Housing Problems

I really, really tried to do the best housing research for apartments when I came down. I did not obviously do enough research on the "real costs." I was told by every apartment that electric (all apartments are 100% electric)"$60 on the budget plan."

As I spoke to my new neighbors this last week, I have heard winter bills between "$125 to $400" a month between December and April. These apartments built in the 60's obviously do not have any insulation. Because I am on the ground floor-heat rises, I have the coldest apartment of the three floors.

I plan on doing some more research "talk to the neighbors on the higher floors" this evening and then I will speak to management about a possible move "on up."

Janice is my mentor for the RCWP program and I will be meeting with her regularly. There are two gatherings planned this summer, one in Cleveland area and one in Chicago. I am really happy for this support given me. I do not feel isolated and with all that is going on in my life I can't imagine it being any busier. For the first couple of weeks I was exhausted from the move and the stress of my lifestyle in Chicago. Now I feel into the "rhythm of Lexington" life.

I will be away for two months to Ann Arbor tending to my sister Connie who will undergo hip replacement surgery next Tuesday. I plan to wash, clean, cook and tend to the needs of this good woman. She had her first hip done last year and it took 8 weeks for her to recover enough to go back to work, I am praying all goes well and it will be the same this surgery and recovery.

Then home to Lexington to begin to write and study and support peace and justice ministries locally. I am also in need of a spiritual director, Janice never had a SD as she prepared for ordination which shocked me as I have always had one.

I hope to meet with a Sister who has done SD in the past next week before I go to Ann Arbor to see if we would like to meet from there on at least once a month.