That's it!

I've just about had it with our continuing basement problems.

Last month, maintenance came out and once again snaked the drain. They went as far as they could but the drain is still blocked. They have no idea with what since as far as the drained it should be well into the main sewer line. They put in a call to the city and that's the last we've heard from anyone.

Here's the situation as it stands today:

• Our basement still has water flood in from somewhere at least a few times a month.
• We have drain flies everywhere - despite pouring bleach down every drain in the house several times.
• The basement STINKS - it makes me gag just going down there. I'm lucky if I can get a load of laundry started without getting sick.
• The only place I have to dry clothes is in the basement, thus I am terrified our clothes are going to smell as bad as the basement.
• With the flied in the basement, I want to spray something to kill them all, but I'm worried about hurting the cats.
• Our automatic garage door has not been fixed. We asked for it to be fixed in March.
  

What do I do? Do we continue to call maintenance and try to get results from them? Do we call the head of maintenance and talk to him? Do we call someone else in and send the bill to the school? Who would we call? Do I adopt a page out of my mother's book and go right to the President of the school and ask for his help?

I refuse to live in squalor anymore. We're paying a significant amount of rent each month and I don't think we should have to live with this crap. Literally.

P.S. Socks escaped again this weekend. Luckily, LMK was home to help find him.

Whole lotta nuttin'

Every day, I come to post and I can't think of anything. Don't you hate posts that start out that way? So, just so I feel better, a bulleted list:

• The squirrel that sat on the power lines watching the bird feeder as we mounted it to the deck has succeeded in emptying the feeder. Razzafrazzin squirrel! Not to worry though, Socks has made it his mission to watch that squirrel. As we speak, he sitting in front of the sliding glass door staring at him.

• Soccer season has begun. Husband? What husband? They've got a record number of girls signed up this year. 33! Last year they had 14. I would hope LMK is part of the huge sign up. However, in those 33 there are girls that want to play on the US National team someday as well as girls that have never touched a soccer ball before. This ought to be a great learning experience for LMK. This is not college where all that matters is winning. Boy, is that a relief.

• My ankle is still sore, but it's getting a little better every day. I'm hoping by next week to be able to resume my indoor walking. Heck, if it continues to warm up, I may grab LMK and do a lap around the block. Once the weather improves, I'm hoping to do more walking. Even with the huge hill we'd have to walk up/down things are within walking distance. I'd love to be able to walk into town and see a movie. They just have to get half decent movies!
  

• LMK and I saw Because I Said So two weeks ago. It was really enjoyable! Our first movie since...geez, since I saw The Devil Wears Prada with Twin. We really need to start going to the movies more often. I love movies.

• I'm trying to get the office somewhat organized. Right now, I'm sorting through old bills. I'm thinking I can get rid of all our old bills from Ohio, right? I might save one copy of each, just in case we move back someday. Ok...I'll hold on to them for a few more years, then pitch them, too.

• I am dog sitting in April! Dog sitting is my third favorite type of sitting, right behind baby and cat. One of the other teacher's is going away for the weekend and all the teachers have parent-teacher conferences. So, I volunteered! I'm very excited as I miss Lucy. I need some puppy love. Her dog is a black lab/Great Dane mix. Holy moses, I'm horse sitting!

• Anyone know of a good program to "test" paint colors? Since we live in school housing, the President has to approve most cosmetic changes and additions. I want to demonstrate what the rooms will look like when finished. I had planned to just used the fill function in Paint Shop, but the colors are too cartoony. They scare even me.

• I'm an M&M!

Porch Party

Ollie had a little porch party Saturday evening. LMK told me about a huge black and white persian he'd seen around our house one morning last week. We've counted about 6 different cats that walk through our yard throughout the day, but I hadn't seen this persian. Seeing as I LOVEpersians, LMK was excited to tell me about this new one that looked like Ollie with Socks' colors.


Well Saturday evening we were watching a movie and I looked out the sliding glass door to see none other than the black and white persian sitting at our window. Ollie was sleeping next to me so I gently put him down on the floor and nudged him toward the window. First, I got the typical crabby face...but then he spotted his new friend. Pretty soon, all we could see was Ollie cat butt.


I couldn't use my flash, so the pictures are blurry, but you get the idea. That is one pretty cat!

Ew ew EW!

The Good

LMK and I went to Large City on Saturday to celebrate his first week of work with dinner at Olive Garden.

Ok. Okay, I'll be honest. We were celebrating, but I wanted to go to Olive Garden, not him. He's a good sport though. The OG in Large City must be new. It's totally different than any I've ever been in before and let me tell you, I've hit a LOT.

It didn't have the rolling chairs with the arms that I hate. It had high vaulted ceilings and a fire place! It was gorgeous! And the food? Superb!

The Great

Then we came home and let the boys out into the sun porch. They had a ball - once the big scaredy cats actually went outside. I can't wait for spring/summer so we can sit out there and enjoy the evening. I'm already planning flowers in my head. ME! Flowers!


The Ew!

We've been having some drainage problems, but since the maintenence men have been here things have been pretty uneventful. After we had gotten everyone inside off the porch, I decided I needed to piddle. So off I went to the downstairs bathroom. As I walked in, I noticed something in the toilet. My first thought was, "great, what did the cats knock into the toilet." Then the "object" registered. It was a rat. A rat!

Ewewewewewewewewew

LMK swears it was dead - at least, I think that's what he was saying as I ran screaming up the stairs with Ollie leading the way.

I pride myself on not being a girly girl. I don't like snakes, but I can handle seeing them. Mice don't bother me either - Hokie loves to catch mice. Spiders? I don't like to crunch them but I'm pretty big and bad when I have a vacuum in my hands.

Rats however, nah uh. No way, no how.