandied about.
So, I did my usual way of dealing with this.
Thursday night, laying in bed, sucking my thumb, completely decompensating
Friday morning, asked a friend for help. Not east
Friday noon, realized to an extent, I can buy my way out of this, so I contracted with some industrial strength cleaners to come out next week and do what they can
Friday afternoon, I walked over to the rental office, sat down with the manager and kissed a serious amount of behind. I gave her my action plan, begged a little, and promised to let them do the kitchen appliance upgrades that'll raise my rent by $75/month.
The latter is strategic because they keep upgrading the apartments and if the existing residents don't let that happen (and pay extra), they'll find a reason to not renew their leases so they can rent to someone new who will pay.
I like my apartment. I've been here since the summer of 2000, and it's the longest I've ever lived in one place in my life. I don't want to move.
Today was step one of the clean-out. My friend came over and as we're throwing away absolutely everything (well, not everything, I found a brand new cast iron skillet still in its box under my dining room table - but I put it in the cupboard and threw away the box)
I just can't believe how low I sank this winter.
My friend says two things to me:
1) I either need a bigger apartment, or I should rent some "maker space" somewhere, because what I have now isn't fitting.
2) At least until the emergency is over, the one thing that'll probably bother the landlord the most is all the plants with all the leaves falling off. She suggested, strongly, that I get rid of all of them until I can get the apartment really clean and satisfy the landlord.
So, we just terminated some nice healthy plants, including my beloved 'pubes, Jalapenos and Bulgarian carrots. I'm going to try to hang onto the two extras in my bedroom, but everything else is either disassembled or will be by day's end tomorrow.
She also pointed out what should have been obvious, which is simply that I don't have room for 15 active aerogardens in my apartment and need to start getting rid of some.
Sigh. Like I said, I am not a hoarder, but I'm sure looking like it lately. By way of defense, I have absolutely no emotional attachment to most of that crap and would happily pay someone to haul it off for me. That in a nutshell is what makes me a slob rather than hoarder. But to an observer, the difference seems moot.
Until I come to getting rid of aerogardens. Sigh. Well, usually, if it's something one can't face doing, maybe it really should be done.
I've been meaning to get rid of four harvests, none of which are in very good shape, anyway, and putting the Farm Plus in their place. 24 pods worth of harvest swapped for 24 pods worth of farm plus. Seems like a reasonable trade. I've got a couple more harvests other than that, and I guess I can let those go, too.
The Extras, Ultra and Bounties are another issue and the Farm Plus is "pry it out of my cold, dead hands" material.
It has been a VERY difficult week for me, starting with a hacking cough in an 80 degree apartment, ending with a much cooler apartment, but the sword of Damocles hanging over my head.
And one really pissed off Maine Coon Cat, having to put up with strangers moving everything around, and one in particular who kept insisting on picking her up.
Looks like I'm finally shutting down the EcoGrower and Rainforest planters tomorrow.
I might even have to take time off from work this coming week. Not happy at all.
