Sunday, July 8, 2012

What's Going On


Where has Lynda been? What has Lynda been up to? Not a lot, really. Just work and finding a way to pay the rent.

When I moved in, I honestly thought I would have enough money for rent. At $875/month and me making $32k a year, it would be tight, but it could work. I thought I would bring home close to $2200/month, considering my gross is about $2700 or $2800 a month. At least I would bring home $2000, right? NOT. Because I am older, $400 comes right out for retirment. Add the $300 I pay for medical - that's not including Dr. visits and prescriptions - and $500 just to get to and from work, as well as the other various taxes and I end up with about $1400.

I signed the one year lease where I am currently living because I thought I could make it. And I didn't really have time to look anywhere else, considering I had to find a place in less than a week, all while I was working. My credit wasn't that great before I became homeless; since it has tanked. I figured no one would even give me the time of day, let alone me move in for around a thousand dollars total. But life is not always what it seems. In addition to the $875 a month, there is the $15/per pet per month fee. First, of course, there is the $500/ for the first pet and $250/for the 2nd pet deposit. The main manager said that I could pay that over four months; the other manager said it had to be paid in three months. Since the main manager is rarely there, I now have to pay over 3 months instead of four. If you are a day late on your rent, there is a $50 late charge. Oh, and something else I didn't realize when I signed the lease; there is a $56/month fee for water/sewer/garbage! In an apartment! Adding it all up, this month I owe $1333. For a $875/month apartment. I haven't even had a chance to pay my P,G and E yet. Although there is a place in town that will help, that is the same place that kicked me out of their program (and housing) saying I was a violent drug abuser.

I have been looking for part time work. At this point anything to help pay the bills. Hell, I don't even have television because I can't afford the converter box. Radio is all but dead; I did find some audio of me doing the "Helping Your Hometown" series, but that is the only digital audio I have. I am trying to get a part time gig back in the city, as I believe those are union wages. That would be a big help. And then there was this accident that took the life of my car and exacerbated my spinal stenosis.

I tried to settle the insurance suit since my health insurance is paying for the treatment, which is none so far, just a bunch of CT scans and MRI's-all of which I have to take time off work and drive 50 miles each way for-so I hoped the kid's insurance company would pay for it. No going, said the guy I have been working with. I asked about the time I lost from work because I didn't have a car. That comes out to $2100. He said there is no judge who would find the insurance company at fault for me losing my job, even though it was due to the negligence of his client.

So that leaves me a three day notice to quit or pay rent. I called the office at the beginning of the month and the person who leased me the apt told me that if I paid half of the rent by the 10th and all of it by the 15th, they wouldn't kick me out. Then a day later, they put a three-day notice to quit or pay rent on my door. I don't know if they just don't talk to each other or what. I do know that I will give them my entire check on the 10th when I get paid and hope it's enough to stave off the wolves.

If only I had video of my life from the past few years, even a glimpse, to put on YouTube so people could set up a donation fund for me. Then I could get past this most recent hurdle. In the meantime, send me your suggestions. Better yet, send a check made out to Village Green Apartments.