2010/2011
Just a recap of the last several weeks. My sister and BIL came up from VA for Christmas—spent the Eve with Mom and Dad and the Day with Vic and his family. Met Erica’s boyfriend’s parents who came for cocktails. We like Bryan very much. He’s a nice man.
Gerry and Steve drove back to VA on the 26th—took 10 hours instead of 7 but they got there safe and sound.
Monday I woke up and was stranded. 23 inches of snow on the front steps. Didn’t see a plow until Wednesday night - or maybe it was Tuesday. Whatever. All I know is the city dropped the ball on this one - they should have declared a snow emergency on Saturday.
Oh well oh well.
I had to take Monday the 27th as an unpaid day. Since the city didn’t declare a snow emergency or officially close things, the fact I couldn’t get to work meant I had to take a personal or vacation day - but I’d used them all up so it was unpaid.
Oh well oh well.
Tuesday my landlady called to say she didn’t understand my letter about the rent increase and what the overcharges were. Talk talk talk. She still didn’t understand and I told her I didn’t have the papers in front of me and so I couldn’t explain it. Then I mentioned - as I probably should have in the letter - that I met with Mr. Ali at the rent board.
On Thursday she called me back to say “I understand”. No shit. She got unconfused when I told her I’d already been to the rent board.
So now we’re square on the rent amount. I’m taking a credit in February, and another small one in March and then in April the new rent begins. I’ve adjusted the lease papers and will send them to her from work after I’ve copied the lease and my letter to her.
I was invited to Vermont for New Year’s Eve. And I said “yes” but then I bought the tv and it was being delivered on the 31st between 8am and 4pm and so I decided to take delivery of the tv instead of going to VT. Only I never called or emailed the hosts to let them know. Yes, I know. Rude. Stupid. So NYE about 4 or so my phone rang and it was my brother and SIL from VT - not at Dave’s house yet but not too far away either. Did I ever call Dave and let them know I wasn’t going? Oh shit! So I told Vic and Lin that I’d call Dave - give me his # please - and say I wasn’t feeling well.
So I did.
But then it was bothering me that I lied and mostly that I put my brother and SIL in an awkward spot. So this morning after breakfast after church I sent this mail to Dave and his wife:
I wish you both all the best for the new year. Please accept my apology for not calling you sooner to tell you I wasn’t going to be at your party. Although I said I wasn’t feeling well, the actual truth was that I had a delivery scheduled for the 31st (between 8am and 4pm) and had to wait around for that; I should have let you know much soooner that I wasn’t going to be able to be there but because I didn’t, it seemed easier to say I wasn’t feeling well. In truth, I was embarrassed by my rudeness and so, craven coward that I am, seized on the easiest excuse at hand. I’m also embarrassed because it put Vic and Lin in an awkward spot. Please accept my wholehearted apology and my best wishes to you and your family for the new year. Anyhow, I hope they’re not too pissed at me. I also copied Vic and Lin on my email.When we were having breakfast at the diner this morning, we were talking about the storm, of course, and the waitress was telling us that one of the workers died during the storm. He’d been ill beforehand but didn’t go to the doctor. Then during the storm he went to the diner to see if someone could give him some help with going to a doctor (I think he might have been an undocumented alien working off the books which is why all the reticence about going to a doctor) and according to the waitress, he collapsed and died and wasn’t found until a day or two later.Really breaks my heart. According to her, he was 37, living here and sending money home.And so the new year begins. I think 2011 is going to be good. I hope it is.