Some of our units are being upgraded for energy efficiency and weatherization. I was accompanying the guys from our energy company to each apartment. We have a number of tenants with severe mental illnesses. One of the favorite tenants is an old hippie who just took too many hits of acid and is a paranoid schizophrenic. We're talking tinfoil lined apartment, noone allowed in while he's not there, won't leave his apartment if there's food in it kind of stuff. He's sweet as hell and not really a bother, except for when he gets absent-minded.

Today, we got to his unit and banged on the doors. For fifteen minutes. We tried calling both of this phone numbers to no avail. BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG!!

Finally, he came to the door and opened it up and it was like backdraft with smoke. The units are set up shotgun style so when you open the front door, you can see through the living room and kitchen to the back door. It's maybe 25 feet.

Couldn't see it at all.

Tenant had started baking a pizza lord knows when, probably about 3 this morning, and then fell asleep and forgot about it. He has his smoke detectors disabled (they are bugged, he says), and all of his windows and door cracks covered so we never even saw the smoke on the outside.

We got in, got both doors open and got the place aired out, but I now smell like I've been dunked in the fryer at McDonald's. Yuk.

~ma to GC!

Toddson, your insurance company needs a smiting. Really, can we just have a blanket smite? Mine just "notified" me (via EOB) that I need to apply for more therapy visits. In every year past, they have notified me before the fact with a letter.

So now I have a month of visits that they won't cover. Fuckos.

(gosh, I can't believe I'm still so single. Or that D'Hoffryn hasn't called me yet.)

There's a song on the I Miss Buffy tribute called "Kinda Wish D'Hoffryn Was My Boyfriend."

I can't believe how much I hate your insurance company, Toddson. Wow. Glad your mom is doing better, at any rate.

Definitely a win, Aims!

I seem to be reacting to the past week/several months of badness by wanting to curl up on the couch and watch TV all day. That's okay for one day, right?

One day of it is perfect , -t.

I went Tday shopping - it took 5 trips to get the groceries in the house.

Good news, GC. I hope everything works out and you can get on with enjoying the experience. And go World Domination!

Todd, I'm speechless! Shame on you going and getting that appendectomy for the fun of it. Good to hear your mom is doing better.

Wow, Aims. I'm glad you were persistent.

Todd, I'm glad you're mom is better. However, I can't even begin to understand your insurance company.

{{{Seska}}} I know it's so stressful, but you've done greatness till now. Just from the tidbits you're releasing here, you're making a difference - and I'm sure your thesis has so much more to it than what a tired, busy brain like mine can understand from reading your posts, once in while (I still got some of those marked, for future reading. Soon I'll need RSS of marked posts in b.org). It's just a little bit more, and you can do this.

GC, A Ton Of ~ma to your meeting. I'm crossing my fingers for you.

ION. I'm somewhat tired. Dad said he'll go to the demonstration with me (the first in his life. Also, my dad? Is actually an anarchist, which is one of the core things in his personalty. Also a librarian, well informed in history and English literature and a huge influence on me. You get the point).

Tonight, I'm disturbed by my ability to come up with an historical argument. I can come up with good ideas/suggestions, but can't formulate them into academic arguments. That's not good. In my first year I was a star in the classroom. This year? I'm starting to talk, my professors tries to lead me on a certain path, and I become silent, unable to continue my thought. Not sure what I can do about it in the immediate future. I get a blank mind, not sure even from where to begin answering their question.

Anyhow, got French and Rome homework before I'll crash to sleep.

and a pox on insurance companies . That is just stupid.

Effing insurance companies. I'm sorry for the madness, Toddson and smonster.

Sometimes I think we should use RICO on the insurance industry. Something that scares the Mafia might be strong enough.

Really, can we just have a blanket smite?

No. The conservative side of the Senate doesn't want us to have such nice things.