This is how my tenant rolls

 

First of the month, nothing.  Days pass.  Nothing.  The 15^th, bell rings, it’s her.  She’s got on her best smile and rattiest shirt.  A granddaughter sits on her hip, check in hand.  Rent's short, again. 
Can I give her a break?

My mortgage was due on the 5^th.

That baby better work harder next month.

I'm prepping for the DNC and getting my tissues out to cry me a river for the entitled.

Linking with G-man for a Friday Flash 55 

547.  A job
548.  A home
549.  A family
550.  A work ethic 

Neglect (or, maybe we just don't care)

So many people just don't take care of their stuff anymore.  An acquaintance of mine had their house on the market.  It was a five-year-old house.  They had purchased it brand new.  I couldn't believe they had the courage to put the pictures on the MLS that were there, but they did.  Beside the fact that they didn't bother to clean before taking the pictures, from the looks of things, yard work hadn't made it into the "to-do" list in the five years they lived in the house.  Neglect.

From the MLS.  Doesn't this just say "buy me?"

I read a post written by someone one rejoicing in the glory of dandelions in their yard.  They had no grass, just dandelions, and they were extolling the beauty that had sprung up all on it's own due to their lack of interest in doing yard work.  I'm sure their neighbors were thrilled, as well.  (not)  Neglect.

A couple weekends ago the husband and I went to Atlantic City for a relaxing weekend.  One thing I asked to do while we were on this trip was to stop in south Atlantic City, in an area called Margate, and see Lucy the Elephant.  (click to read Lucy's story) 

I took this picture and, of course, did not step back far enough

Lucy is more than 6 stories high and is listed on the National Parks registry of Historic Landmarks.  She is over 130 years old and was constructed as a real estate gimmick.  Lucy has survived bootlegging, ocean floods, hurricanes, and even an accidental fire started by some drunken party-goers during Lucy's tenure as a tavern.  The one thing that almost brought Lucy's existence to an end was Neglect.

added by Floflo79

Of course, the antidote to Neglect is work, money, time and effort.  Many of the things we neglect oughtn't take enormous amounts of those items if, (Big IF), one keeps up timely maintenance.  I noticed this area of south Atlantic City called Margate was a lovely area.  The homes were well kept.  The shops were clean, neat and inviting.  This is such a contrast to the neighborhoods off the boardwalk area around the casinos in north Atlantic City.

My belief is that the key to fighting neglect is self-respect and care.  The blogger rejoicing in the neglect of their yard admitted they didn't care because they were leaving soon.  I'm guessing this is the same for the acquaintance selling their home.  The area around the big casinos and the way that area has fallen into disrepair shows the lack of care.  (btw, the casinos are beginning to look pretty shabby, as well.  maybe it's time time to change the focus of entertainment?  just sayin') 

I know when I get home from my day job, I have my second job to do.  If I don't care for my house and property, who will?  I don't know how to fix this growing attitude of not caring and not taking care of person and property, but we need to return to an attitude of having pride in ourselves and not just sitting around and wishing for something better to come along, but taking care of what we have and being happy with ourselves.

The End

543.  Listening to Condoleezza Rice's speech last night and being inspired by her calm, direct manner of speaking and her story
544.  Listening to Susana Martinez speak and being inspired by her story and the hope she has for the future of this nation
545.  Listening to Paul Ryan share his enthusiasm and energy and ideas for the economic recovery this country needs
546.  Having confidence in a nation that will vote and elect leaders to guide our nation into recovery

Sometimes I can be harsh, but I'm not afraid of snakes

Evidently I can be harsh at times.  This was brought to my attention yesterday.  This was brought to my attention two times.  I can be harsh.

There are two ways I can look at this revelation.  One way would be to blame it on a bad day.  Maybe I woke up on the wrong side of the bed.  Maybe I wasn't feeling particularly cheerful yesterday.  Maybe there was a fragment of underdone potato that wasn't digesting properly.  (I believe this is from the book, A Christmas Carol, but I'm not completely sure.)  This would be one way to look at this observation of my demeanor.  By looking at this criticism of my personality this way, I don't have to do a thing about it.  I can stay just as I am and let it roll off my back.

Another way I could look at this revelation is to take responsibility for it and acknowledge that, indeed, I can be harsh.  I can accept that, at times, I am not careful of the feelings of others.  I, myself, do not get my feelings hurt very often.  I really don't live in a world of feelings.  I live, more or less, in a world of facts.  For me, things are or they aren't.  Feelings are very messy things to deal with in other people.  I find, often, that people with lots of feelings don't even understand their feelings and can't name them or identify them in any real and concrete way.  This is difficult for me to wrap my head around.

I am trying to figure out how to soften this part of my personality.  I guess saying nothing is a better response to someone than telling them to "get over it."

Yesterday a student, with the support of her parents, said she would not be able to sleep in her dorm room because she saw a snake in it on Saturday (it is now Monday).  She, and her parents, needed proof the snake was gone.  This proof was provided, in my mind, by the 24 sticky boards laid down along the baseboards of her room by the exterminator, for two nights and one full day.  I suggested this girl, and her parents, needed to "get over it."  My boss said this was harsh.  Of course, I didn't say this to the snake-phobic girl.  I said it to my boss.

I know this post does not paint me in a very favorable light.  I know my personality is exactly what is needed in times of stress or crisis.  I can make decisions at critical times with a calm demeanor.  I guess I want to learn to put on the "being nice" face when confronted with people sinking deep into their feelings and being controlled by them.  Even though I don't understand their feelings, I need to find a way to speak to a person in this situation without being harsh.

This is the tiniest snake I have ever seen

538.  People telling me the truth about myself
539.  Students willing to talk about their views on different current events (it's so fun to see how their minds work)
540.  Being acknowledged for doing a good job
542.  Being ok with writing this weak post, and hoping that someone will tell me I'm ok just the way I am and there is a place in this world for harsh people and sometimes people really need a person like me in their lives.  Just hoping.

Remembering Hurricane Irene and praying for Isaac to be weak

Good Monday morning! 

There's a phrase you won't hear come from me very often.  However, this Monday morning is a good morning, for me.  Today I am praying fervently and continuously for those in the path of Hurricane Isaac.  Last year, this very weekend, was the Saturday night my house was broken by Hurricane Irene.  (I'm just gonna say, I hate the "I" hurricanes, 'cause back in September 2003 when Hurricane Isabel his my area it wasn't so much fun, either.)

Because this was such a huge issue for me and I blogged about my hurt, fear, anger and recovery, I feel today may be a good day to take a walk down memory lane.

I have to admit, before Irene hit I was pretty hopeful.  The forecasts weren't predicting a very strong storm surge with this hurricane.  Back in 2003 the storm surge from Isabel was pretty devastating and the flooding was awful.  This storm wasn't going to have any of that, so I was hoping for the best and even singing songs about Irene.  August 26, 2011

The night of Hurricane Irene came and went.  It was a terrible night.  A tree fell through our roof.  There was so much rain.  It just rained and rained and rained.  My husband and I put three 5-gallon buckets under the largest holes and just kept dumping them into the toilet.  The tree fell around 9:00 p.m. on Saturday night and stopped around 4:30 a.m. Sunday morning.  It was an incredible amount of water.  While my husband and I bailed, my son cleared his room, because it was the most damaged.  Needless to say, we were moving fast and furiously.  The next morning we went out to check out the neighborhood and it was shocking.  There were, no kidding, hundreds and hundreds of trees down in the neighborhood.  Dozens and dozens of homes were damaged by falling trees.  I had never seen such devastation.  Our neighborhood is only 126 homes.  I'd guess half of them had serious damage.  It was heartbreaking.  August 29, 2011

I started feeling sorry for myself pretty quickly.  The guys that came to take the tree off the roof of my house dropped it on my deck.  More repairs would be needed.  Looking at the mess in the bright morning light was overwhelming.  We had a broken house and a smashed car and a broken deck.  All I could see were dollar signs and WORK.  Someone told me the feelings I was experiencing were similar to those of people robbed while at home.  My home was invaded.  The invader was a tree, but it was still an invasion.  August 31, 2011

There is just something about getting to work on a problem that helps you gain perspective.  Once we started having the insurance adjusters come to the house.  Once we started getting estimates for the repairs.  Once we started getting to WORK on the problems, things started looking up.  My husband put the mother of all patches on the roof.  We had planned a vacation to Reno, NV to attend the US Navy Tailhook convention.  It is always held the weekend after Labor Day.  We'd pre-paid and we were going.  I wasn't comfortable with a blue plastic tarp on my roof and not being home.  My husband made a plywood and shingle patch.  It could have lasted for a year.  Boy, that's love.  September 2, 2011

Another aspect of my recovery from Hurricane Irene was my desire (my son would call it OBSESSION) with clearing away STUFF.  To this day I am committed to clearing away anything unused or unnecessary in my home.  It's an ongoing issue, but it's going my way and it feel great.  September 19, 2011

A month after Hurricane Irene wrecked my house I was beginning to gain perspective and regain a sense of control over my life.  (I am aware it is an illusion, but I love the illusion of control)  Our family was recovering.  We still had a lot of work to do, but the work was getting done.  September 27, 2011

And then I had a new roof.  There is comfort in the phrase "a roof over our heads."  Until I had a roof that was secure and hole-free, that phrase never had as much meaning.  It's amazing how one perspective can change with their circumstances.  October 21, 2011

Finally the drywall, paint, and carpet cleaning was being completed and we would soon be able put our possessions back where they belonged.  (I'm still trying to convince my son that his possessions do NOT belong in the guest room)  Irene was becoming a distant memory.  November 10, 2011

And then everything was fixed.  The last piece of the puzzle came with the replacement of the window in my bedroom.  I cannot tell you how much work it was and what kind of mess we had to live in to get through it.  But, we did it.  I learned so much about myself and my family in this time.  Mostly I learned how much patience my husband has.  He did all the dealings with the insurance and the mortgage company.  They were a PITA.  I've heard tell that normal is just a setting on your dryer.  There may not be a universal normal, but there is an individual or a family normal.  And when you get it back, it feels wonderful.  January 18, 2012

Thanks for taking this look back on surviving Hurricane Irene with me.  Please pray for all those in the path of Hurricane Isaac. 

534.  Learning that journaling or blogging can help me gain perspective and increase the gratitude I have for God's blessings
535.  Praying for people you don't know, but are experiencing something you do know, increases my faith.
536.  Lots of rain over the weekend and lots of green this morning
537.  Getting news from an old friend you haven't spoken with in a long time  :)

Hurricane Isaac

Why I choose life

I’m not garbage.  Nothing more than a reminder of trauma.
I AM ME!
Don’t define me by him.
I'm me.
I’m a woman, daughter, wife, and mother.
I have a family. I love my children and my God.
Time could heal you, but your decision will be permanent for me.
I was conceived in rape.  


(this is not a personal story, but it could have been)

Check out Rebecca Kiessling's page and I'm linking with G-man for a Friday Flash 55

530.  Uplifting music in the car on the way to work
531.  Precious stories about life
532.  Having my heart broken by my son (it keeps me humble)
533.  Friday