Move = No Internet Connection

I moved across town last week, and I don't have quality internet access yet. Even the neighbors' unsecured networks are weak. But after several days of labor during my short, short breaks, I've gotten my work computer into a state where I can blog from here, so that's good :) .

The apartment is waaay nicer than my previous one, but the location kind of blows.

Here's my new address for those who don't have it already. You can adjust the size as need be.

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I NEVER want to have to do that again!

My water was partially restored today, meaning everywhere but the kitchen sink. I was excited to wash my hair. It's not really worth going into the preceding process, but eventually, I ended up with the shower hose/head hooked up to the laundry spigot, which only runs cold water. So, hunched over the bathroom sink, I wet my hair with the shower head, lathered with shampoo, rinsed, and repeated with conditioner. Except that it wasn't that simple- it was ABSOLUTE AGONY! Have you ever dunked your head into cold water? [ If the answer is "yes," I'd actually really like to hear the details from you :) .] Aaanyway, the unexpected result was an all-over brain freeze. Think about that: a brain-freeze that encompasses your entire skull. It hurt sooooo bad. A terrible, terrible headache that I had to experience three times.

Long-haired readers, I recommend that you count your blessings next time your wash your hair in warm, running water.

Desperate for the tiles to set and the fixtures to be replaced!

The Great Leak of 2011

There was a plumbing leak in the wall of my apartment. I didn't know until a few weeks ago, because it didn't affect the inside of my apartment, just the external wall in the stairwell. I finally noticed it when said wall started to fall apart:

I still wouldn't have cared (I've lived with leaks before) but in less than a week, it spread downstairs; it wouldn't have been fair to the person below me to neglect it:

I told the school, and they sent repair men yesterday. Without warning, because that is how China operates. They ripped up the bathroom floor:

I was like, "Whatev! I can take a bucket bath, wash my hair in the sink- old school!" But then they shut off my water. I understand why, and I figured they would at some point, but I also figured I'd be given a chance to stock up on water first! To, you know, wash my hands, brush my teeth, flush the toilet. The basics.

This morning they tore out the wall:

And there is the leak:

Also, the repair guys smoke in my apartment. And I can't ask that they not, because, ultimately, they control my water.

In related news, while everything was being organized yesterday morning, my boss recommended I lock-up valuables in the bedroom. We located the key, locked and shut the door for a test-run, and then broke the key in the lock. And of course we had not put someone inside the room, in case the lock didn't work properly. So the troops were called in:

It did not take five guys to break the knob (that was actually pretty cool- the guy just whacked it with a hammer a few times and it came apart) and install a new one; that's why I took the photo :) .

Check Out My New Humidifier!

Why yes, that is a pan of water sitting on a portable radiator balanced on a rolled-up rag!

Apparently misery breeds desperation which breeds innovation, because this can't be safe, but my cold has tortured me into risking it.

Incidentally, I normally wouldn't post something so mediocre, but it reminds me of There, I Fixed It.

I'm a regular Little House on the Prairie!

The water in my apartment hasn't run for two days (for whatever reason---I suspect the bill wasn't paid scratch that: it's because the pipes are frozen) so I had to go over to the school, fill my kettle and a large tupperware-thing in the bathroom sink, and then lug the water back and pour it into the toilet tank, just to flush the toilet. Old school!

Speaking of water (because I don't like to post without a pic), here's a photo of one of the many sewage canals:

 The unnecessary sign reads, "Fishing is strictly forbidden."

In which I piss off an old lady at my apartment complex

While everyone else was still going strong, I left the party just after midnight on New Year's Eve. I was buzzed, but not drunk because I'm old, and partying hard is like this:

I cut that video myself with new software!

So anyway, when I got home, the gates to my apartment complex were shut. 7 foot tall, metal gates:

 from the inside of the complex

So I thought, 'Huh. Okay, whatever: I'll just climb over.' It took me two tries, and I made a lot of noise (flat, metal, gate doors...), but I managed to hoist myself up. And as I moved into a sitting position in order to smoothly jump down, the lights came on in that building on the right, which evidently is a gate keeper's office. This old lady with a cane appeared, glared in response to my merry "Ni hao!" and proceeded to show me the external doorway I apparently could have used. But like I said, I was buzzed, so I just stayed sitting on the gate and laughed at her and the situation. After a few seconds of personal amusement, I ended up pulling out my keys and jumping down to wave them at her, because I felt the situation warranted some proof that I was a legitimate resident, and really, I couldn't think of anything better to do. Then I continued on to my apartment :D .

Apartment Treasure

The best part about my apartment is digging out fun junk that previous occupants have forgotten or abandoned. Here are a few of the best things:

I found this ripped up in a desk drawer.

From behind a dresser. I actually love this show!

My favorite! It was inside a superfluous cardboard box.

♪ In the Ghe-tto ♫

Ramshackle, neglected, densely-packed housing is a fact of urban booms (Cabrini-Green, what-what!), and for the first time in my privileged life, I'm experiencing it for myself! Here's the view from my apartment:

It looks way worse than it is. I have a strong water heater, a Western toilet, a room heater, a large bed free of bed bugs, consistent electricity, a considerable freezer, and a neighbor's insecure internet connexion to leech off of. And if the weather gets hot this summer, the draftiness is going to rock!! Also, see the white building with the orange stripes peeking through on the upper left? That's one of the school buildings- I'm wicked close!

In related news: