Saturday-6:30am

Karma and I did our morning stretches.

Last night was supposed to be -22 with a little less wind so only 30-40 below wind chills. Actually predicted to get above zero (5) today. But it is still 18 below, so I'll believe it when I feel it--hehe!

****

Okay--yesterday--I brought mail down and took the camera with. There's a stairwell next to the mail boxes with an exit only door. It was open and not latched, so I kicked away snow until it latched...

...but you could still see daylight (which is not unusual here).
Dropped the mail in the slot and walked down the hallway on first floor. Could tell the doors were shut because it was back to just chilly and not freezing. Here's the double doors at the far entrance. Door looked pretty much closed now.
Here's the other exit only door at the end of the stairwell next to my apartment. Can see daylight.

Wasn't propped open a few inches like before, but still...wasn't latched.

So I kicked away again...and again...

...tada!

Okay--so, I called the office. The first (defensive) girl I talked to, when I complained that they haven't shoveled the sidewalk from the exit door, she cut me off--got very upset--saying people aren't supposed to be using the emergency exit doors in the first place. I said everybody does, though, and when they aren't shoveled and salted the snow jams up and you can't get the doors closed.

****

*sigh*

****

Let's just say that the conversation went nowhere. She continued to harp on the fact that the residents shouldn't be using the emergency exit. I tried to tell her that really wasn't logical--especially in this extremely cold weather--to expect people to walk around from the front door or have to use the sidewalk from the end door that goes across over to the separate office building and then to the parking lot and have to walk back if their cars are park right there by the exit door. And the stairwells in the building--the only way to get down on both long ends--lead you right TO the exit doors. How can you expect people not to use them. Only response--not supposed to use them. Any apartment I have ever lived in that had the exit only doors--people have used them--and they are using them here, so why can't they be shoveled out and iced around where the door swings so that they can close? She told me that is why they have salt at the doors for us. That did make me exclaim--so the residents are actually responsible for salting the sidewalks and keeping the doors free of snow?! (I had been pretty calm up until that point.)

****

She asked me to hold on.

****

A different young woman (defensive) came to the phone.

****

I had to start all over again.

****

This one was obviously a superior to the first girl. She informed me that the fire marshal told them that they only had to keep the door clear to open at the emergency exits and did not have to clear the sidewalks. (I was appalled, to be honest.) I said, what about the people in wheel chairs if there is a fire? You have disabled people in this building. That is my escape route and I have a cat in a stroller because I can't lift her...I couldn't barely get her stroller over the snowbanks, let alone people in wheelchairs. She just repeated what the fire marshal told them.

****

This has obviously become an "us" vs, "them" atmosphere here. I reminded her that I have lived here for five years next month and have never complained about anything before. It just makes no sense to not clear away by the doors and put enough salt down so that the doors can swing freely. When they get caught open--it has to cost a lot of money to try and heat the buildings? And they are not secure. Anybody can get in. Regardless of whether people should or should not be using the emergency exit doors--the same thing is happening on the regular entrance door on the end of the building. That one was stuck open, too. I was trying to be rational and talk calmly to her.

****

She did start to calm down. She blamed the residents (repeatedly) for not looking back to see if the doors were shut all the way. I said the doors would shut properly if they were clear of snow and the area by the door was salted down. She blamed the wind--for catching the doors and they stay open because residents don't look. The residents not shutting the doors and the snow drifts inside. The residents damaging the doors to they don't shut right. [Metal doors cannot become warped by leaving them open. It is the trying to shut them that would do it--but I didn't mention that--hehe!]

****

She calmed down a little. Did say--we DO salt, but the residents are left salt by the doors so they can also do some salting as needed. I said, I know that. I have lived in apartments most of my adult life, but I have never lived in one where they don't make sure the area where the door swings open is cleared and salted well--cleaned off down to the sidewalk--so the doors can shut easily. They usually do a pretty good job by the front door and I don't use the end doors, so I don't see them very often, but they look fairly cleared usually. I know they deal with bad weather and drifting. Everybody does. But not attending to the emergency exit doors and sidewalks to try and get people to stop using them isn't working. (She got very upset--that's not what we are doing...fire marshal, etc) Well, as a disabled person I am expressing my concern about being able to get out of the building safely when there is a fire alarm. They DO go off once or twice a year here and have gone off in the winter and in the dark. And I am deeply concerned about the residents with wheel chairs. Regardless of what the fire marshal says. And if he says you only have to have it clear by the door--then it should be clear by the door so the door can open and shut.
****

She finally told me--I don't have the staff to keep up with it. She wasn't sounding so defensive anymore--just beaten down. She said she'd bring it up at the next meeting. I thanked her, poor thing.
****

I know it has to be a hellish place to work. Just in our building--the damages and vandalism are distressing, annoying, and have probably caused all the staff to burn out--rapidly. No wonder we have had such a turnover. They pull down the exit signs, rip off signs attached to walls, throw trash on the floor, spit on the elevator walls, steal or destroy decorations and furniture, and the pee down the elevator wall isn't a dog--or isn't always a dog. Too high. Much too high for a dog lately. But I didn't call to complain about any of that. (What can they do?) I just wanted the doors to shut and the sidewalk to be shoveled.

****

Here's where the sidewalk is--buried under the snow. Actually starts next to the white van on the left. People have made footpaths...so you can tell where the exit door is there kind of under my window.

Are you as tired as I am just listening to that? ROFL! I had no idea it was going to be such an ordeal. Whew! I don't blame them for being defensive and fed up with the residents, tho. But not all of us are a problem or disrespectful or ungrateful for being here.

****

I feel badly for the people who work here. I just stay in my apartment and only go in and out of the building on occasion--and check my mail five days a week. I try my best to ignore the state of the elevator and the hallways--and some of the occasional hostile looks from other residents. [Sad to say, but some of them just seem to dislike Americans for some reason? Either that or overweight Americans?--hehe!] But there are still friendly nice people here, too. I love my apartment and I am grateful to be here! It is my sanctuary and I am happy here. the end. :)

****

Anyways, late last night I buzzed in the UPS man. The "tear bar" came from Daniel Smith!

It was waaaay too cold to touch for a while--brrr! Altho, Miss Karma wanted to--hehe! She looks like she is paying homage to the frozen wonder, eh? They had used that saran wrappy stuff to tie it to a long, thick cardboard roll. Smart!

****

It is awesome!

I know it may not look like much, but it is nice and heavy--straight and smooth!

I think this will work so well that I will be able to tear a bit of paper myself, Leah. ;) The weight of it might mean I wouldn't have to use my left hand as much as I would with a lighter ruler or bar. We'll see. Excited to try it!

****

It was sooo cold yesterday--and it was the last day for one of my gas coupons. Well, there was no way was I going out in that if I didn't have to. Sorry. Just wasn't worth a couple of dollars to me--hehe! I think I may wait until I have to go to the Federal Housing appointment if it doesn't warm up. It's not like I don't have about a half a tank. Just like to keep it pretty full when it gets this cold out. Pita started when Leah checked her, tho. I really should double check before my appointment on Wednesday, tho. Brrrr! I'm praying for zero! Above zero--hehe!

****

Goodness sakes! I had to take breaks, took a phone call, and it is after going on 10:30am! And still minus 17 degrees. Zero may be a dream.

****

If you made it all the way to the end of this--I admire your patience. ;) And have a super-dooper day! :):)