Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Good News/Bad News

This will probably be the first of many (well, a few, anyway) identically-titled posts. Kind of a what-I've-been-up-to-lately story in point form.

Bad News: backed into another car in the hospital parkade last Thursday night when leaving work; left a note on the car's windshield apologizing and giving my name and contact #s.

Good News: absolutely no damage to my car, not even a scratch (other car had a sizeable ding on the back bumper). Didn't hear from anyone all Friday, got to hoping the ding was old and not caused by me.

Bad News: the intern who owns the other car contacted me on Saturday. The ding was definitely not there before, she said.

Good News: since I have never, in 34 years of being a licensed driver and 27+ years of owning cars, had an at-fault accident, my insurance has an automatic forgiveness for the first one. No increase in my premiums next year.
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Bad News: while biting into a semi-frozen chocolate a couple of weeks ago, I broke off a piece of a lower molar.

Good News: what ended up exposed was a filling, not tooth enamel, so I didn't spend the weekend in pain.

Bad News: the filling had very sharp edges; my tongue got quite abraded.

Good News: the root of the tooth is healthy, so a crown won't be a problem.

Bad News: my Blue Cross only covers 50% of crowns, so my up-front cost will be about CAD$500.00.

Good News: I have a supplemental Health Spending account that will reimburse that $500.00.
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Good News: there is a change a-brewing in the way my job is done region-wide. A new lead day manager position will come in, coordinating the shift managers (what I am right now). After discussion with my director (and positive encouragement from her), I decided to apply for that position when it was posted.

Bad News: even before the position has been posted, our night manager has been seconded into it - by, among others, our director. Guess that shows me what they think of me. This night manager is not someone I want to be answering to.
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Bad News: I was diagnosed last May with a cataract in my left eye. My vision (especially night vision) got progressively worse, so I was referred to an opthalmologist.

Good News: by putting my name on the surgery cancellation list, I managed to get scheduled for surgery this March, instead of June.

Bad News: the surgery and resultant recuperation period will cut into my time to paint the new townhouse prior to moving in.
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Well, that's long enough for now. Stay tuned for more exciting developments from the Aunt hill!

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Oh My God, What Have I Done?

As of March 1, I will be a homeowner. Proud possessor of 1129 square feet of two-stories-plus-loft townhouse. Mistress of my own domain. No longer at the mercy of an absentee landlord and an indifferent, incompetent management company. Queen of my castle. Empress of my own universe. AND IN BLOODY DEBT FOR THE NEXT THIRTY YEARS!




*Deep cleansing breath* Okay, I'm better now. I was just suddenly realizing the enormity of the step I've taken. Hell, even before I move in, I have to remove/dismantle and get rid of a bunch of built-in items (shelves, a humungous desk thing in the loft, a trophy case, and so on), pull of a living room full of hideous wallpaper, remove a broken accordion closet door, patch a gazillion holes in the walls from nails and such, and paint three rooms and a closet. Plus sort/cull and pack my existing apartment full of stuff up, now that's going to be a challenge. However, when I'm done I will have a home that's all mine.

Other tasks pre-move: get a plumber to re-do the wax sealing at the base of the main bathroom toilet, have the locks changed, make about a thousand change-of address notifications, give away two large furniture items I won't have a need for in the new place, and Freecycle the portable dishwasher in the townhouse, which I hear doesn't work too well and which I have no need for. Hmmm, guess I'd better quit mucking about online and get to work!