Here’s how my day started. How about yours?

Well, my landlord never showed up yesterday. Didn’t respond to my text messages and when I called I got some recording that “the phone was unattended or out of service” whatever the fuck that means. Seriously, I’m paying a premium for a house that has been vacant for over a year and the landlord can’t be bothered to let me know what the hell is going on?

So, I’ve been despairing that the house of my dreams may be the stuff of nightmares. I did some neighborhood reconnaissance during my morning walk in search of a viable “Plan B”. I need to be out of my current abode by June 15 and that clock is ticking. I got a few phone numbers and saw some possibilities, but it still amounts to settling for less than I want. At this stage of my life I’ve had just about enough of settling, thank you very much.

In desperation I contacted the construction guy that is supposed to be doing the repair work on “my” house. He said he was submitting the the cost estimate to the landlord TODAY. Ten days after we did the walk through! He also confirmed that Mr. Ocampo (the landlord) is tough to get a hold of. Tell me about it.

Anyway, I enlisted the support of Gem (bless her heart) to see if she can find out if there was any reason to think the deal would go through. She couldn’t reach Ocampo by phone either, but called his office. The secretary took her message and later Ocampo’s wife called to say “yes, the deal was still on”. Hmm. Finally, Ocampo called Gem and told her he had been ill (LBM) so he wasn’t able to keep the appointment with me. Since when does diarrhea preclude picking up the fucking phone and letting me know that? Oh well. He assured Gem the deal was still on and the repair work would only take two days to complete. We’ll see.

I would have walked away long ago, but damn, I haven’t found any place I like even half as much (even at half the price). So I’m going to remain cautiously optimistic that this deal is going to happen.

(deep breath, relax, accept the Filipino way)

Darts this afternoon. Good times even though I didn’t finish in the money.

Enjoyed the sunset on the walk back home.

Facebook yanked my chain with its “memories” feature. Seven years ago the family gathered for a memorial to my mom and dad. We planted a tree in my back yard for each of them. Of course, that life and everything in it (including the house and trees) are gone now.

Everything changes.

But life goes on. Until it doesn’t.

I’ll feel better once I get my house. Might even bring in a helper to keep me company and take care of me. Strictly platonic this time though. Been there, done that, got the scars to prove it.