Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Floor Sweat





9 comments:

  1. Brenda, you have turned a trial and tribulation into a work of art. Just beautiful. And a reminder to me of the possibilities in such situations. Thank you.

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  2. Mary, thank you for your beautiful and most appreciated comment. I do wish the reality here were a work of art though! Every morning I have to strip the entire floor, dry the foam mattress, the air mattress, the wool carpet, the thin plastic sheeting I put down in a useless attempt to control what seems more and more like a swamp, collect a pillbug usually (luckily they're harmless, just icky). I'm grumbly and at sorts over it. I have to find better accomodation! But that's a huge undertaking in itself... *hugs, & thanks (sighing with self-pity)

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  3. This is a very poetic take on a frustrating and time-consuming problem. ...Would a pallet or two work? They can often be scavenged from dumpsters or bought for cheap, and though it wouldn't solve the problem, it would get things a little bit up off the floor, increasing air circulation.

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  4. Hugs, Brenda. In my experience (and I do have some in this area) there is something peculiarly dispiriting about being invaded by water .... it is a powerful element and when it arrives uninvited in one's home it is indeed upsetting. Wishing you the right solution at the right time.

    But as I said, I admire what you have produced here as a result.

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  5. I like much the parquet floors . The different species of trees give very rich colors on the ground!

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  6. Striking treatment of an unpleasant situation. I can relate to the humidity; down here we seem to strive constantly against mold.

    But I love the concept, "oozing from the breathing earth" -- have seen those instances of Nature reclaiming its realm from broken infrastructure.

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  7. Thank you everyone.

    Yes, there is a certain beauty in the parquet, its tonal patterns of different woods, Jean, the humidity seemingly sweating from the earth reclaiming itself through "broken infrastructure," as you put it, e_journeys, and many thoughts on the element of water, Mary, you are so right.

    I told my landlord about it last night and he wouldn't come down and look at the beads bordering on mini pools of condensation, instead suggesting that I move. And I'm wondering if it's because of his electricity bill (no heat in this section so I added a ceramic heater and then a heated throw since he likes to turn the thermostat down to 15C whenever he's out of the house all Winter, and it's about 13C here and the legal temperature for tenants is 21C), and now I have the dehumidifier running... Meaning I'm not sure if his bills or the people who live in his basement are more important. My daughter's bedroom is dry, and since she'll be gone most of the Summer, I can sleep in there, and let the front room sweat, and sweat, and sweat... (there's a beat to that isn't there). Unless I can find other suitable, affordable accomodation in this area, that is.

    My landlord's a good person, don't mean to imply anything, but I do think he rents out because he has to, not because he wants to. I have such great reunions with my former tenants from my old house whenever we run into each other on the street. I can't ever recall suggesting a tenant leave when they had a problem with the space; even if it cost me, and sometimes it did in the hundreds, we worked it out. Something about offering people a home, yes, but also caring about them...

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  8. MB, thanks... but good news! I just had 2 years of tax returns done, and got a small instant refund, which I immediately spent on a metal futon couch that folds out to a single bed, perfect for our tiny space. I'll put plastic around the legs to protect the metal from the condensation. Oh, my. Angels were with me today! And refunds to come to cover storage costs, and a few other essential items in the next few months. Such blessings, I am more than grateful! Hugs!

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