pinch me

It's been three weeks since I last wrote and for reasons too mundane to list. 2012, and all its many ambitions, fizzled long before I'd have bet it (and they) would have. Instead of floating high into the clouds, it has fizzled like a deflated balloon that's dropped onto some banal sidewalk, defeated. That does not mean that I can't pick it back up and breathe the "New Year" back into it (after washing it off, of course). But given the sequence of events and the conflict I struggle with (not going into it)...I think I'll leave that balloon neglected on the sidewalk for a little while longer; at least, until I get my bearings.

I've had some apartment issues of late, serious ones. There is mold in the unit and I must (immediately) leave. Asthma and mold are a no-no, and I'm not sure my current landlord truly understands this. The mold has developed from water damage after recent rain storms in southern California. I reported the leak in the kitchen ceiling and the full-of-water light fixture the morning I discovered it (just after it had rained). My apartment manager (whom I truly do like) did nothing about it for five days.

I'm not mean enough to call the landlord and snitch on the manager, but I'm fairly certain that the manager should have acted sooner. The walls in my kitchen have now developed tons of water bubbles and a distinct odor of mildew is emitting from my bathroom wall, the one that is directly behind the water-logged kitchen wall. It doesn't take a detective or sonar device to figure out that mold is a growin'. The rain storm was three weeks ago. This is not going to bode well for the landlord.

As luck would have it...it worked out swimmingly for the tenant (that'd be me). Once I finally got my current manager over here to smell my bathroom wall (nothing odder than saying to your apartment manager, "I need you to come sniff it."), I finally realized that I had to get out of here...ASAP! I do not want to deal with being displaced from my home once the demolition starts. Those walls are going to have to be torn down, or at the very least, ripped open. Boo and I cannot take the dust, noise and inconvenience. And we sure can't handle mold. We need to move!

new living room with 10' high vaulted ceiling & that's a huge
enclosed porch overlooking the pool out back

the patio which is HUGE. The manager was so sweet and let me keep (borrow)
that darling table/chair set. I told him he could leave it if he needed a place to store it
and I'd use it (and take care of it). He liked that idea. Very sweet fella.

the dining room (which has a window as does the kitchen); the place is 1,000 sq ft

How am I lucky about that? - you might ask. Cause "need to move" meant a match being lit under my procrastinating ass. I jumped on Craig's list and called the number listed in the very first promising apartment ad. Lo and behold, the universe does work in mysterious ways! From that first phone call to my signing the lease for the new digs and getting my current landlord to agree to let me go in two weeks (versus a by-law 30-day notice), it has been serendipity aplenty.

the kitchen is an open floor plan to the dining room with a breakfast bar

and another angle - it's much bigger than these photos show - tons of cabinets!

I'm too tired and too stressed with the prospect of needing to pack to describe the new place to it's fullest in this entry. So, I've put up some pics of it empty (the carpets and some other things still need to be done before I move in, but honestly, the pics don't do the place justice with respect to size and beauty). When I'm in and it's decorated, I'll post more (for my family's enjoyment more than anyone else). This new apartment is outright lovely, I'll say that much, and warm, full of light, peaceful...the list goes on. The apartment manager over there is extremely nice as well and cares about the building (his family owns it). He saw an excellent tenant, thankfully, and he won't be disappointed. I am fairly certain it is a place I will love to live for many years to come. Can't wait to get moved in!

looking into the bedroom - that wood paneling was put on by the former tenant.
I'm so glad the owner didn't remove it! Gives the room a different feel.
Again - the room is way bigger than the photo shows.

looking back toward the door in the bedroom. That closet is just one of
FIVE, FULL SIZED closets - a woman's dream come true!!!

Which leads me to cycling. You know? That thing one does when one pedals. I think I've forgotten how. I'm being facetious but, honestly, my cycling has dwindled due to so many reasons (not going into it) and this move is just going to push it to the wayside a little longer (two weeks to be exact). I need to move, can't wait to move. I need to ride, can't wait to ride. I'm sure you can guess which need is going to be met first.

I've never had this much counter space in a bathroom before! The building was built
in the 1960s, so very solid. The owner has kept all the original materials.
Funky and spacious - with separate tub and shower!

I'm going to be grumpy in the next two-three weeks, cause no way, no how can I ride (for any longer than an hour.5) until I'm settled into my new home. I'll cope but I warn everyone - I'm a pressure cooker at present; approach me with caution! As for the move (and certainly once I'm settled)...pinch me.