Shoutout to Jen W.

[Circe]

If you're out there, you're missed! Noticed I hadn't seen you since 2012 and just wanted to check in.

 

[Jennifer W]

Hello!
I'm still here, just reading more than posting. I started a new day-job recently, and while I am loving every minute of it, it's surely keeping me busy. I hate to post and run, so mostly I'm just reading. It's calming down a little (or maybe I'm getting more competent...) so I'm hoping to have a little more on-line time

Thanks for thinking about me! How is your little man doing?

 

[Circe]

Phew! We've lost so many of my favorite posters recently that I got worried for a sec. Congratulations on the new job! All well on this end ... Until the new term begins in 6 days.

 

[Jennifer W]

Oh heck no, you don't get rid of me that easily...

Hope the new term goes smoothly. Btw, I was thinking about you the other day - did you get your apartment sorted out? One of my new coworkers found asbestos and I remember the nightmare you went through having it removed. Hope it's ok now?

 

[Dancing Fire]

YAY,Jen is still alive...

 

[Jennifer W]

Still alive, DF! No worries there. Working in a different city, in a whole new career, and very tired indeed, but alive for sure.

 

[Circe]

Oh heck no, you don't get rid of me that easily...

Hope the new term goes smoothly. Btw, I was thinking about you the other day - did you get your apartment sorted out? One of my new coworkers found asbestos and I remember the nightmare you went through having it removed. Hope it's ok now?

Heh, as if I would want to! But I did figure it'd be the height of rudeness to inquire as to your well-being and then rabbit on about myself! But since you ask ....

We're back in the house post lead-abatement, and it is good to be home. Good, but WEIRD - moving back into a place you've lived before is like a never-ending stream of episodic deja vu, with everything just a little off-kilter from how I remember it. Like, I'll spend an hour looking for a book, or a box, or whatever before realizing it's in another room now. The baby's lead levels went down while we were in hotels - not down to normal, but at least back into the "keep a close eye on things" danger zone of his very first one - and then plateau'd, so he's going to need another test this month. Poor kid cries hysterically every time he sees a needle, or, for that matter, a nurse. But it'll be worth it to know he's healthy.

In retrospect, part of me wishes I'd broken the lease and NOT spent two months going from hotel to hotel (which my horrid landlord is trying to weasel out of reimbursing me for) - I love this apartment, and I would have had trouble finding another I liked as much, but eesh, it was amazingly disruptive. But it is what it is, and I know it's lead-free now, so ... hopefully it will turn out to be worth it. But if your new co-worker has the option, I'd possibly recommend relocating despite the initial inconvenience ....

 

[Jennifer W]

Oh, of course. It was lead you had, not asbestos. I remember now. Yes, that was frightening, and there's no easy way to get blood from a tiny baby. I remember when Amelia was tiny, and had some kidney reflux, so they took blood regularly. Total nightmare. She doesn't remember any of it though, and seems to be ok with needles now (she's 4). Hopefully he will forget and not worry in future.

I can't imagine that strange feeling of dislocation after all the disruption though. I moved here eleven years ago this year, and I still can't find stuff. Possibly that should be a cue for me to declutter...

Can't believe your landlord would try to slither out of paying for hotels, though. Honestly, that's low. Hope you win that battle.