Sick day # 3

Today is the first day I didn't wake up with a temperature above 101 despite around the clock Motrin. I guess that signals improvement.

Yesterday, I did, however, clear from my feverish delirium enough to finish Emily Giffin's second book, Something Blue.











I read her first book in Cancun, and I highly recommend reading them in order.












SUCH a quick read, such vivid characters. It made me forget for a few hours that I was contemplating whether I had contracted the plague.

To all my GALs out there battling those annoying viruses (flu, flu-like, cold, etc.)... drink lots and lots of fluids, treat the symptoms, and get lots of rest. If you must do SOMEthing, curl up with a good book.

Dr. Ty
From the GAL Blog
www.getalifecampaign.com
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Is it simpler to stay or go?

Given my 2009 motto, and yesterday's post... which is more conducive to simplicity?

• Stay in this duplex and continue to get pissed off, being ignored by the landlady, while major appliances remain broken, and being spoken to like a crazy lady because I'm irate about _____________ (fill in the blank... freezing my tootsies off... going outside for my veggies... broken promises), praying that nothing else breaks so I never have to call them, and basically having to stalk her three times a day just to get her to answer the phone, when I barely have time in my day to eat or call my own family... all for the sake of convenience and a manageable price tag;
  

• OR, take the first vacation week I've had since last May, and instead of relaxing, pack up a 3-story house, find a mover and a new apartment (in the price range which is tough), including the extra costs associated with moving, disconnecting utilities, etc... running the risk that this landlord is equally as difficult, possible jerkface neighbors, less space, or the most common barrier -- not being able to bring the brand-new washer and dryer?

I just want to come home from a tough day and just BE. I'm tired of fighting, and something always being wrong!

My simplicity theory is already being tested. I need you guys' thoughts...




From the GAL Blog
www.getalifecampaign.com
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My outdoor freezer and other apartment horrors

In my effort to be oh-nine classy, I upgraded to the newest, latest, fanciest freezer equipment...

You like??

I know you're jealous. See? You can't even hide it.

Which of Santa's elves is responsible for my Frigidaire remix? My friendly, responsive, competent landlady. Do you remember her? The one I told you all about in "I'm Hot!"... the one who has worked her way up to numero uno on my "I hate you" list?

I renewed my lease last summer because I was working way too much (80 hours a week) to pack up a 3-story duplex. And find a new spot. And find the time to move. Besides, after calling on average 7 times per problem and waiting an average of 2 months for each response... landlady finally apologized for being a spaz, and offered the option of calling her more "responsible" husband instead. That lasted about as long as it took for me to sign the lease.

Let's recap shall we? (June 2007-present):

1. A week prior to move-in day, "I will fix the towel rack before you move in." Yea... we fixed it, a month later.

2. The bathtub repeatedly leaked into the downstairs kitchen cabinets. Took 2 months to respond.

3. No heat for 3 months, with temps dropping below 30 in a poorly insulated house with a 2-year-old. Countless excuses, "we need a new part," "the repairmen won't call me back," "oh, it's starting to warm up anyway!" (my personal fave).

3. No A/C in the summer. It leaked despite being "fixed" twice, flooded the basement each time, including our boxes and photos. Finally needed to be replaced. Took about 1 month for the first repair. About 2 months before it worked properly. And, don't forget she had taken my window screens, "to fix," back in April... Hence my sweltering. My favorite landlady quote from the A/C era: "Well it's not really broken is it? It just leaks. Why don't you run it until we can get it fixed?"

(Oh by the way... the A/C leaked directly onto the brand new furnace. Let's see how far into this winter we get)

4. Landlady dropped off 2 screens when she came to check out the dishwasher that repeated melted my tupperware, an UNbreakable plastic cup, and my favorite coffee mug... the dishwasher that would stay stuck in one part of the cycle (usually the drying cycle) until I woke up to the smell of melted plastic. Anyway, she left me this note:

Translation: If you don't run the dishwasher in an effort to wash your dishes, then it won't melt your stuff!
(I guess I'm the idiot)

We called her back, demanded they fix it, and Mr. Repairman said a totally new dishwasher was warranted.

5. Nearly $300 of gas heat per month escaped out my front door last winter, so I asked landlady in December 2007 to please install a new door or insulate it better. Well, the new door was installed (in September 2008), albeit a lil' crooked. Us: "It's crooked." Repairman: "It'll swell and fill that space."

Almost two months later... I call them about the water bill. I remember the door and call her back.

Me: "I watch the sunrise around my door every morning. Do you think you can fix it?"
Her: We've been calling the guy and he won't come."
Me: "Okay when will it be fixed? Because I am going to call my own person."
Her: "By Tuesday."
Me: "What's plan B if that person doesn't come?"
Her: "They will."
Me: "Put it in writing."

An hour later? Landlady and hubby are letting themselves into my apartment (while I'm in there asleep after a 30-hour shift nonetheless) to fix the what? That's right. The door. Ridiculous.

8. So this Sunday night, I call about the water bill again, as well as the fact that the freezer doesn't work. She hung up on me during that conversation. But, her & Mr. Repairman came the next day (gasp). The verdict?

"The repairman said you need a new refrid. & I will order you one this week! -Denise"

You can't make this ish up. I'm convinced they duct taped everything in this house just so it would pass the walk-through.

So now, I'm rocking my 1950's ice box. And still waiting for my new "refrid." No, seriously... Those really are my veggies and meats out on the back porch.

Don't you dare come and steal them.


Dr. Ty
From the GAL Blog
www.getalifecampaign.com
Follow me on Twitter: @doctorty
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What's your '09 motto? Mine is simple as can be.

Between facebook, twitter, and various blogs, I can't help but see resolution after resolution for 2009. I do have a few of my own, and much like everyone else, it's hit or miss whether I will still remember those vows come December 31.

But, this year, I am trying something different. I'm creating a motto for myself -- a theme, a niche, a style, so to speak.

My motto for 2009 is SIMPLICITY.

Those who followed the GAL blog last year know that I recently fell head first into a rut. It was partially my own fault, but it was such an eye opener. For once, I felt like someone turned the stage lights on, and all the "stuff" I plowed through and busied myself with suddenly seemed insignificant.

I pledged to turn down the volume (and pace)... to peel away all unnecessary things in life that drained me... and to reclaim my time and my sanity.

So far, I:

• Figured out the life I want (in all aspects, not just work) and decided to only do things that get me there.
• Saying "no" or "absolutely not" to anything that doesn't meet the criteria in the first bullet.
• Realized the person I have to say "no" to most often is myself.
  
• Reassessed what I wanted out of work, and where work falls on my list of priorities.
  
• Got over the fear of addressing my work desires.
• Got over the fear of leaving work if staying meant putting work above family and my life.
• Simplified many of my relationships across the board, and ignited those that actually uplift, humor, educate, inspire, or encourage.
• Scratched many, many things off the to do list and said to h&!! with those things.
• Became physically active again, ultimately dropping 12 pounds over 2 months.
• Stopped moving at lightening speed and learned to enjoy the feeling of sitting still for longer than 0.5 seconds (which meant, at times, not blogging).
  

For once in a long time I feel at peace. I feel more at peace than when I first wrote, "The Get A Life Campaign." I had allowed the book promotion to eat up all the free time I'd created. Then, I went back to work in medicine. And so goes the story. But, enough about me...

What is YOUR motto for 2009?

No more items added to your to do list, more rules you know you'll break, more crap to stress over. Where's your head this year? What's your theme (or theme music) for the Oh-nine? I want to know...

While you think, enjoy this song, entitled "A Song of Simplicity" by piano artist, Elijah Bossenbroek:






Dr. Ty
From the GAL Blog
www.getalifecampaign.com
Follow me on Twitter: @doctorty
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Are we still GAL pals?

I feel like the long-lost friend whom you haven't seen or heard from in years, but now I'm sitting across the table from you at some nondescript restaurant sipping my Lipton nervously, searching for something interesting to say, wondering if we have still have that "thing" in common, hoping I can say something genius that sparks a conversation lasting through dessert and makes that hug goodbye a little less awkward.

GALs, it's been too long. I don't know what else to say.

I do have stories to tell and I hope you'll stick with me this year as we continue making the most of our lives.

Welcome back to the GAL Blog, the 2009 version! See you soon...

Dr. Ty
From the GAL Blog
www.getalifecampaign.com
Follow me on Twitter: @doctorty