The Hall Nook

It's not much, but I did get some work done on the hallway nook. I finally hung my Mongolian-themed art that I bought from a vendor in front of the Met Museum, along with some other things that represent some of my travels.

First of all, things are not painted. This is not the color I want. I just haven't decided what color I do want. I know what I want to do with the trim, and the doors, but the hall, bathroom, and bedroom? Can't decide.

One feature I like to point out is the built-in wall hamper. This is great. I keep my clothes laundry in wicker baskets, but this thing is for towels, since it is right next to the bathroom. I tied lining a bag in it but 1) it's difficult and 2) not needed. The towels hold their shape pretty well when I unload and 2) they're towels. I'm just dumping them in a bag anyway.

Here is some of the other decor. The wood slats I got in Costa Rica. The mirror came with the apartment. The "Roadside Rest Stop" is one of a set I bought at a highway antique shop in Oklahoma. The photo, well, that's got a story.

When I was in high school I worked next door to an office that investigated incidents involving US Army vehicles. This was in Germany. In the photo, a tank is driving off a bridge into the river; the solider who had stolen it drowned to death. He was joyriding and with the military police on one side and the Polizei on the other, he decided to escape . . .or something. Anyway the guy in the office gave me the photo and it's been a conversation piece ever since.

Voodoo doll gift from my friend LP, from when she visited New Orleans.

I could not find a good place to put these pictures. They are bucolic scenes in Mongolia, painted by a painter from that region who sells his wares in front of the Met. I love his work, and would like to get more if I could design around it. These are about ten years old, and among the first things I bought to decorate with.

The picture in the middle is a Navajo sand painting I bought in Park City, one of four. They're about the home, near doors, protecting me, or something. I used to have a book explaining what they meant but I don't have it any more. I put them where they make sense.

There's no light in this part of the apartment, or outlets, so I bought a battery-opereated light button. It works well, as an oversized nightlight at least.

Better

A week late, no complaints. I did get some art hung up in the bedroom, and he bedroom feels cozier now. It'a a place I can read a book before dozing off.

I bought a stud finder. Turns out that as far as finding studs before . . . I was way off. That, or the stud finder is way off. This is important because I want to hang a twenty-five pound shelf above the head of my bed. I do not want to wake up due to a crushing weight on my trachea.

Additionally furniture purchases are being put off. The building is organizing a flee market and I am going to try to get rid of some rolling shelves and a 4-panel folding wall. I'm tempted to get rid of the breakfast table as well, and use the overall proceeds to offset buying a proper table. That said, the breakfast table works well. It just won't suffice for my dream of serving a Thanksgiving dinner here.

Tonight, I went to a resident's committee meeting, and so got to meet some of my neighbors. They're an alright bunch. Regular folks, as far as I can tell. Just my speed.

Betty Bites Back

I got my first taste of real homeownership today: my kitchen sink was vomiting water.

When I did the dishes, the drain seemed a little slow, but it did drain, and I left a pot and a glass in. The sink was empty. I sat down to watch some telly.

Less than an hour later, I heard the distinct sound of water spilling. "Could't be me, " I thought.

Well, it persisted, and when I got up to investigate, I saw that my tiny little kitchen sink was pouring water all over my nice hardwood floors.

I didn't quite panic. I cussed a lot but had the presence of mind to check the faucet (not leaking) and start pulling water out in pans. The water level went down a bit and I started making phone calls.

Then it started pouring again. I dupmed more water and got more towels. While doing so, I noticed water frothing in the middle - it was coming up through the drain.

*That* was closer to a panic moment. It subsided - the water that is - and the super called. Ten minutes later he was up here.

Apparently the woman below me had the same complaint, and apparently this means that the drain from the building to the street is clogged, and so water backs up into the lower apartments first.

He's had two floors above me agree not to use their sinks. No one is home in the other two. We're on for 2 AM tomorrow morning.

Hopefully nothing more will spill out the sink. I've got it mostly drained and a tight cap on.

Adrenaline pumping and just an hour out from bedtime. Oy.