Things I learned in July:
- July 23 was the rainiest calendar day in the recorded history of Chicago (8.68 inches!)
- 4" of it ended up in the basement of my building.
- Five days later, another big storm and more water; Mother Nature has a wicked sense of humor.
- The 140-year old drainage system in my neighborhood was just as surprised as we were by the amount of water both of these storms produced.
- Despite being warned, some people are stupid enough to store mattresses (and other valuable items, like rugs) on the floor of a basement with a 140-year old drainage system lurking fifteen feet away.
- Drywall sucks up an amazing amount of water.
- Wet drywall starts to smell after three days and needs to come out.
- Wet mattresses smell worse than wet drywall.
- The term "bio-scrub" involves moving and wiping down a LOT of stuff.
- Some people are too lazy to throw their own crap out.
- $80,000 of drying equipment running 24/7 + 12 air conditioners cranked in 92 degree heat = a blown buss breaker.
- Commercial grade buss breakers are extremely hard to come by on a Sunday afternoon.
- Ten hours without power makes some people very cranky.
- Power surges can fry things like transformers for the building's buzzer system and the blower motor for a brand new water heater.
- Foundation repairs are really expensive.
- I don't do well on two hours sleep three days in a row.
- Multiple shots of espresso make my knees shake.
- Being forced to take charge of things when all one wants to do is hide in one's condo and sew makes a person very surly.
- Being Condo Board President has NO perks whatsoever.
8 comments:
Damn...that super sucked!! I hope August goes a lot better for you and you get some much needed sewing therapy!!!
Oh, Kate, that totally sucks!!! Here's hoping that August is much much better.... ;-)
Wow, I don't envy what you have been through. At least August is starting out pretty good.
Condo presidency is a curse. The people who do it well -like you- are constantly running like crazy trying to make sure everything gets done well. If you have to make an assessment for the flooding some will wail and gnash their teeth as if they are in hell. They will tell you how horrible you are and then threaten to run for your job because they could do it better and maybe get the job and do a lousy job of it.
You know it!! I was so happy to see temps in the low 80's. My shoes were so wet from the drenching after drenching that they actually squished when I walked. ( as well as most of the other letter carriers at work! ) While delivering the mail in chicago I saw many many wet destroyed items at the curbs. Glad it is OVER!!
Good riddance, indeed! Here's to a happier (and less catastrophic) August :)Thank goodness the world has capable people like you to take over when everyone else is running around in circles.
absolutely miserable. yuck and horrible. I hope you get at least one thank you at the very very very least.
Hope you dry out and that August is better...((hugs))
Post a Comment