[OhKay]

Regarding my grocery list:
I keep a "draft" shopping list going during the week so I can write down anything I run across that I will need to buy when I shop. Then I write down what I plan to cook for the week on a separate sheet of paper and add any ingredients I will need on the "draft". Then I ask my husband what he wants/needs and I check the cupboards and fridge as well. Then I rewrite the "draft" in the order of how I come across things in the store… and I still miss things… things on my list, too.

I drove through that apartment complex yesterday and it would be PERFECT. There are only three little stairs to get in and you walk right in to the first floor. Most places here are split level/garden style, so that is really rare. So, I went to the office to ask about moving there and they were open to it, but unfortunately, the only 2 bedroom apartments they have available have 1/2 baths and they are $40 more than we are paying now, we would have to pay $50 pet rent per cat ($150) per month that we haven't been paying, and we would have to pay for heat and hot water, which we also don't have to pay now, which would make the available apartments unaffordable for us. I asked them to be on the look out for a regular 2 bedroom apartment for us, but it looks like moving there isn't going to work out

I'm considering asking my husband if we can pay for at least part of the pet rent up front out of our savings to make the monthly rent more affordable, but I don't know if he would go for it. He also does not like the idea of having to pay for more utilities. I think I will ask him when he gets home anyway tho.

This situation leaves me very stressed out because I'm going to have to cast a wide net searching for apartments, and it's going to be hard based on our needs (accessibility, 3 cats, hopefully smoking). And I worry now that other places are also going to want us to pay pet rent, which will make otherwise affordable apartments unaffordable. I will look at the usual online apartment search sites, but they all have the same apartments, and many of the photos don't show the entries to the buildings either. I may be doing a lot of drive-by's. The phone book may actually be a good resource for apartment complexes that don't have websites. And I think I will try contacting rental agencies that can do some searching for me.

Not only did I clean the kitchen floor yesterday, I also knocked off a few things on my moving soon list in there, too. Then I slept from about 1-6:30pm. I'm not really feeling it this morning tho, which surprises me. I think I will finally go to the laundromat to clean the comforter and quilt today. I'm not looking forward to lugging them around, but they are in big black trash bags and I think there will be some dragging involved. I've been putting it off, and I just want to get it done.

I took a very early shower this morning because maintenance is doing boiler repairs from 8:30-4:30. I'm not bothered by it at all because they gave us advanced notice, and the repairs are welcome because maybe I'll have to take less cold showers now… like yesterday. The water pressure is low right now. I hope we don't lose water altogether… that wasn't part of the deal.

[OhKay]

Obviously putting the blankets in lawn and leaf bags was the way to go because they were a lot easier to lug around, one at a time of course. I thought the work would be much harder. This time almost all the cat hair came off the blankets! I mad very quick work of what was left with the sticky lint brush. It's so nice to have the quilt back on the bed… I just hope Buddy doesn't puke on it again.

As far as the apartment search, I feel paralyzed. There are two apartment complexes I'm interested in. One mentions on the application that you have to have "excellent" credit, but ours isn't "excellent." The other says they have a 2 pet maximum (their pet rent is only $20/mo). I'm going to call the second one and ask if they will make an exception about our 3 cats.
I've written down the numbers for several property rental companies, but I hate the idea of cold calling people and saying, "I want this, this, and that." I think that describing my needs as far as accessibility will be particularly hard.
My husband has made things easier on me… he said he's willing to smoke outside, so I don't have to make the ability to smoke in the apartment a necessity, which would have made finding an apartment a herculean task when combined with the rest of our needs…

So now I'm looking for an apartment that is accessible for me, that will accept 3 cats, and has off-street parking for 2 vehicles. There are other things we would really like, but those are our basic needs.

I'm very, very anxious about all of this and it's only going to get worse. We have to give the management here notice we are leaving by June 1st (yes, 2 months before the end of our lease!). I can't live here for another year, so I will be doing that whether we have a new apartment lined up by then or not. So, my anxiety is just going to get worse the longer the search goes on

[bizi]

hi kay,
This is a big cause for anxiety. try to make lists of things to do before the big move. try to cross off some of those things daily it feels rewarding/satisfying to be moving in the right direction.(and getting things done) I know that you want to clean a lot. maybe you are being too hard on your self about that?
Will you hire movers?
Good luck in finding a new apartment. IMO It is ok to cold call pre screen.
Sending good thoughts your way as you travel in this journey.
(((((HUGS)))))
bizi

[OhKay]

I have an appointment with my neurologist today. This will be my first time seeing him since my MRI. We will have a lot to talk about, including going back on medication.

Yesterday was a busy day. I cleaned the bathroom as usual and treated all the grout with Tilex, let it soak and laid into it, which was on my pre-move list. Then I went to the dentist.

Regarding the apartment search:

The apartment complex with the 2 pet max does not make exceptions, so I crossed them off my list.

The second complex I called has no problem with the 3 cats. They rent apartments month-to-month tho, so it may be a while before we know if they will have a unit available. She said we should get our application in early so we can get on the waiting list ASAP. I stopped by the office yesterday, but it was closed. I'm returning today to pick up an application and will deliver it with the necessary paperwork tomorrow. At this point, landing an apartment there would be ideal.

I called 5 property rental agencies. I got calls back from two of them. While neither of them has anything available for the end of July/August 1st, they said they probably would. One asked me to call back in a couple of weeks. The other guy works at the biggest rental agency in the area and told me he would put me on his calendar (or something like that) and contact me when something becomes available. He listened to my needs and didn't seem phased by the cats or my access problem. He asked if we were willing to move in the middle of July if that came up. I said yes. My husband is on board with that.

I'm still not done looking online, but nothing worthwhile has popped yet.

We won't need to hire anyone to help us move as long as it's at a time when my brother-in-law is free to help us. Otherwise, we will have to. There's no way my husband can do it himself, and I don't know if he would ask anyone else. And obviously, I would be of NO help at all.

So, I have some irons on the fire. I feel a little bit better now that I've worked on the problem, but everything is still up in the air. I think things will start to shape up as we get closer to June, but that seems like a long way away. I'm going to have to find a way to manage my anxiety.

[mymorgy]

does the klonopin help at all? It is beginning to sound positive. you have been doing your homework. now just a little luck. How much would a cleaner cost?
love
bobby

[bizi]

you had a busy day! Cleaned grout!!!! I am really impressed!
Good luck at your neurologists appointment.
(((((HUGS)))))
bizi

[Mari]

I too am hoping for you that things will look up in June.


M

[bizi]

How did the neuro visit go?
bizi

[OhKay]

I'm getting mixed results with the Klonopin. I'm really, really anxious in the morning and it doesn't seem to do much then. I can't drive if I take more than 1mg tho.

It would be nice to have a cleaning person, but it would be expensive and my husband would never agree to do it. I will get everything done. If we are able to move into a new place in mid-July I would have a lot of time to clean this apartment because our lease here isn't up until August 1st. But I can't count on that, so I will slowly chip away at my list. I think at the rate I am going I will be okay.

Yesterday I picked up the application for that desirable apartment complex. The woman in the office was very nice. I filled the app out last night and made copies of everything I need to submit this morning, and will drop it off today.

I didn't do any cleaning yesterday. After picking up the application, I got my nails done and went to the neurologist. It felt like a really long day... another 5+hour nap.

My neuro asked me if I had been falling... guilty... I've had a couple of little ones without injuries in the last couple of months. He asked because of my MRI and exam. I never mention falls because I assume it's obvious to him that I will have falls. If I hurt myself I would mention it tho. I filled out the paperwork to submit to the drug company and my insurance so I can start getting monthly infusions of Tysabri (MS drug). I see him again in 2 months. No other news there.

I thought about doing laundry this morning, but decided against it. Spending 2 hours at the laundromat to wash the quilt and comforter earlier in the week was enough. The rest can wait until Monday.

After I drop off the application, I'll buy cigarettes and go grocery shopping (short list this week). I think that's enough because I've done a lot this week already.

[mymorgy]

has he thrown out the furniture? has he helped in anyway? I am glad the woman was nice. How were the rents in that complex? How much laundry do you actually do? We do it every other week. Lately I think i hear somebody throwing up but only a couple of times have i found it on the floor and it is dry
floor. abby has been so active with her new toys. I just saw another one I want to buy her.
love
bobby