sha in LA

a year ago last night...

...kinda...if only because it happened on a Sunday...

About 3 weeks ago the residents of the 2 rear apartments were finally allowed to move back in, thereby completing their near year of nomadic existence.

We will be having a BBQ soon to celebrate our anniversary.  And we'll be careful not to burn the place down. [joke]

x

good morning 7:15 saturday morning

Construction crews have arrived.  On a Saturday no less.  Guess there's been a push to get the building finished sooner rather than later.

I shouldn't complain.

However...I was at the theatre last night,  in tech for the new show.  I left the theatre at 12:45am.  Came home and worked on my prompt book a bit and fell into bed at 2:15am.   As I was drifting off to sleep I thought, "Gee hope construction crews don't come tomorrow....nah, it's a Saturday..." 

5 minutes later I was out.

5 hours later I was awoken (is that a word) by the pounding and shuffling-about of constructions crews.

My apartment is in direct contact with every portion of the building being fixed so I hear it the most.  It's kinda like they are all around me hammering.

I haven't been able to keep up with the updated pictures on how far they've come in the past 2 weeks but there is definite, marked progress.  So much so that the below pic was from June 25th and is already nulll and void as the stucco guys were here last week:

So here's what I'm gonna do now.  I'm gonna march back into my bedroom and attempt to go back to sleep but that probably won't happen.  So after Spin class I will take some snaps and post another update in the coming days.  And yeah, it may be a boring read for some but for me and my neighbors it will be a nice documented journey on our past 10 months.

x

p.s. ...why sleep was so important for me today...I'm at the theatre again, from 2-10

drywall!

Yes!  We have drywall in the garage area!  Baby steps are better than non-action.

x

construction coverage: another post-fire update

On March 26th the LAHD stopped by for your typical post-fire inspection of the building.  Notices went up on the back 2 units declaring them unsafe for occupancy.  A bit more than 2 months passed with nary a construction worker to be seen, then this past Monday the good old LAHD came back to make sure a few minor repairs to the livable units in the building had been made (a requirement from their previous visit).

Funnily enough, construction workers showed up bright and early this past Monday morning as well, presumably to make it look like the owner is taking active steps to repair the aforementioned uninhabitable units.

Wonder when they will return...perhaps another 2 months down the road?  I feel so bad for my neighbors who have been displaced.  I know I would have gone postal by now if I were in the same position.

We are heading into the 9th month, post-fire and here are a few visuals on the sloooooow pace of recovery.

[Monday morning 6/2/08 - holes still in the walls, floor has been ripped up recently, kitchen and bathroom gutted months ago]

 















[Evening 6/2/08 - yay for insulation (finally) on the exterior of my apartment]

 














[Evening 6/2/08 - yay for insulation (finally) on rear exterior of damaged units]

So there you have it.  My mini update on the homestead.  My place is stellar, if not a tad bit warmer...

x

measure twice, cut once

The above image is one of many I've taken of the ongoing construction at the homestead, post fire aftermath. One that looks to be a very slow moving process. A recent morning, when the workers were around, I peeked into the 2 apartments that were damaged a bit more than mine and they both look the same as they did on the day of the fire but without a kitchen or bathroom...

x

highwire days

Maybe I moved back into my apartment too soon in light of the recent stairs/landing demolition and reconstruction.

First off, there’s zero chance of me oversleeping anytime in the near future. The pounding at 7:45am shook the entire building so much I thought it was going to collapse. Then upon opening my door to leave for work I could see the ground a floor down. The nice construction guys laid out a plank of wood on the cross beams so I could exit like a proper lady…

x

an update from the homefront

So I'm back. But still not at 100%. Its been trying these past few days. I think my property management company is testing my will. Let me attempt to explain in detail here so you can fully understand.

The fire restoration/cleaning/storage company comes on Monday and unloads every single item I own in about 3 hours. The rest of the day is spent organizing and purging unnecessary items with a trip to Bergins for the Monday night football game and dinner. I had zero food in the apartment. Now mind you the PM company said I could move back on Monday but there was a leak from my toilet and bathtub into the storage area below and the plumber couldn't get here until Tuesday. ? Whatever. The storage area has no walls now because of the fire and it's been leaking for god knows how long so sorry, I most certainly am going to use my toilet and shower on Monday. Thanks.

Later on that night I get cold and go to turn on my wall heater and discover the pilot isn't lit. Then I happen to notice my stove isn't hooked up to the gas line. Great, no heat. OK, whatever. The gas was working on the day of the fire because the Gas Company came out to make sure everything was safe so I don't know how that happened....

On Tuesday the plumber apparently comes to fix my bathroom leak. I get home later that night and hear an odd squeak. After some investigation I realize it's the smoke detector. I take out the battery and it still chirps in my hand, sans battery. I put the chirping smoke detector in the trunk of my car and make a mental note to pick up a 9 volt the next day. Then I go to take a shower....yeah....that would have been nice but something obviously went terribly wrong with the plumbing situation and I wasn't informed of the fact that water now doesn't come out of my showerhead. Well actually it does, it dribbles. The diverter (knob thing that switches water from the tub faucet to the showerhead) is a useless piece of metal that just twists and does nothing. Fabulous. I'm cold (still no gas) and just want to take a hot shower. I have to take a bath instead. Not so bad but I just wasn't in the mood for soaking at that moment. Whatever.

On Wednesday I call the plumber and tell him the situation, he sends his assistant back to take care of it. The gas man comes at about the same time. One issue was resolved the other wasn't. I now have heat. I still don't have a shower. Baths are nice for kids and lazy weekends. I want my shower back and fear this will drag out longer than normal.

Oh and did I mention that the stairs and landing leading up to my apartment have dry rot and most likely need to be demolished and re-done during which time I'll have to "sleep elsewhere."

Never ask the gods for "a little shake-up" in your life. Be happy with boring, old, routine.

x

and she's back...

7 weeks ago today the Cleveland Browns won a big game over the Cincinnati Bengals and I was insanely happy. That same night/morning "the fire" happened and I was slightly terrified. Such a range of emotions in under a 24 hour period.

Today the Browns won another big game, this time over the Seattle Seahawks, and tomorrow I move back into my apartment.

This accounts for part of my recent absence as the past 2 weeks have been difficult on my psyche. But soon enough I'll be back...in more ways than one...

x

home is where the heart is

I meant to post this earlier today but the day got away from me, as most do these days.

Today (the 17th) was the month anniversary of "the fire" and exactly how long since I've called what used to be my apartment my home. I spent a few of the first days at The Compound™ and since then at a place nearby my apartment at the home of a very gracious individual. I've become settled in my daily routine of living out of a suitcase and various other pieces of baggage and the trunk of my car, all of which have random possessions (mostly clothing) that I need access to on a rather consistent basis.

My belongings, other than what I have with me, are being cleaned and stored and last I checked the apartment is being repaired. And even though the living situation is the best I could have ever asked for I still long to be back in my space, not invading another's. No amount of "no worries" will appease my mind into thinking that this extended stay is OK....knowing full well that if the situation were reversed I'd gladly offer my home in a similar fashion.

So in between all the City Race winnin', 'gina eatin' and tour givin' (USC this Saturday) it's easy to forget about the reality of it all, until I start the drive home.

x

no man is a failure who has friends

The above referenced quote comes from my all time favorite movie "It's A Wonderful Life." Introduced to me by a friend when I was 18, I have repeatedly watched the movie every holiday season since.

Since "the fire" I have been humbled by the numerous offers of assistance by my many friends, all of which I appreciate so much more than words can express.

Living out of luggage filled with the most basic and essential clothing that will suffice for both work and play is my life right now. The positive aspect of this situation - when I go to Boston in 2 weeks I'll already be packed and ready to go. No prep needed. Just zip up the suitcase and I'm off!

But seriously, all joking aside, I'm lucky. Damn lucky to have the friends that I have. And if I haven't told you yet, I love you all. Sorry for the blanketed declaration of love but it's late. My lovely Greek host cooked a fabulous dinner, filled my glass up with my favorite beverage (twice) and is truly my σωτήρας right now.

x

p.s. as with all crazy languages I do hope that that says what I want it to say and not something disrespectfully wrong...then again, it's all greek to me!