In The Garden 3-21-24
Today is about early spring in the garden 3-21-24. And how the perennial plants are looking thus far.
I’m seeing color in the garden space.
The Hosta plants are unfolding into their natural state. My two Coral Bell plants are already fairly big. And Creeping Jenny is coming up in various pots, along with various types of Sedum.
The Veronica that I ordered last year online is coming up in a couple of containers. Ajuga, an earlier riser, is purple with its tall blooms. An Allium plant has already filled one pot.
I don’t dare do much in the garden before April 15. It snowed once on April 15, and I don’t want to take any chances on losing plants. It was the day I was moving into my last apartment.
Unfortunately my ferns did not make it through the winter. They were gorgeous. I’ll be depending on the perennials to make up much of the garden.
The Black-eyed Susan plant is making its entrance. Soon the bee balm plants should be emerging from the dirt. The hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies love them.
I haven’t planted any of my seeds. I’m trying to decide if I once again want to plant out by the light pole. There’s more sun there and I could plant the vegetable seeds I ordered.
But that’s pretty far from a water source, so I don’t know if I should do that again.
Thoughts On Early Spring In The Garden 3.21.24:
Maybe I should focus on areas closer to the patio.
After all that’s happened, they might not even renew my lease. I’ve been told this is what they do to people who complain. Or cause them problems.
But what was I supposed to do? Just continue to take cold showers when she didn’t believe me and stopped sending anyone?
Hot water would have been a real issue with anyone. I don’t think I’d have water right now had I not gone over her head to her boss.
What would you have done? How long would you have gone without hot water before you went higher up the food chain?
Buying A Tool To Turn The Bathtub Handles On & Off:
The maintenance man told me to buy pliers over a problem with my bathtub faucet handles.
He said my hands didn’t seem strong enough to turn the knobs all the way on and off and to order this:
So I did order it from Amazon.
Well, my hands do have a good amount of arthritis in them so it’s hard for me to turn things. But it’s about as hard to hold this thing in place to turn the knob as well.
Day before yesterday I put in an order for maintenance to bring me an AC/heat filter, but they never brought one. Mine was filled with dust from the jack-hammering of my apartment last week.
So I ordered filters from Amazon, took the used one out to the dumpster, and put my filter in. Mine are much better anyway. They only change the filters here twice a year and I’ll change them more often.
The front office could possibly just slow-walk everything till it wears me down. I’ve got news for them; I’m already worn down. This ordeal has taken a lot out of me.
I know I’m doing a lot of complaining and for that I apologize. This has just been so upsetting. And I have very little power as a renter, Kendra told me.
But I’m sure this too shall pass.
The Lack Of Places For Seniors To Live:
When you get old, you become fearful. People tend to treat you differently. There isn’t the respect there was for older folks when I was growing up.
If there were more decent places for older folks to go, they wouldn’t be so scared. But unfortunately there isn’t.
I may go back on the waiting list for the other two 55+ apartment complexes.
Holes In The Ceiling:
The guy came and worked on the sheet rock in my kitchen yesterday. He was very kind and polite. His name was David and said he was in his fifties.
David used the sheet rock that was cut out last week and patched all the holes with it. Then he put a layer of something over them. I was so relieved.
He said he was going on a trip with his daughter to see grandparents in Florida. It will be a four day weekend. So he won’t get back to finish it till Monday or Tuesday.
That’s fine. Just having the holes covered makes me feel a whole lot better.
If they don’t send someone to tack down the carpet, I may have to find someone who will. And maybe put those metal things down to keep the carpet from continuing to ravel and shed.
I find that I’m not as anxious about gardening or starting seeds. Every year I always get so excited when spring is about to wake up the garden. I lay in bed for weeks on end and think about plants I want to put in my garden.
Not this year. This has taken all my energy and I’m weary.
I have some advice for you if you’re a senior: Stay in your home if you can. Then you won’t end up as disenchanted as I am now as a renter.
Brenda, your plants look great already. I had a few coming up from last year and last night the deer ate them. Oh well.
Complain all you want, you have a right too. You are being treated horribly. I agree with one of the other comments, you need to document everything! And report it if possible, you are being subjected to elder abuse by that manager.
I hope that you have a nice weekend.
Hot water is not a luxury and you had/have every right to have the issue repaired until it was completed. Also, the repairs arising from this problem should now be done w top priority by your complex. Make sure all your communication is documented in writing – in case they try to cause issues for you down the road if you renew or if you leave. I would search for other apartments just to stay abreast and maybe you will find something that is a better fit. Sometimes you might find a long term rental (condo, townhome, villa…) that is privately owned and that may be a better living experience than a rental complex. It might be time well spent to do some research as it might present some good options. In the meantime, things might even turn around for the better in the complex. If you want that to happen, take steps to make it so. Although you were not the one in the wrong, extending an olive branch (taking the high road) may actually bring you some peace and closure and allow you to be happy there again.
THE APT. COMPLEX WHERE I LIVE FOR SENIORS AND ADULT DISABLED PEOPLE, NOW DOES A MONTHLY INSPECTION. THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM FOR ME. IN JULY I WILL HAVE LIVED HERE 13 YRS. AND I WAS TOLD IN JANUARY WHEN THEY STARTED THIS MONTLY INSPECTION IT WAS AN ESTABLISHED RULE. I SAID “WELL, IT IS CERTAINLY NEWS TO ME, AS I’VE BEEN HERE ALMOST 13 YRS. AND UNTIL NOW I ONLY HAD TO ENDURE THIS “invasion of my privacy” ONCE A YEAR AT LEASE RENEWAL !”. I RESENT THIS VERY MUCH !
I certainly understand why this whole situation would drain your energy. No one wants to be treated like this and disrespected. I do hope that things will improve sooner than later. A plan B is never a bad idea.
This may be helpful:
Know your rights as a tenant in the State of Oklahoma:
Link: https://www.yourokcpropertymanager.com/renters-rights-oklahoma
You were subject to “unlivable conditions” by not having hot water and management dragging its feet on finding the cause and basically accusing YOU of causing wet carpeting when it was a bad water pipe. If a tenant is subject to “unlivable conditions” the tenant has a right to withhold rent. There is more info in the link. You may want to inquire as to whether you qualify financially for a free consultation with a local Legal Aid Society or if there is a Tulsa Bar Association, inquire as to whether the Bar offers a program where you can get a free 30 minute consultation with a Tulsa attorney who often deals with real estate/landlord-tenant matters. That can be helpful in finding ways to deal with recalcitrant landlords and/or property managers and it won’t cost you anything. I did a quick search and also found that Tulsa offers a legal service that gives free advice to seniors 60 and older over the telephone. Link: https://www.legalaidok.org/senior-legal-help/
As much as women don’t like to do it, especially women of our generation who were taught fighting back isn’t “feminine,” sometimes you have to push back. I’m glad you went over the resident manager’s head to her boss – it got the problem taken care of. Nobody in this day and age should live in a place that can’t supply hot water, period.
I don’t know if this will help, but there might be some ideas here, especially about putting everything in writing. Tenants do have rights.
https://oklaw.org/resource/how-to-get-your-landlord-to-make-repairs
Brenda, this is a terrible way to treat seniors, and they should be ashamed of themselves and made to treat you better. Have you looked into any legal council? Are there any local organizations who fight for fair treatment of seniors? What about reporting them to a news station? Is there any chance you can go in on a place with one of your girls? Maybe you could live in a mother in law suite. Then your daughters could look after you. Just a thought? I have to admit, I’ll be sad to see you have to leave all the wonderful friends you’ve made here. I’ll pray things improve where you are now.
Spot on!
Your girls just helped their dad and now it’s your turn! If you can’t turn off the taps, you need help. An in law apt would be perfect. Tell the girls to start looking and you can put the rent in their pocket instead of this place!!
Look into townhouse rentals. They usually have small models that families don’t want so you get a good mix of young and old. I don’t want to be where you are ( God willing) so I paid off my place and there are a lot of seniors in townhouse communities!
Everything you say about renting and being a senior is spot on!! EVERY WORD!! We are facing same. The basic lack of caring in society now is hitting us seniors hard. Strange thing, youngers seem not to realize…IF they live this long, what on earth will be their lot?? It WILL come back to bite them because as they run over us roughshod, they are also teaching THEIR offspring how to act…and is this REALLY the kind of world they want to live in while a senior?? I hope your daughters can help you find something better, Brenda. I too am oh so weary. It takes all our limited energy trying to deal with things we should not have to worry over. My cell phone is quitting…and though I can text, it is on permanent mute…strangely…esp since I do not remember ever using the mute. It took me 2 hours talking to foreigners of course, to get 1 simple answer…WHERE was my new phone I paid for recently? It is said to be in my mailbox today…but yesterday they wasted all the energy I had. I finally got upset. Yea, I was patient a long time. Well, friend, you are not alone….wish I had answers. We too have a lot of fear we never used to have. Were it not for the help from GOD, I would be in the funny farm!!
Elizabeth
You had to talk to foreigners?
Unacceptable.
I think it’s very wise that you get on the waiting lists for other 55+ housing. It’s also to your benefit that you’ve documented-and continue to do so-the issues you’re dealing with.
Brenda, you will feel better if you have a Plan B so put your name on wait lists for other housing. Do not act in haste, things have a way of working themselves out. Interact with manager in written form for any future communication.
This upsets me to hear you are having so many problems with the office dealing with the issues. Shame on them. I agree about getting your name on the other lists. Our country should be ashamed of themselves dealing with the older generation or even younger. How do they expect people to afford places?
I think their communication with you is appalling. I’d be on the wait list for the others. You know though, sometimes a regular complex can be just as good if you can find one in your price range. They may not take advantage. But I’d rather look and be gone, than deal with more stress of a place that treats you so poorly and you’re seeing it go downhill. I would require peace at my home. How about a guest house somewhere? Or a duplex type? Sometimes those are cheaper and run much better, albiet a tad more lonely I’d suspect.