Thursday May 6, 2004
More work of the repair sort was done today at my building. Along with that came the loss of hot water and the sounds of the brick wall outside my kitchen being drilled upon.
Yesterday, despite prior specific communication of expectations that he respect my rights as a tenant to the new landlord, his employee attempted to remove the storms without any prior notification. They have been secured from the inside at my insistence before these new folks inherited the slum. The storms on the rest of the building are not secured and can be removed from the outside by any Tom, Dick or Harry who wishes.
Which is why I had the screens fixed to meet the Property Standards by-law earlier -- I live in the basement (never again!), the lowest part of my windows being at ground level and my floor being about 3 feet lower than that -- couldn't ask for an easier mark, really.
Anyway, he starts banging on them trying to loosen them and I just about jump out of my skin with fright. (No, he didn't even come to the door to forewarn anyone who may have been sleeping.)
I hastily dressed, grabbed my camera and took a picture of him - on a ladder outside my upstairs neighbour's windows by then. He waved at me, oblivious to the breach of law he'd just committed, so I explained that he'd scared the shit out of me and that I would remove the cable ties that secure the storms to the frames once they provide the required advance notice. (Oh, yes, the cable ties... I put them on because the previous maintenance personnel claimed they'd been able to remove my screens without entering my apartment even with the hooks and eyes latched. That person could not or would not adequately explain the how of that, so I made sure it couldn't happen again.)
Also that I'd already informed his employer that I would interpret such violations as attempts at harrassment and intimidation. He apologized and said he had not known (very likely IMO) and he'd mention it to the boss.
Today was incredibly more ridiculous so I walked to take care of some errands. They were still at it when I got back about 3 hours later.
While out and about I discovered an about to bloom magnolia tree in the garden area behind a store I like to visit downtown. Amazing, that. I must remember to go back in the next couple of days to enjoy the perfume.
Out again, this time in the Jeep. It started raining, so my plan to sit in a park was aborted and when I got back the workfolk were blessedly gone for the day. There is a second commercial size hot water heater sitting in the utility room now, so I expect there will be even more noise tomorrow. They can't seriously expect that rent will be paid for this inconvenience, can they?
On the liver health front, some excellent news today: this week's blood tests show a huge change in the good direction for many indicators. By the time the gastro specialist appointment rolls around (in June!) I won't need it. Maybe.
I have an EMG (nerve conduction test) appointment on Monday, so the neck assessment is chugging along nicely thanks to my Ottawa doctor.