Thursday, April 29, 2010

I'm Alone But We're All In This Together

My doctor appointment went well. Kristen and I always chat as she goes about pricking my finger and testing my clotting factor.  She thinks, given the shit, both literal and figurative, that's going on in my life, that I'm doing very well.  I'm coping.  I haven't spun off into thumb sucking depression or raging lunacy.

I've talked about the problems with my departing tenants.  This would be mostly of the literally shitty kind.  Three days of cleaning up other people's shit.  I felt like the Sisyphus of Shit. They knew they were leaving then.  It seemed so very deliberate and mean.  His response was little more than a shrug.  They'll be gone by tomorrow night.

Now I have to replace the dead washer and dryer.  And since they flooded the laundry room floor and the basement, I may have to make repairs before I can replace these appliances.  Shlepping laundry to the Laundromat is a bitch.  It's costly, too.

In taking a look at some of the things that needed repair in the main house we, the handyman and I, found what seemed like termite damage under the kitchen sink, and into the cabinet.  The kitchen dates from the very early 1050's, maybe earlier.  You don't fuck around with termites.  Though termites are not all that common in this dry climate.  But the damage is in a spot where there has been a water drip.  We won't know how extensive it is until we tear out the cabinets.  My handyman has a sink that will work there.  Sad that I don't get to design the kitchen of my dreams for that house.  But it will probably be an inprovement.  Hopefully more convenient, cleaner looking, better organized for a cook.  I hear the Dartmouth boy likes to cook.

The handsome young gentlemen with nice personalities and sense of humor will still move into the house.  Only not until the 14th of May.  But in the meantime, there will be some costly remodeling going on even if it is fast and on a severely restricted budget.  So today, after my doctor appointment, I went to vist the branch manager of the branch of the credit union I have a banking history going back to the mid 1970s.  I have a house that is unencumbered.  It's a big lot in a nice part of town.  You'd think that would count for something, but still it will take two weeks.  Two fucking weeks might as well be two months.  I need money now.  She asked me about family.  I have none.  She asked me for references.  I must have given her a blank look.  She said, "Friends?"  I had to think about it.  And though my friend and neighbor lives only three houses away, I don't know her address.  Fortunately I do know her phone number.  I don't have a cell phone with a bunch of programed in names and numbers.  I'm a relic.  I hardly exist.  She asked for another friend.  I wracked my brain.  I thought of a couple of people, but didn't know phone numbers or addresses.  I was ashamed and flustered.  I had documentation for proof of property tax and tax valuation of the property.  I had proof of homeowners insurance.  I have little credit history anymore.  But if she googled me, she'd see that I do exist.

Demolition starts Saturday.  Anybody in?

7 comments:

Commander Zaius said...

Demolition starts Saturday. Anybody in?

Cool! Had a chance to help tear down a house once after a nasty breakup. Me and my sledgehammer had fun and I had forgotten about the girl when I was done.

Unknown said...

What are the chances you could sic a lawyer onto the tenants who have caused so much damage? Normally I avoid lawyers like the plague, but it sickens me to think of those smug bastards getting away with what they've done to you. At the very least, you should be able to claim reimbursement of your costs. (Here in Ontario, we have small claims court, for amounts up to $25,000, where you don't even need a lawyer, but I suspect they don't have anything similar in Utah, Canada being such a hotbed of socialism and all.)

Utah Savage said...

Beach, I wish you and your sledge hammer were here.

Tessa, we have small claims court here too. I wouldn't go after them with an attorney because attorneys cost too much and the kids don't have money. But if I decide to I can take them to small claims court.

Phoebe Fay said...

Sorry I can't be there. Good for you for holding it together, even though it's hard. It will get better.

And seriously, think about the small claims court. I hope you're documenting the damage.

La Belette Rouge said...

I wish He-weasel and I were in a 40 mile radius of you. He loves demolition. And he has wonderful teams of contractors who work for him.

And, yes, you do exist. Just give the bank guy links to your blog roll. I am happy to verify your existence.
xxoo

Sherry Pasquarello said...

people sometimes make me nuts-crazier than i am.

i could be a happy little hermit if i had the funds to be-very few people would find me.

Utah Savage said...

Phoebe, Thanks for showing up with your viking hat on. It always cheers me up.

LBR, I too wish your hubs were in range. I will find some way. To bad I'm no good at phone sex.

Sherry, I think I've said it before, but you and I are a lot alike.