Tag Archives: apartment

Black Bird Visit

Posted by on February 25, 2012 No comments

Teli, The Dominican Dog, and I came home the other night form a walk-about. It was dark as I opened the door from the street to enter the building where my apartment is.

As usual, I undid Telis leash so she could run up and down the stairs to the 3rd floor and back down. She likes to play and it also tires her out. This time she was just starting to bound up the stairs when she stopped abruptly and came back to me looking a bit perplexed. She would not go up the stairs and she kept looking at me as if something was wrong.

then I saw it. Two glowing eyes on the 3rd step and a black outline. First thing I thought was that it was a rat. I backed away to the door and Teli just stood there at my side. Now what were we to do. i could no see what was there. It was not moving. I was not going to go up the steps and have something bite me on my ankle as I passed…oh what a delemma.

I got out my cellphone and opened it for a little light. There for sure was something sitting on the stairs. I took out my camera to maybe use the flash to see what it was just sitting on the stairs. All this time the brave Teli was sitting at my side to afraid to go up the stairs.

I snapped three pictures before I realized it was a bird. It still did not move even after the flash so I went up the stairs as close to the opposite wall as possible. Teli followed running past the black bird just sitting on the stairs.

We made it into the house with no more incidences. But what was that bird doing sitting there on the stairs?

The next morning I was looking for it and has some sunflower seeds to feed it but it was gone. The only clue that it was there was the pictures I took and a few bird droppings on the stairs.

Hot Water For Me!

Posted by on January 20, 2012 1 comment

I have been living in this country for about 10 years now. Even the time in the middle years when I had to go back to USA for a time I still lived here because all my stuff was here. Anyhow, I only had hot water in the very first apartment I lived in for six months in Ensanche Julietta.

I remember when I moved in and could not figure out why there was no hot water in the kitchen when the shower had hot water. I was checking pipes to see if maybe it was turned off or was broken. I saw nothing. So I called the landlord. She spoke a little English and I spoke very little Spanish at that time. I tried to explain to her that the hot water was broken. She went in the shower and checked and said it was working fine. I took her into the kitchen and turned on the hot water facet and nothing came out. She started laughing at me. I had no idea what was funny. No water came out and she would have to fix it. Was that funny? Then she explained it all to me. The ole imaginary light came on above my head. The only place in the apartment that had hot water was the shower. Hardly anyone had hot water throughout the house. This is the way it is in Dominican Republic.

So when I moved to the Colonial Zone to my new apartment there was no hot water at all. But then half, or more than half, the time there was no water at all. I learned to bucket shower and run a hose from the facet in the street to get water. Then the last place I had we had water in the morning only so it was shower early when there was water pressure or bucket shower. If the water was too clod just had to heat some on the stove.

Now I moved to this new apartment. There is almost always water. The pressure is good. So I guess I am a bit spoiled now. I do not want to heat water on the stove when it is really cold. I want to take a real shower with hot water. So, for my Christmas present from my parents this year, I got hot water in my shower.

It was too expensive to put in a hot water heater tank and we could not figure out all the pipes in this old building. So I opted for the shower head with the heat coils inside. It was the easiest way to install hot water.

My shower is really small. If I drop the soap and ave to stoop down to get it I have to get out and pick it up. Its about the size of a refrigerator box and the ceiling is really low too. So it took some finagling to get the shower head in where I didn’t have to take a shower on my knees.

My Fit-it, repair man Rudolf, is wonderful. He came on time to check out the situation and to see what he could do to get me hot water. He thought he could get me a hot water tank but I did not have enough funds for that. So he said he could fix the pipe in the shower so I could stand underneath and shower in comfort.

He got all the pipe in. Got the heater hooked up. turned it on and pop! The fuse blew. When he checked the fuse box the fuse was way to small to handle the wattage so he went and got a higher amperage fuse and put it in. When he had the fuse box open I was totally amazed with what I saw inside. Whoever did the electric work had the wiring all electric taped together. I never in my life saw anything like that before. But I shouldn’t really be surprised with the way stuff is done here. Yet every time I see the wiring, in houses, businesses and in the streets I am just amazed.

So I got my hot water all hooked up thanks to Rudolf and took my first hot shower in my apartment. I was so content. I will not use it all the time. Only when it is cold and there is no sun to heat the water in the pipes. Electric here is very expensive and I do not want to run up my bill. But it is so nice to know that I gave hot water when I want it. Thanks to my mommy and daddy for the Christmas present and to Rudolf for fixing it for me.

By the way, I highly recommend Rudolf if you need anything done. His business is called Xpress Dominicana – (check the link for more information about the Handy Man Services) Maintenance and Handyman Services. He does Repairs & Maintenance, Handyman Service, Major & Minor repairs, Painting, Re-Refurbishments & Upgrades, Project Co-Ordinations, Moving & Packing Services, Point Of Sale Installations, Prepare Home for Sale or Auction. Commercial & Residential Cleaning Service. He speaks English which was a really big help. My Teli, The Dominican Dog, really liked him too! His contact information is: 829-665-4144, 829-474-4144 xpressdominicana@gmail.com. Tell him Janette, The Dominicana Gringa sent you!


My Move to the New Apartment

Posted by on October 22, 2011 1 comment

I know I have not written in a while so let me see what’s been happening.

I did move into my new apartment(Aug. 8)and love it here. I am still living in the Colonial Zone. There is still a problem with the filtration. There are a few leaky pipes. There is a spot where the water is dripping from the ceiling. But the biggest leaking problem is on the outside wall in the living room. There is water underneath the paint and making little bubbles in the paint. There is one spot where the water broke through and seeps out. I have to keep my mop here to absorb the water and wring it out each day. I don’t like it but it is an older building and this is common here, especially when the rent is not that expensive and the landlord really doesn’t care to repair. You get what you pay for.

Other than the water drippage I am so content. It is so nice that I can spread out. Not like before just having a single room to live in. I love having my very own bathroom and a real kitchen. I even put my computer in my home so now I can work out of my very own home whenever I wish. I also have a web cam of the view from my window. The view is a bit limited now because the cord is not long enough to reach all the windows but I’m working on that. (Thanks Frank for the cam..your wonderful!)

I am just so content here. The big problem is that I really do not care to leave. I have spent days without even stepping outside. If I really need something to eat or drink I just call the Colmado to deliver. This is a good and bad thing. I don’t have to get dressed to go out but I am gaining weight and could easily become a real recluse. Maybe after I’ve been here for a while Ill start wanting to go out again but for now I love just staying home.

The move was an experience. I was going to call Apollo Cargo but the guy at the office said to use the neighbor. He would charge $1000 pesos less. So I waited and waited and finally around 3PM the guy came home and we started moving. Another neighbor helped him.

I stood guard at the truck while the guys carried the stuff down the flight of stairs and I arranged the stuff in the truck. We made the first run and the guy in the street infront of the new apartment saved us a parking spot. I was in the apartment and the guys carried everything up to the 3rd floor.

The second trip some friends came to help out. The moving guys were starting to wonder why they took the job for such little cash. I told them I had lots of stuff but they didn’t think all that stuff could fit into a one room apartment. At the end of the second trip they were getting really tired and grouchy.

Making the last load they were banging stuff around and not paying attention. They broke the bottom board of my bed. They scratched up my fridge. They also were going to leave my washmachine and stove at the downstairs door and not carry it up until my friends saw and made them carry the stuff up.

All in all it worked out. I did pay them $1000 pesos extra, the same I would have paid Apollo.

I was only missing a few things. Stupid things. A rubber exercise band and a metal exercise ring. Also a multicolored luggage strap that I saw the helper guy wearing as a belt the next week. I didn’t say anything to him but I looked at the belt and smiled and he got a weird look on his face. He knew he was busted. (I saw him the other day and he was wearing the strap as a belt. He looked at me then his hand went to the belt and he grinned.)

I wish I had my camera to take pictures of the truck piled high with all my stuff but it was in a box and there was no way I was going to make those guys stop and let me dig into a box when they were running like crazy to get me moved it.


Apartment Hunting Again

Posted by on May 10, 2011 No comments

I have been looking for a decent affordable apartment in Colonial Zone for at least 4 months now. I found a few places in my price range but it seems that people just do not want to rent. I do not get it at all. I call, visit talk to the people and still they do not respond about renting. Go figure.

I don’t have lots of money to rent the place of my dreams but I do need something where I can be comfortable and a bit safe. Where I can have a bit of privacy. My own bathroom. A kitchen. Bedroom and place to set up an area where I can start making my jewelry again if I want. I would also like the internet in my place so I can work when the mood strikes.

I don’t worry much about not having water 24 / 7. I am used to that. I just have a big plastic container where I store water for the evening when the water pressure is not that great.No big deal. I’m used to that.

I do not need an electric back up generator thingy. the electric in the Zone is pretty good and if it does go out it is not that long so its no big deal. I’m used to that also.

So my quest continues to find myself my own home sweet home.

My Return

Posted by on September 4, 2007 1 comment

>I’m coming home!!! I can’t believe it is really going to happen. I will be returning to Dominican Republic to live again. To get my life back.
I am trying to find a studio or regular small apartment with electricity included in the Colonial Zone or surrounding area. It needs to be not expensive as I am not exactly sure what my income will be and I don’t want to stress out when the rent comes due each month. So if anyone knows a place please let me know. I need to have it all in place for sure by the first week in October.
So there will be many new adventures added to this blog regularly. I know I will be having many more stories to tell.
This video represents the way I feel. Not happy, wandering aimlessly, feeling lost and lonely. Until my little hands find the Presidente cerveza (which can also represent Dominican Republic not just a bien fria). Soon my little hands will be happy again. Returning to my island.

The Christmas Thief

Posted by on December 9, 2006 1 comment

>I haven’t written a story for a while. I have been working hard on the web site just incase I get to return to DR soon. I won’t be able to work on the web site for a while when I return until I get a place to stay and all the internet connected. So I’m trying to get the site ready to be left on its own for a time.
Anyhow..on with the story…
I was working hard making jewelry and trying to sell it because of Christmas. My back was a bit bad again. I couldn’t get out to the galeria everyday because I just couldn’t walk the 5 blocks. It was even difficult getting to the Colmado on the other end on my block.
I had taken a pain pill and muscle relaxer to get to sleep that evening. I don’t take that stuff much, it was meds I brought from USA with me over a year ago just incase a bad back thing happened.
Now, here’s where the stupid Gringa part comes in… I left my balcony door open much of the time. Sniffy (the blind dog) liked to go out there to look over the balcony. I don’t know what she thought she saw but she liked it. She also went to the bathroom out there. I left the door open even when I went away so she could go out there. I never had a problem. I couldn’t imagine how someone could climb up the wall. Maybe spiderman, but he wouldn’t steal from me would he?
So I’m stupid, I had the door open when I was in a drug induced slumber. It was Christmas time when thieves are out in droves. Dumb stupid dumb me.
The morning sun rose. Sniffy came up on the bed to say good morning as usual. Typical day. I did my little back stretches and got up. Made a cup of coffee, did the bathroom visit and went to have a cig. The cigs weren’t where I thought I left them. I had one before I turned off the computer the night before and left them on the desk. Dumb me, I must have put them in my purse sitting on the milk crate (that was one of my fine pieces of home decor,very retro and quite lovely I must say). They were not there. I know I had the Daaahhhh look on my face. Not quite awake. Holding my cup of coffee.
Then I noticed my cell phone. Or should I say I noticed my cell phone was gone. The electric cord was there but the phone was gone. I glanced around the room and the portable CD player was gone also. Only the lonely cord left behind. And my duffel bag I have ready at all times for going to the beach. My beach things on the ready inside…gone. The little box where I kept my cedula, US drivers license (expired) and money ($100 pesos and $2 US Dollars – I had no money in my purse, as usual) was emptied. I had left it open the night before. Nothing else seemed to be touched.
I did a quick inventory of my jewelry hanging on a wooden hanger I made, hanging directly above where my purse was. All there. My tools, dremel, silver wire, was laying out. All there.
I had to think about this. I got a new pack of cigs from the drawer and went to light one. The lighter was gone. I always have a back up so I got it and went to the balcony to have my coffee and a cig and a serious discussion with my vicious attack dog.
I brought her with me from USA. Took care of her through her car wreck and eye loss. Walk her and be her seeing eye human. But, could she tell me that there was a human entering the house when I was sleeping…NOOOOOO! Do I feed her and clothe her in the finest bandanas? But can she warn me when someone takes my things? Still gotta love her as she was doing the horseshoe (nose to butt, going in circles and smiling. it’s a happy position for her), happily wagging her tail and talking back in her dog talk, as I was asking her these why questions on the balcony.
Nothing really valuable was gone. Then I started thinking about what was in my purse. It hit me about the most valuable thing I lost. Inside the purse was about 6 pictures. They were given to me by my sons girlfriend. They were taken about a week before he died. He looked so good and happy. His girlfriend, his dog and himself playing on the sofa. These pictures were in my purse. They were gone. I had to think of something.
So I got cleaned up and Sniffy and I went to the street. Sniffy and I walked a ways on the Malecon (which was not easy with my back being very unhappy) looking to the sides of the streets and in the grass, maybe someone threw the stuff they couldn’t use away. I walked down to the nasty polluted beach behind the statue of Montecino. I told everyone. All my neighbors. The guy that washes the cars in the street. I said that I only wanted the pictures back and I would pay for them. I even played detective and asked suspicious looking people for a light for my cigs. I was seeing if anyone had my lighter (it had a leather cover I made on it so I would recognize it). I thought I was being really slick on that one!
Anyhow. Nothing turned up. Later I realized that there was 10 pounds of white sugar missing also. I bought it to make candy.
Form that day on I didn’t sleep with my door open. Poor Sniffy had to get used to that. She ran into the door thinking it was open a few times before she learned. Her poor nose. I kept on the look out for the robber. The lighter would have been used up. All evidence gone. Except for one thing. The poor robber had to turn blind the night he robbed me.
You see, I slept naked that night. It was hot and the power went out so there was no fan. I have no idea if I had a sheet covering me. My apartment was a studio. You could see my bed easily when in the main room. So I figured, if the robber saw me naked he would instantly turn blind. This is probably why he didn’t steal more from me. Instant loss of his sight. I’m sure his spiderman skills were very hampered with the loss of his eyes! I told my friends and neighbors to look for a newly blind man and this would be my robber.
I never got my things back but having the neighborhood looking for the blind man got me lots of laughs and brought a little humor this bad happening!

How do Dominicans celebarte Christmas?