Look Out Below! ! ! ! !

     One of the "joys" of apartment living is being surrounded by all sorts of people. One of the "joys" of apartment living in an "old building" is that the various mechanical and electrical systems all seem in need of updating and repair. In the Crocker House, the only spaces that have central air conditioning are the commercial spaces and the management office. Everyone else has to have a personal, individual unit if they want air conditioning. I want air conditioning but I only have one window and I don't want the electrical bill an ac unit would bring.

      In addition, not having an AC unit, just a fan, means what happened yesterday won't happen to me. One of the residents, having suffered through the last few days of high heat and humidity, cried "Uncle" and went out and bought a window unit. They hauled it up to the 5th floor apartment and set it in the window and got ready to enjoy the cool. Unfortunately, they hadn't set it in the window "just right" and it proceeded to do a backward somersault with a triple twist right off the window ledge to the roof below . . . four stories below. While it did not survived it left its cord still plug into the outlet in the apartment. It hurts to think about it.

      I am the new leader! we have a small residents only parking lot behind and across a small side street from the building. There is not a lot of parking in downtown New London and when there is something going on downtown, it was inevitable that someone, sometimes many people would park in our lot. They ignored the signs indicating that they would be towed if they did so, but be honest, do you believe such signs when you see them?  We have a deal with a towing company/garage two(2) blocks away and they are very good about showing up, for as one driver said, "Towing illegally parked cars is gravy." Nothing is worse than coming home after a 8 hour shift at TYC or at that loft and find some one in my spot. The first time I called the towing company I felt a little bit guilty for some reason, but not any more. It's $180 for the tow. It is more if the city of New London does it as you get a $100 ticket on top of the coast of the tow.