A typical Monday

Found out residents that recently moved didn't ever pay thier electric bill, so Steve showed up ready to work.........NO ELECTRICITY. Hmm. Saturday recieved a lovely call from a residents mother on how sick she is and needs her son at home with her, how do they break the lease......He's never missed a payment.......he's special. Do I not explain these things when they move in? I guess not clearly enough. Does not the lease say what to do when they need to break it? I guess they cannot read.

I'm Sorry

Thursday night- The last day Jesus Christ was alive. Trying to celebrate Christ's Memorial but I was sick and so was Haven. I thought Steve could go to the 7 o'clock service and then I could go with Jessie to the nine o'clock.
The emergency line rings:

"Help! My electricity is off! I've tried everything. My electric meter isn't running either. Can you come over here and check my apartment?"
Steve: "Ok I'll be right over."
So he goes over there while I twist my wrists, and clench my jaw. I am not bringing the baby to the memorial. She is coughing way too bad. The devil won. I wasn't going to go this year.
RING RING
"WHAT!"
"Can you give me ComED's number? Apartment X needs to call and find out what's going on. There's a pink tag on the meter, the elctric's been turned off."

"Well the electric is THIER problem says so in the lease."

" I KNOW! Give me the number OK"

"UGH.....It's 1-800-EDISON1."

"THANK YOU...." In the background I hear...."SORRY!"

A few minutes later.....

RING RING

"WHAT."

"The office is closed is thier anything we can do?"

"No. Not our problem."

"Well, it is now."

"No it's not."

"Yes. Please call there, see if you can do anything."

" Oh My GOD. OKAY OKAY I'll call." I hang up on him.

" Our offices are now closed, please call back or call the emergency number at 1-800-XXX-XXXX."

I dial Steve back.

"Yes."

"Okay I called she has to call herself and give them all her info."

"Thanks hun. I'll be home soon."

8:05 Steve walks in, eats and gets dressed. HIm and Jessie leave as I am crying my eyes out. I cry until I start to pray. Haven is coughing so badly I decide to give her a vapor bath. It helps. I get her all wrapped up and a bottle and lay on the bed. I turn the television on and there he is....Jesus. It's all o.k. It's all o.k.

Interesting Lives

It's amazing to me when people call and ask "if it's ok" if they are going to be late with thier rent. Well, I am thinking as they are asking........"NOooooooooooooooooo". They have puppy dog voices over the phone, (whimper whimper)," I am sooooo sorry. I had pnemonia all of last month and I haven't gotten my check. How much will the late fees be? Sniff." Or the clasic....."I have to move suddenly, it's an emergency, I lost my job. Will we get our security deposit back?" The answers to these questions and comments make my throat close and my head spin. Are they serious? Why bother with the lease if they aren't going to read it or abide by it? The best yet was a renter who claimed she had mailed her rent on the 4th of the month. When we recieved the envelope it was dated the 5th which by our mail in policy is O.K. Yet, when we opened the envelope the money order was dated the the 8th. Scary! People finagle anything to get out of late fees. And as always I think about all the lives neccessary to run our business. Women and men with so many daily connections taking place. It's all very interesting.