The Insanity Continues

I forgot to mention that I had planned to get dressed after my shower this morning but found myself putting my sleep clothes back on, instead. Maybe I can remember to do so tomorrow?

Also, Mom's party was outside and I have been scratching my nose like crazy ever since. I really want sit outside at times but don't think my allergies would allow it often, if at all.

I played on my phone until it was almost dead last night and since it was around 9pm when I decided to start charging it, I chose to sleep on the couch.

I fell asleep watching Police 24/7 on The CW and woke up to a text alert on my phone. The text was from my electric company telling me there was an outage in my area. My sleep addled brain did not register the fact that it was darker than usual in my apartment (despite the package on my curtains saying they are 100% blackout, I still get some light from the safety lights plus I don't have curtains on the patio door (awkward size and placement) and I have night lights to keep my apartment from being too dark), just that the TV was off. I tried to turn it back on to go back to sleep (I need some kind of background noise (not a white noise machine, though)) and discovered it wouldn't turn on. That's when my brain went, 'duh, the power's off'.

And of course that's when my bladder went, 'since we're awake...'. Only problem was that I had my feet up and the recline function on my couch is electric. *wince*

I managed to wiggle off the couch, turned on the flashlight on my phone and used the bathroom. And that's when it started to feel warm in my apartment (not sure if it actually was, just that it was starting to feel that way). So I opened the patio door. I even stood on the patio for a few minutes. If I had patio furniture, I probably would have sat out there until the power came back on because there was some light where there was no light inside my apartment.

I started planning on telling my boss that I was going to have to take the day (luckily I was able to key all my sites yesterday) and asking to go to my parents because I was NOT going to sit all day in my apartment with no power. But the power came back on. It was only off for about forty-five minutes.

I called Walgreens after I got off work yesterday and found out that 'coupons' like GoodRX are actually for people WITHOUT insurance. You'd think they'd mention that in the ads, wouldn't you?

Luckily one of the coupons I found was actually from the Eliquis website. The pharmacist ran that one and my out of pocket price is $10! I can get behind that.

When I went to the website, I had the option of getting a one time use coupon or one good for two years. Guess which one I chose? I didn't think to ask if I would have to call in and give this coupon number every month or if they would automatically run it if my insurance doesn't cover it like they did last month (but seriously, why was it free last month and not this month? Is this made in one of the countries the current administration has leveed a 150% tariff against?). Guess we'll find out next month.

I had plans! I had so many plans for this weekend.

While doing laundry Friday, I began to feel faint. This worried me because I wasn't doing anything all that strenuous. I was just putting clothes in the washer, then the dryer, then taking them out to fold and put away.

Then Saturday, while at Walmart, I began to feel faint again. This made a bit more sense since I was walking around Walmart. But I was determined to do what I planned on doing that night. But I had fallen asleep twice by the time 9pm rolled around and even just walking to the bathroom made me winded. So, I decided to not do the thing.

Then this morning, I was going to walk right up until I stood up. My left ankle gave just enough that it hurt, but I didn't fall. I decided that it was for the best that I baby my ankle today and maybe I can walk tomorrow.

When I got off yesterday, I went to do the dishes. While unloading the dishwasher to put the dishes that are too cumbersome to wash by hand in it, I had the water warming up. After just a minute or two, I noticed that there was standing water in the side of the sink that has the garbage disposal.

Upon inspection, I noticed that the stopper was in the drain, so I pulled it out. But the water didn't go down. Thinking something might have gotten into the drain (I DO NOT use my disposal AT ALL, but sometimes it does tend to get clogged *shrug*), I turned it on. That's when I noticed that there was water in the other side of the sink, too, and the level in that side increased whenever I turned on the disposal.

I took pictures and submitted a maintenance request. Over the next couple of hours, I checked it every so often and it didn't appear to be increasing despite my running the dishwasher. Until a little after 8pm, that is.

When I got done watching Andor, I went to check it and could see the water level was almost even with the top of the sink even without turning on the light or walking all the way into the kitchen (I have a tiny apartment kitchen). When I went to get my phone, I realized that my foot was wet. I turned on the kitchen light and saw a stream of water running out from under the cabinets. I called maintenance because this was now an emergency.

The on-call maintenance guy called back and said 'Can it wait until tomorrow?' I was like, seriously? If it could wait, I wouldn't have called the emergency number!

He showed up about 20 minutes later and used a shop vac to drain the water from the sink multiple times. He then tried to snake the drain. It didn't work. After over an hour, he said he has to come back because there is more that needs to be done and it might need to be worked on outside? I'm not really sure, he has a thick Italian accent so I am only able to understand about 90% of what he says.

But he did have to go up to the apartments above mine and ask them to not use their kitchen sinks until he can fix the clog in mine.

My neighbor across from me had issues with this a few months ago. She had to have maintenance come out a couple of times a week for a month or more. You'd think that after the second or third time maintenance had to unclog her sink, the office would have sent out an email reminding people of what they can and cannot put down the garbage disposal/sink drain!

My apartment reeks from the stagnant water that is backing up into my sink. The maintenance guy said he'd be back around 9 this morning. I hope he can fix it today because I feel like this is a health code violation.

When I got up this morning, I did not want to walk but told myself that means that I really should. But for some reason I just didn't. But it's a good thing that I didn't because my left ankle has been bothering me all morning. When I go to take a step, it twinges and I'm afraid it won't hold my weight.

I put fresh batteries in my scale last night and I weighed myself last night and again this morning. I lost three pounds over night? How is that possible?

I only sat for ten minutes before taking my blood pressure this morning.

For some reason, the email with the pictures of my blood pressure (121/54), glucose (136), and the screen shot of what I weigh (344) is not sending. I've sent it to my two personal emails and my work email and it still has not arrived. I even tried a third personal email but nothing. Is anyone else having this issue with gmail? Normal emails will come in like normal but not emails with pictures.

They finally arrived.

I'm a bit worried. My electric bill hasn't arrived yet (I'm paperless so I usually have an email with my bill by this point in the month). When I looked at my account, it shows the project total is around $50. I hope the bill arrives soon and that it is less than $100.

I should really stop eating after I get off. I need to get my glucose back under 100.

A week or so ago, I noticed that it was darker than I like in my bedroom despite having the ceiling fan light and the lamp on. Thursday or Friday of last week I noticed that one of the bulbs in the ceiling fan light was out. This one bulb has been replaced once already since I moved in. Maintenance fixed it for me, they were in for something else and I asked about it because the bulb was not fully connected to the part that screws into the socket. The fact that it has gone out again tells me they did not sue a new bulb. I forgot to take it to the store with me over the weekend but I now have it with my purse to take it this weekend.

On 4/3, my boss sent me an email about my rate increase. I'm getting a 3% increase. I think she's only allowed to give us between 1% and 5%. I don't think I've ever gotten more than 3%. While I love getting a raise, I really wish it was more like several dollars instead of less than a dollar. My increase is only $.60 more an hour. I'm still making about $10 less than I should be considering I have over twenty years experience in data entry.

For some reason the pictures of my blood pressure (119/63) and glucose (134, I had some buttered bread around 6 last night) have not showed up in my inbox. I also emailed myself some videos from TikTok and they haven't showed up either.

I am tired of some things in my life so I decided enough was enough and I'm going to get into the habit of doing them.

Friday, I took the trash out as has become my habit. Then at 9pm I turned the air down (I have free electricity from 9pm until 6am) and went to start cleaning the bathroom (I have some things that need worked on and I don't like having maintenance in when my bathroom is gross).

When I first started, my stomach was a bit dicey but not too bad, so I decided to push through. But I also debated about not cleaning due to the massive heat rash I had from my huge apron belly. But I told myself those were just excuses and I could do this. So, I slapped some Gold Bond on the heat rash and got to work.

Normally, when I clean, I'll do an area of whatever room I'm cleaning (like the cabinet), then take a break. I repeat this until I either finish or fall asleep. This time, I decided I didn't want to risk falling asleep before I was done, so I pulled out an old method.

Back when I was on Tumblr, I found a blog called UnFuck Your Habitat that was all about helping people learn how to clean.

The person who runs(ran) it strongly discouraged marathon cleaning. Marathon cleaning has a different meaning for just about everyone but they defined it as cleaning a whole area without taking a break. That is the fastest way to burn yourself out and then nothing gets done.

They strongly encourage the use of what they call 20/10's or 45/15's. What this is, is cleaning for 20 or 45 minutes then taking a 10 or 15 minute break. I have used this method with varying degrees of success over the years.

I had to download the app again. You can find it in Apple's App Store and should be able to find it in the Google Play Store. Just search UFYH. It's called UnFilth Your Habitat. When I first got it, it was $.99, not sure if it still is.

I turned on some music and hit the timer for my first 20/10. I barely made it 10 minutes before I had to take a break. Cleaning for 20 minutes was causing my body to shut down and I just could not do that. Hopefully, once I get used to cleaning regularly again, I can use this method. But for now, I have to do it the only way I can.

So, I cleaned the counter, the mirror, the toilet, and the little cabinet I have next to the toilet (with breaks in between as needed). I started on the shower next. In hindsight, I should have left the shower for last. The glass has so much soap scum that it is going to take several cleanings for it to get fully clean. I had just started cleaning the floor of the shower when my power scrubber died.

But that was okay because I was done for the night. I rinsed the floor, took a break to give the floor time to become less slippery, then took a shower.

I realized sometime yesterday that I could have cleaned the tub because I don't use it so all I had to do was dust the edges and pour some water on the inside to get it clean. *face palm*

Saturday, I went to the store and then at 9pm, turned the air down and went to start cleaning. But I got dizzy on my way from the living room to the bathroom. I tried to work through it but just couldn't. I did wash the bath mats and sweep the floor. Next weekend I will finish the bathroom and get started on the living room and kitchen.

I was going to walk this morning but I'm still a bit dizzy. I'm thinking it's because I've started taking the diuretic again. Maybe I'll be okay to walk tomorrow.

When at the store this weekend, I bought some candy (I really like the Cadbury Mini Eggs) and had been having a craving for chips and salsa, so got some of that too. And that is why my glucose is so high, I think.

I hate to admit this, but I used to not always wash my hands after using the bathroom while at home. In public and after pooping, always, but when I peed? Not always.

Until Covid, that is. Once we started working from home, I would scratch my nose and notice that my finger stunk, so I started washing my hands EVERY time I used the bathroom, except when I get up during the night.

I don't wash my hands during the night because I refuse to risk waking myself up so much that I can't fall back asleep by turning on the light (learned this trick while pregnant) and I have this thing about mirrors in dark rooms (thanks to the Doctor Who episode 'The Family of Blood').

A couple of months ago I had to stop using name brand soap because I couldn't afford it on that trip to the store. But a couple of weeks ago, I could and bought name brand again. I'm thinking they changed the formula for the type I use because my hands STINK even after washing them. I bought two big refill bottles so I'm not sure what I'm going to do (I really cannot afford to just throw out these two bottles).

Hopefully, I'll get used to the scent?