ACK!!! ~ Confused Late Night Post

I was determined to add another chapter to the my story . . . A number of things/people got in the way AND my computer decided it wanted a holiday, I decided perhaps I would wait until tomorrow night ... SIGH!!

Y A W N ~ Very Tired Early Evening Thoughts

I had said that I would continue the story of what happened to me over the last several months tonight.




However, it was was very long, active and busy day as I am continuing to purchase/find/borrow/steal everything I am going to need as I move into my new apartment. When I sat down at the computer tonight ~ all I wanted was to crawl into bed.




So, I'm letting you know to check back tomorrow night, and I will have another chapter of what happened to me.

But now ~ I'm going to curl up in bed, lay my head down and get a good nights sleep....... Unless ~

Keep me from going to sleep too soon
Or if I go to sleep too soon
Come wake me up. Come any hour
Of night. Come whistling up the road.
Stomp on the porch. Bang on the door.
Make me get out of bed and come
And let you in and light a light.
Tell me the northern lights are on
And make me look. Or tell me clouds
Are doing something to the moon
They never did before, and show me.
See that I see. Talk to me till
I'm half as wide awake as you
And start to dress wondering why
I ever went to bed at all.
Tell me the walking is superb.
Not only tell me but persuade me.
You know I'm not too hard persuaded.

-- Summons by Robert Francis

--more tomorrow

F.Y.I. ~ Tired Early Evening Thoughts

I'm sorry but these last 48 hours have been very l o n g and almost overwhelming. Please excuse no post last night or tonight. I'll be back tomorrow - hopefully with a date story or two.

Sigh! ~ Early Evening Thoughts

Once again, I will be unable to post this evening. I'll be back tomorrow. SIGH!

My Apologies ~ Early Morning Thoughts

Work has absolutely consumed my life for the last couple of days. There has been much going on and some of it has taken into the evening. I apologize of the last of posts for several days. It seems that it will settle down after today, and I should be able to get back to regular postings again.

Opps ~ Late Morning Thoughts

Last night ~ at the last minute, there was dinner and a meeting with the boss which went on far too long. I'm sorry I didn't post, but I'll make it up tonight!!!

The Beginning -Complex Tales ~ Early Evening Thoughts

I had promised a number of posts ago, to start telling the "complex tales" about where I'm working. I've found my life once again full of delightful (and some not-so-delightful) people who can make my day more interesting than I ever thought possible.

Several weeks ago, when I hired on ~ one of the problems was maintenance...or rather the lack of it. We tried Toby in the job - and that didn't work out. I did have someone that lived at the complex who was versed in some of the skills that were needed, so it was decided to give him a try.

One of the first things anyone managing or doing anything at an apartment complex learns is how to drill a lock. Yes, sometimes you have to change locks for legal reasons (usually having to do with an eviction) and there is no key. It is not difficult to do - unless you don't do it correctly.

It was the end of the day, and R said that he would drill the lock for me - we were taking possession of an apartment that someone had vacated before the police were going to arrive. As he had never done this before, I showed him where to drill (there are two places) and how deep to drill (drilling for oil will only complicate the process). He repeated the where and the what for ~ and I started on my way home. I had to walk to the train to had downtown and then wait for a bus to carry me home. I had no sooner gotten to the train station when the first call came from R. Disaster evidently had struck.

I turned around and headed back to work. I arrived to find a very frustrated newbie maintenance man, metal shavings all over the porch - and a lock that looked as if it had been hit completely in the middle by a meteorite...there was a one and one half inch crater in the center of a three inch lock.

Now we are in a mess. The purpose of drilling in two places is to get the pins to loosen and eventually drop off and the lock gently, quietly and sweetly comes open. If not, you have to continue drilling in a circular pattern around the lock hoping that the screws from the inside will eventually drop out and you can twist the lock open.

Literally 12 ~ yes ~ twelve holes later, one of the screws drops - but the lock pins are holding strong. I now have a newbie maintenance man with steam coming out of his ears and if not-gentle conversation from him could have melted the lock ~ it would have.

I decided that the time for direct action had finally arrived. I really didn't think the second screw was going to drop, the pins were there for the duration and I really didn't have anymore time to mess with it. Since the drill was made of metal - I delivered several strong blows with the side of the drill to the lock casing ~ and the second screw dropped. And we were home free...except for the 2nd lock. Looking at R I asked if he was OK doing he next one. He assured me he was and with a quick motion of the drill, he began. It was success!!

I took out the sword of management and dubbed him "no longer newbie" on the spot...and again wended my way home. I also would never admit to him that the first lock I ever drilled on a vacant apartment ~ we ended up kicking the door in because I made such a mess of it. I have SOME pride left after all!!!

---more to follow

All That Glitters ~ Early Evening Thoughts

The decision to move was not an easy one to make. I had accepted a new job with a company that rents apartments by the week. While an interesting concept, and one that seemed to have validity, I was concerned about the number of managers the property had been through in the last period of time. In "digging" into the situation, I decided that it was something I would be able to handle and something that I could make work.

Any position with short term rentals, be it apartments or hotels, the speed at which things happen can really overwhelm managers. In the weekly rental "game" - you will do in one week what apartment managers do in four weeks. There is little or no room for "sliding" on revenue ~ there is not place to easily work with someone when they become behind on their rent. This was one of my major concerns. I have always been a manager that was concerned about revenue protection. To me, it is much more profitable to work with someone to get the money owed than to immediately do an eviction and have the lost revenue while an apartment sits empty and the process of eviction wends it course.

The decision was made that the process would work, and that I could make a "go" of what was in front of me. Fortunately, time has proved me correct (so far) and my collections and revenue are where they need to be.

The push was to have me move on-site. This is a situation fraught with peril. Once tenants know you live on-site, they have a tendency to call you for any situation minor or major. Of course, the major situations are important. The fact that the door of the cupboard over the sink isn't closing tightly isn't.

I have a friend who managed a very large complex and lived on-site. She actually issued to tenants a "blood, flood, fire" memo. She told them that if they knocked on her door after 8pm in the evening - it had better involve blood, a flood or a fire. Otherwise, it was going to involve blood...and very quickly.

The move itself to the complex should have been quite simple, however ~ being me ~ it was anything but simple. The first load was on Saturday, and all seemed well. Then the skies opened up and the deluge began. (Maybe the heavens were trying to tell me something!) It was decided that the rest of the move would occur on Sunday. This was a good thing - as it gave me a little more time to prepare.

As one of the loads was heading down the highway, one of my craft bags opened up and there was a trail of glitter flowing from the bed of the pick-up truck. I informed the people helping me move, that the first person who made a comment about fairy dust was going to be hurt ~ badly!!
Then came the saga of the dresser. It was too large to be lifted over the obstacles in the way and appeared too large to fit though the doors (which seemed to be designed for those hiding doors you see in old movies). Finally, with much swearing and sweating it was ensconced in its place and all was well.

Unfortunately, my apartment now looks as if it is the remnants of a garage sale - and I have much to dig through and sort through. I think that by Friday I will be able to find some clothes to wear and maybe even some dishes to eat off of!!

Dare I Say Disheveled!!! ~ early evening thoughts

I don't know how accurate this is ~ but I was told yesterday that it has rained for 41 days in Houston. I would believe it. Yesterday, I was trying to get all my "stuff" from one place to another. The first load went without a problem ... until about half way there, the sky opened and we had another deluge. So much for moving anything else!

Today, it took four trips (20 miles round trip each) and a lot of huffing and puffing - but everything is IN the new apartmet. Unfortunately, I look like a storage shed and will be spending the next couple of days unpacking and finding things. I did try and keep things somewhat collected where they belonged. I will admit that the word is "somewhat."

However ~ it is wonderful to be this close to work AND to all my friends. This also means that it will be MUCH easier to keep you posted about what's going on in my life and the lives of those around me.

Until I get my own internet, I'm unable to to much with pictures, so bear with me as far as having text only.

---more tomorrow

And So It Begins ~ Moving Thoughts

It is official - today I am starting to move. I will be living in the complex I am managing, and that will be a wonderful blessing of no travel time (from the living room to the office is 4 steps)...and being able to handle and observe more of what's going on around.

Unfortunately, I will be unavailable today (07.07.07) until late Sunday (07.08.07). And the move also means I will have more time to blog and spill the beans share the stories of what is going on in my life and the lives of those around me!!

F.Y.I. ~ Early Evening Thoughts

Things are fine, I'm getting healthier each day ~ but due to "corporate" being in town today (the owner of the complexes, one of which I manage) there will be no post tonight.

I'll be back tomorrow - and I have quite a few stories to start spinning!!!




--hubble photo courtesy of NASA

The Fault - Dear Brutus - Lies Not In The Stars ~ Late Evening Thoughts

I would love nothing better than to blame everything on Time Warner's (completed today) take over by Comcast.

Unfortunately, the fact that my cold has moved into my chest causing some problems, is certainly not their fault.

The fact that my internet connection is acting strangely just might be.

Whatever is going on ~ there will be no post tonight. Tomorrow, I ~ hopefully ~ will be back in full health with a full internet connection. . . and no Nyquil in my system.

Pant, Pant, Puff, Puff ~ Late Night Thoughts

A quick update ~ and I apologize for not posting Friday as I said I would. This was an absolutely wild, crazy, frustrating, amazing week. Monday was just the tip of the iceberg about the job that I had taken. When I finally got through some of the paperwork, I found that the corporate office (deliberately lower case), my boss and myself were operating on completely different figures. I had one set, my boss another and accounting a third. Unfortunately, the office was in the midst of updating how the accounts are done and posted.

We know how much fun changing anything can be, this involved approximately 15 properties of various sizes, shapes and states of being. And this was...fun was maybe one of the words I might have used this week.

I also have (finally) seen the apartment that goes with the job, and am seriously considering moving into it.
Not that it would add any more confusion to what's already going on ~ right??

I put in quite a few hours this week (as in over 56) - and I think I ran myself slightly down in the process. Today I have felt a cold trying to take over (sooo not going to happen!!). So, as my dear friend SGB said to tell everyone: I'm not doing a lengthy post tonight ~ I'm going to bed with a hot number (and that's my temperature!) (What were YOU thinking?) and a dose of "Theraflu." ....

I should be back on track tomorrow ~

THE JOB

Imagine that
the job were
so delicate
that you could
seldom-almost
never-remember
it. Impossible
work, really.

Like placing
pebbles exactly
where they were
already. The steadiness it
takes... and
to what end?
It's so easy
to forget again.

Kay Ryan

--crazy doesn't cover it magnet
http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/HPM/BM1162~Crazy-Doesn-t-Cover-It-Posters.jpg
--Job Poem by Kay Ryan
Published in the New Yorker Magazine dated January 31st 2000

And When Lighting Strikes ~ Late Night Thoughts

This has been an interesting three days. Saturday, I decided to drop by a favorite "watering-hole" for a VERY gentle libation...I was having coffee, believe it or not. While talking to a dear friend who is the bartender, I noticed a friend I hadn't seen for several months. We starting talking and when we got to the "And what are YOU doing?" part ~ he told me that he had starting managing an apartment complex.

We discussed that for several minutes, and then he let the thunder roll. "We're looking for another manager, do you know someone who might be interested?" Avoiding the temptation to jump up and down and squeal, I casually mentioned that I might be interested. (me being someone, by the way, that's been out of work for a "bit")

"That's great," was the reply, "the boss is right over there, let's talk to him." Talk about being struck to almost silence. So, off we went to chat with the boss. He turned out to be quite the business man, and VERY business oriented. We talked for awhile and I found out more about the job. I said that I was very interested. He wanted to meet on Monday to talk further. I gave my friend my new phone number and thought that was the end of that. I've had these kind of job suggestions on bars before - and they come through about as often as "let me have your number and I'll call you next week."

Sunday evening, I got a phone call to confirm that I was indeed going to meet with them on Monday and to finalize the time and place. At this point I was speechless ~ but wait ~ there's more. (including the lighting strike!)

When I went down today (Monday) I did know they were getting rid of the current manager of one of the complexes ... what I did not know.......

When we arrived at the complex, my friend and I were outside looking at some work that needed (definitely) to be done. The "big boss" went inside, fired (terminated) the current manager - who knew it was coming - and after he'd cleaned out his desk - came out, called me in and informed me that I was now the manager. THAT'S when the lighting struck. You see, I've been looking for work ~ but when you reach a certain ... ahem ... age, finding a job is not that easy. Ageism is quite alive and well - although no one really talks about it ~ and it would NEVER be the reason they give for not hiring someone. However, I have very firm spiritual beliefs - and I knew that at the right moment, at the right time - I would find something. Little did I know it would be within 72 hours.

Before you "fuss," that kind of change-over is VERY common in the apartment industry ~ I've had it happen to myself as well...although not quite that quickly. Unfortunately, when it happens that way, there is no kind of hand-over of information. In this case, I'm not sure he would have been able to hand over much information anyway. And as I began to undo the piles of "stuff" - the former manager had brought many of the problems on himself.

The apartment complex while somewhat small (60 units) is none-the-less, going to be a real challenge over the next several days.
I have uncovered and unearthed that payments were incorrectly posted, not posted or even worse - leases not completed. Not a good sign. The stacks of papers that made little or no sense, were another less than promising sign. When I tried to rent an apartment that was listed as being vacant - but was actually quite occupied, was probably the final straw. (Oh, yes and I had to turn on all my charm when the tenant of the apartment got home from work and one of her neighbors casually mentioned someone was looking at her place to rent ... let's just say she arrived in my office in "high shriek" ...but let chuckling at the end.)

Having been through a "clean out your desk" situation myself, I have always tried to be supportive of people who have gone before. Not after that incident. I had my excuse for any problems I couldn't immediately solve. "I'm still trying to solve what the previous manager did ... I'll get back to you."

The issues at the complex are going to really occupy my time for the next few days. For example, I'm going into the office tomorrow morning at 5:30am to see if I can sort out the postings on the computer program and compare them to the hard copies.

I know for a fact, that I will not post here until Friday - so be patient with me. I will be back. And some good thoughts would be most appreciated. And trust me, I will have a wealth of stories to tell you when I get back on Friday!!! And probably from then on as well!!!

--Egyptian libation bowl
www.glencairnmuseum.org
--the Gordian Knot by J. Tonkin
www.tonkinart.com/gordian%20knot.htm

I'm Confused ~ Early Morning Thoughts

I have been working on a post - and for some reason, parts of it keep "vanishing" when I save or try to publish.....It's a little late (early?) and I'll get the problem solved later this morning ...

F.Y.I. - Problems Posting

While I've been working on early morning thoughts, I've had connection problems and now a storm has broken. I'll try and get the posting completed - but should there continue to be problems, I'll post it later this morning.

The lightning is beautiful outside, but wrecks havoc with the power in the complex.

Early Morning Thoughts ~

I had just finished up the Stella Awards (previous post) and had started in on "The Little Engine That Could(n't) for tonight - when there was an incident in the apartment complex where I am currently living. I'm not sure how serious it is as this point, but to let you know - it was scary (and yes, I was), and the police are here in the complex...talking to everyone who's awake anyway.

So, with all that - I'll make it up tomorrow night, when the dust has settled. (and I'll try let you know what happened later...or tomorrow)

****2:06 AM ****
All has settled - what happened was not directed at or in the complex evidently. There was nothing serious as a result - no one injured, etc. To have what sounds like gunshots close by - well, that's a little unsettling.


In the meantime ~ here's an image of the sun from a brand new satellite which will be spending quite a bit of time studying our sun.