Let's Get Medieval

BOOM. That was the sound of our main transformer box blowing up on Monday, July 11th. Thirty plus years of old wiring plunged us into a total blackout- just us, no one else in the neighborhood. Everything came to a screeching halt- except the Exit signs- they apparently have batteries. Tenants started to come out of their apartments like so many startled rabbits- explosions tend to do that around here. These same tenants will steadfastly ignore fire alarms, but a good explosion is never to be missed. Only one tenant had the mental wherewithal to call CityLight- and that started an influx of CityLight repairmen- by the end of a very long day, we had a small platoon of repair trucks crowding the parking lot, and seven to ten electricians trying to fix the problem. Oh, and Management appeared- they looked rather nauseous when informed that the new asphalt in the parking lot might have to be dug up to find the destroyed wires- probably because the Feds are coming for inspection in two weeks. Longest time I've ever seen Management hang around- it almost scared the tenants all over again. Anyway, thank the Gods for surge protectors- they really do work! As the day wore into night, B.B. and I camped out in the back yard, watching the CityLight guys work, in between ushering folks up the stairs- no elevators- and dealing with other needs. We were the only two with working flashlights- LED and Krypton bulbs- so much for our safety meetings. But kudos go to CityLight for getting us back online by 10:49 p.m.- those guys really worked hard for us, and deserve tons of respect and thanks. But the night did end on a weird note- B.B. points up in the night sky and shouts "What the h-ll is that?" at everyone- and we all look up to see a bright orange-red light moving quickly across the northern sky- no running lights like a plane or helicopter- just this incredibly bright light, and no noise whatsoever. And suddenly, it winks out, just like that! We all knew we had just seen a UFO- what a great way to finish off the day!

Are They Done Yet?

That's the question my cat was asking a couple of hours ago as the booms and snaps of fireworks and other artillery shivered off the building. Good thing Tuesday's a work day, or it would have gone on until the wee hours. We could actually feel some of the blasts- those would be from that handy quarter stick of dynamite everyone seems to carry in their back pockets these days... As a person with PTSD, I loathe the 4th- just another excuse to get drunk and fire off explosives- and if you've ever lived in the country, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. Guns and booze- the American Way! I'm also burned out on fireworks- the pretty kind- how many times can you ooh and awe over the same thing you've seen every year of your life, and then fight the traffic home from the waterfront? I'd rather sit out in the boonies as far away from other human beings as I can get, just looking at the stars, and the odd meteor shower- anything, just as long as it's quiet...!

Heigh-Ho, Heigh-Ho, It's off to inspection we go...

It's federal inspection time again- the horror! But it is such fun to watch everyone running around in such fear and awe- no, not the tenants- we're too busy barricading our doors and wondering who's gonna get popped for random inspection- it'd make a good betting pool, but it's probably illegal to bet in a federal building. No, I mean the management- this is the time of year they have to justify what they've done with the fed's property. And the exterior renewal process hasn't even started yet- the new siding, concrete repairs, landscaping, fences, balcony repairs, washing off of pigeon poop, etc... We're still waiting for the 1970 plumbing pipes to be repaired, so the toilets don't flush up anymore- three story building- and for the electricals to get updated. It's a little disturbing to install cable and hear the microwave turn on...The place was built in 1947 (!)- but was rehabbed in the '70's- we're even haunted-honest! An older man likes to do a full body apparition out of a cloud of smoke up on the second floor, usually around ten at night. The first time I saw him I thought my eyes were going- but a little discreet questioning brought out that I'm not the only person who's seen him. He's probably the ghost of a former federal inspector- he looks really pissed off!