cursed apartment

hey all,
haven't written alot lately, sorry. Been busy, and I'm so frustrated with my apartment, that I didn't really want to do anything. (more about that later)

I had a great time at the children's halloween party I went to. The kids were soooo cute, it felt really wonderful to be working with elementary aged children rather than the "lovely" high schoolers I deal with every day. We played english games and judge the little kids costumes (don't worry they all got prizes). It was nice.

What else.. last Saturday I spent all day judging a speech contest. Here they have english speaking contests. High school students compete in research, speaches, and recitation. I had to help 3 of my students prepare for the contest. 2 wrote speaches, and another was in the recitation part.
So I judged the recitation section. 54 students.. they could pick one or 5 different pre-selected pieces. It was really hard and tiring to judge them all. one piece was the most popular and was read by 16 students.. so by the time number 16 got up to recite i was so tired of hearing it, it was hard to judge fairly. But all the students did a great job.. well except that is for the student from my school.. who refused to practice with me.. so didn't have it memorized at all and forgot nearly all the lines. Anyway, it was kind of fun, but definitely made for a long day.

After the contest I went out for a birthday party for one of my friends.. followed of course by an hour or so of karaoke!!

okay back to the cursed apartment.. grrr... apparently my apartment is leaking on to the apartment downstairs.. I keep getting notes from my landlord asking if I see a leak.. which of course I don't. so 2 weeks ago now.. he asked that I not use the shower in my apartment and use the one in the empty apartment 2 doors down.. and he will pay for the water/gas bill. I figure.. okay not a big deal.. I'll do this for a week and he will have someone come in and fix it.. its inconvenient but not terrible..
oh no.. end of last week and still nobody had come by.. instead i got yet another note from my landlord.. asking that i try to systematically check my pipes.. so i have to use one appliance/pipe each day.. with out any of the others.. so one day i can use my kitchen sink.. but nothing else, the next my toilet but nothing else.. needless to say this is REALLY ANNOYING, not to mention inconvenient.. i have to go 2 apartments down to wash dishes.. and use the bathroom.
I'm almost done testing everything.. and I've definitely cheated.. cause i don't see it really making a difference...
So now I have to have him tell me what is going to happen with fixing it.. he hinted that he may have me move apartments.. i don't know if temporarily or permenently.. but this is deffinitely not happening.. i am not moving! i would have to change all my billing.. and not to mention all my foreign resident registration papers, plus it would probably take another 2 months to get phone/internet set up in that apartment.. It would involve me having to take vaction time from work.. which is so not happening.

ahhh... so annoyed.. if this was home.. i could just sit down and have a conversation with my landlord.. instead I'm doing everything through a 3rd party (my supervisor) who is listens and is very sympathetic.. but can't really do much.
so annoyed.. not to mention this isn't the first issue my apt has had.. about a month ago my electrical box kinda blew.... leaving me with out power on a friday evening.. I had to chase down an english teacher from school and wait around for the electrical co. .... plus I haven't mentioned it to my Landlord.. but my AC which is also my heater.. sometimes makes radom blue sparks (its electric).. but yeah.. my apt seems to be very bad luck right now.. but i still don't want to move..

ohh well hopefully it will get fixed soon.. basically cause i'm not going to be patient with it much longer.. and am really going to get on my landlords but about it... I refuse to shower/use water next door for more than a week longer with out getting something for it.

Anyway. sorry this is a big rant.. but thats whats going on with me lately.

Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the fall.
lots of love
me