I'm cute and I know it

Mommy has been taking pictures that aren't focused on the Great Apartment Flood of 2016. In fact, she's been taking photos of her favorite subject. Me!

Day 7 of the Great Apartment Flood of 2016

I hope this will be the last post I make about the Great Apartment Flood of 2016. Today, the baseboards were painted and caulked, the walls were painted and the team came in and cleaned all the wood floors, the cabinets and all the sinks. Mommy got everything cleaned and back in its' place. All we are finishing up now is the laundry. And all in time for Auntie Kristin to arrive for the Bears game this weekend.

I had a very rough night last nigh with out the extraction machines. The refrigerator monster returned and I was a bit freaked out. Mommy was great though. She kept getting up with me and comforting me when I was scared. So this morning, I spent some alone time in my teepee. I was able to catch up on my sleep. And this afternoon - after everyone left - I spent some time in bed (before Mom put back all the stuff in the closet).

I'm happy that Mommy and I will be able to spend a quiet night at home! Finally!

Day 6 of the Great Apartment Flood of 2016

This has been the best day - by far - since this whole mess started. Mommy found out last night that our flooring would be replaced today.Look!

Since this photo was taken, we've had new baseboards installed and the carpet cleaned in Mommy's closet. Oh, and all of the "extraction equipment" has been removed. We are now waiting for caulking and painting (they now say tomorrow) and we can put everything back in order (and you know this is Mommy's top priority).

While the crew was in working on the floors, Mommy and I spent time hanging out in the Billiards Room again. I saw lots of new puppies and even met the new puppy from next door.

Also, the maintenance staff came in and talked to Mommy. They apologized to her for seeing her "half naked" on Saturday morning when they were looking for the source of the leak. They also provided more details on how the leak was found (by a person on the 7th floor using the stairs to go for their Saturday morning run). They also shared with Mommy that they made our apartment a priority to be fixed. They said Mommy had been the most "kind" and "understanding" about everything; and that she had treated the staff with respect.

I know Mommy has not been happy and she has been very direct when communication to property management, but she has never raised her voice and has always said thank you to the endless stream of workers that have been in and out over the past few days. My Mommy is tough, but she is respectful and I'm proud of that. I also appreciate that it got us to the top of the list for repairs (although ours weren't as extensive as some others).

I've been able to relax this afternoon without all the noise.

Things are looking up!

Day 5 of the Great Apartment Flood of 2016

Day 5 started much like Day 4. The workers have been in to take readings from the "extraction equipment". The sound is loud (it's been like this since Sunday). And we will continue to live like this for another 24 hours. They originally thought that the machines would be removed today, but they sent Mommy a note late yesterday telling her that there is so much water in the building that the equipment will need to be in place one more day (that didn't make Mommy happy).

Mommy tries to keep me away from all the machines and dust. But of course, I'm curious.

I got a little to close to the machine yesterday. The "wind" from it pulls up my ears and tails. I kinda like it, but Mommy doesn't.

Anyway, today Mommy took me to the Billiard's Room to hang out for awhile. It was nice and quiet. We could actually listen to the TV at a normal level. Plus, the room is right next to the dog run and I got to see all the puppies.

Mommy treated me to breakfast this morning. A doughnut from the Doughnut Vault. USA Today says they have the best doughnut in the nation. It was very tasty.

I'm getting used to this new routine, but agree with Mommy that this is a routine that we need to end soon.

Meet and Greet

Uncle Eugene is at the Mining Expo this week for his job. He got to meet Tony Beets from one of my favorite shows - Gold Rush. I'm excited, but I can't imagine how excited Jack is going to be when he finds out that Uncle Eugene got to meet him.

The Great Apartment Flood of 2016 - Start of Day 4

Today started much like it did yesterday, with the hum of the four machines we have "strategically" placed in the apartment.

The only difference is that we can now see visible water on the front entry floor and water coming out of the baseboards in the front entry.

Also, there are now a few machines in the hallway outside of our apartment. They're near the "Exit" or stairs. And they've collected at least a foot of water so far.

The stairway has been ripped up and there are machines there too. Mommy won't let me go in there, but if you look closely at the picture below, you can see the damage in the top right of the picture. It looks like the wall is melting.

I've gone about my daily routine. I was outside early (it's a bit chilly).

And I've assumed my position for the day - behind closed doors in the bedroom.

At least' there's a view.

I am worried about Mommy. These kind of things drive her crazy, mostly because things are out of place in the apartment and the apartment isn't as clean as she would like it. I told Mommy she needs to be like Taylor Swift and just "Shake it Off."

The Great Apartment Flood of 2016 - Day 3

I'll let Mommy tell you how things are going today. I'm thankful that Mommy has been home with me. There have been a lot of people in and out checking all sorts of things. And their priority is NOT playing with me.

Update #1 (2:30 a.m.)
The start to day 3 of the great apartment flood of 2016 has been puzzling. I'm up as Cosmo awoke to eat and i peak out the bedroom door only to discover that the door to my patio is wide open. It's also raining outside. I can only assume that the pressure caused a locked door to pop open. Either that or Batman got my call and came to save us. But took one look at the apartment and quickly vanished.

Update #2

Mid-day of day 3 of the great apartment flood of 2016. I had a few words with the property manager this morning. The theme was all about communication. So here's what I learned:

1.  We're sorry, but grateful you let us into your apartment without the proper notice (I actually looked up Chicago ordinance for this type of thing)
2. 25 units are affected (down from the original estimate of 54)
3. It was a washer running all night (still have no clue how that happens, but I have a few ideas).
4. The "extraction equipment" will be in my apartment through Wednesday.
5. Teams will come take "moisture readings" 3 times a day.
6. The communications room - which is located next to my apartment - has been damaged. They did restore internet and cable on Saturday, but that doesn't mean it won't be down as they work through all the repairs.
7. They cannot tell me when the floor will be replaced in my apartment. There are teams working to provide all estimates today on that.
8. I did learn that the carpet in my closet will need to be replaced, but they did not pull it up yesterday. Just the baseboards.
9. No other damage in the apartment.
10. These machines are loud.
11. They have no clue why the door leading to my balcony was open this morning. They claim no one touched it. But again, locked since 2:30 a.m. this morning - again - and it hasn't popped back open.
12. They do think that maybe the crews messed with my thermostat. This morning's outside temperature was 61. Let me remind you I have air conditioning running thanks to the thermostat adjustment.
13. Did I mention these machines are loud? It's difficult to concentrate on anything with all this noise!
14. On the plus side, I didn't need my white noise machine last night. The "extraction equipment" did the trick.

Cosmo and I are holding are own as long as we remain confined to the bedroom/bath area.

The Great Apartment Flood of 2016 - Day 2

Again, I'll let Mommy tell you the story. 

Mommy was out with her friends (already scheduled event) when she received a call from Quentin in the leasing office. He told her that there would be people coming into work on the apartment. Mommy couldn't make it home before they came in so Quentin came down and put me in the bedroom so I would not bother the workers. Quentin was really nice, but I will admit I was concerned - and a bit scared. It appears we may be living like this for the next couple of days.

Day 2 Post
It's day 2 of the great apartment flood of 2016. What I've learned today is that someone's washing machine on the 19th floor kept running all night (not exactly sure how that happens and my money is on the washer went out of balance and someone how the the water hose got disconnected and the water kept flowing). The 18th floor has been described as "Katrina". I'm the only apartment affected on the 13th floor. And if you didn't know, the two "official" pieces of paperwork posted outside of my apartment make it perfectly clear.

Now the floor in the front entry way into the kitchen area has been torn up. Three humidifiers are running in that small space alone. I've also got one in my closet, although it would appear that I have no damage to my clothing or statement necklace collection. Cosmo and I can safely move between the bedroom and bathroom. I can watch TV, but the sound is up so loud you'd think I was a 90-year old deaf lady.I understand that they'll be back tomorrow and hopefully - maybe - they'll have the floors back in by Wednesday this week.

For those of you that know me, this is killing me. I like things clean. I like them in their place. My place is no longer clean and things are not in their place. I recognize that I am more fortunate than others in the building and I'm thankful for that.

On a side note, still no communication from the property management company. If it wasn't for the leasing agent in this building - who kindly called me when I was out this afternoon to tell me that they were going to come in - I wouldn't know anything. He also helped get Cosmo safely tucked into my bedroom so that he would not be in the way of the work crew. On a positive note, he said my apartment was cute, loved my statement necklace collection and wondered where he could get a teepee like Cosmo's.

Under Water

My day did not start out like any other. Mommy tells it the best, so I'm going to use her posts from earlier today to explain.

Post #1
Wake up call started with Cosmo barking uncontrollably. He heard what I couldn't which were light knocks at the door from the maintenance staff. No time to change out of my PJ's. Apparently there is a leak above me and their was a concern that I may be a victim of the small flood above me. Good news, no water damage so far. Bad news, two male maintenance staff now know what I sleep in. Welcome to Saturday!


But there's more!

Post #2

Building management calls 2.5 hours after Cosmo alerted me that building maintenance was at the door to ask if they can enter my apartment because there had been a flood overnight. They left a message. I called back and was greeted with an automated system and no human. I went down to the front desk to ask of they could make a call from the bat phone to Commissioner Gordon to let someone know they've already entered my apartment. Of course Commissioner Gordon answers the phone for Batman and indicated that they wanted blanket permission to enter today because "they might have to". Oldest trick in the book. All they had to do was ask to play with Cosmo.

Wait for it...there's more!

Post #3

I'm happy to report that the maintenance staff has been back in the apartment (when I was out) and they weren't coming to play with Cosmo .The dead giveaway is the blue painter's tape that marks my door (like I have the plague or something). 

I enter the apartment to find blue painters tape on two walls in my entry as well as tape on my floor. Keep in mind they left all my lights on and haven't left a note to explain the tape. I promptly went to the building management who told me that there was an "appliance" left on the apartment 6 floors directly above me. There is water damage - and in some cases flood damage - from the 19th floor to the 6th floor (parking garage). In fact, there is a huge puddle on the sixth floor parking garage. I guess that the floor directly below the "crime scene" had 3" of standing water on it

So, I can report that my walls are damaged and believe my entry floor will have to be replaced due to water damage. But here's the real kicker...building management couldn't tell me what the blue tape is for, couldn't tell me what "appliance was left on in the 19th floor apartment" or when someone would be coming back in.

I'm a wee bit pissed. Communications is my job. The least they can do is communicate the following:

1. When will they be back in my apartment.

2. What does the blue tape mean?
3. How long will it take to resolve the issue?
4. Define "appliance that was left on"? One can only assume it would be a washer, dishwasher or ice maker. Having said that, these appliances aren't "left" on for an extended period of time.

#frustratedapartmentdwellerinchicago

I can't show you all the damage, but there is a lot in our entry way...floors, walls, etc. I've decided to ride out the storm in one of my favorite places.