Friday, December 21, 2012

I'm Baaaaaack!

Well, I am still here at Crown Tower. My perception of the place has changed somewhat since I first moved in. What I have decided, however, is that those of us here have a lot in common with other older/disabled people. Sure, I'll still share the goings on at Crown Tower Omaha, but I'm also going to write about the concerns of the older and disabled audiences in general. I may also throw in some thrifty recipes, and other interesting tidbits from time to time.

So, give me time to regroup here, and I'll get started.


Monday, January 9, 2012

Picture of my Kitchen Sink...EWWWW

14 days after it stopped up, this is what greets me in the kitchen every day

OHA Motto? "Striving to do Better"--that's scary!

One of the first things I noticed when I moved in is a huge banner in the lobby that says "OHA_Striving to do Better". Well, as you can imagine, a HUGE red flag went up, but I must say that my first couple of months here have gone without much to complain about. Then my garbage disposal broke.

Now, I hadn't dropped a fork in there or anything. In fact, I rarely used it except for the fact that my sink would not drain water unless I ran the disposal. The day after Christmas, as I was draining the sink, it made a loud noise and quit working. I called OHA the next morning and left a message (You RARELY actually get to speak to a real person there). Let's see...the date on this post (and the day I am writing this) is January 09. Guess what? It still isn't fixed!

Calls to OHA result in the information that the order has been processed, sent back here to the tower, and it will be fixed...within 20 days. *blank stare, blink. Ok, so I make do. I manage to makeshift washing dishes by filling two pans with water, one with dish liquid and one to rinse. Although I bale out the sink often, there is standing water in there that just doesn't smell too good, folks.

Up next...You want me to WHAT?

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Crown Tower Elections

After only a couple of weeks being a resident here at Omaha Crown Towers, there was a resident association election. I really didn't feel I knew anyone here well enough to vote, but I did. I abstained from the treasurer election because that is truly an office of trust, and since I didn't know the candidates, I opted out of that one.

The newly (and reelected) officers will be in office for two years. It is interesting to listen to the conversations held outside when all of the smokers hover together to smoke, talk, and socialize. There were many comments about the elections before they were held. Since the election, it's been very cold outside, so I haven't heard the latest opinions.

Quite a few people showed up for the elections, which I thought was very good. Complaining about how things are done just isn't productive if one isn't ready to vote to make changes. That's my two cents worth anyway.

Congratulations to those elected, and thanks to all who came to vote (even though the elections were delayed because Mr. Brice was late getting there ;)

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Omaha Crown Towers- A New Beginning

Like so many others here, I was blessed enough to find Crown Towers when I was faced, for the first time in my life, with no where to go. I'd lost my major source of income, my car, and eventually my home. At the age of 50 something, I was devastated. I was lucky enough, or perhaps I had an angel looking after me, but I applied for housing and got into Crown Tower. From what I know of the various towers in town, this is by far one of the best.

So far, I am loving it. Oh, I know the honeymoon will only last for so long, but for now I feel so incredibly blessed. I am warm, I have food, I have peace and quiet...Yep, I'm blessed.

This is not my first blog, by any stretch of the imagination. I have (but I don't know for how long I will continue it) a blog on being thrifty. Honestly, I grew weary of it because it was so like hundreds, perhaps thousands of others. I hope this blog will become a haven, a source of information and perhaps inspiration for not only the residents of the tower, but anyone, particularly those who are disabled or elderly.

I am a writer, and am considered quite prolific online. I will delve into my writing projects in a later post (oh, believe me, I will!) My oldest child is almost 32 and my youngest is 18. I have had many adventures, and many tragedies in my life. Again, those stories are for other posts.

Join my on this adventure as I begin life with an empty nest. Being disabled, on limited income, and living alone with my faithful companion Papi the Chihuahua in a community in which I hope to learn, but also to inspire and inform... Stay tuned!