Update

NoH8

Update

NoH8

Things have been crazy for the past few days. I've slept in 5 places in the past 3 days, but I'm settled at the Marriott in Conshohocken, about 2 miles from my house. My cats and I are in our 3rd room here. The first was the furthest from the elevators, so someone noticed and moved me right by the elevator. Unfortunately the a/c didn't work. I wanted to stay until it was fixed even though they urged me to leave. They couldn't fix it, so they finally got me a new unit.. which also didn't work. They practically had to drag me to a new room, I didn't want to move the cats, but my new room is GREAT, right by the computer room, place where we eat and elevator, one floor up from the pool and entrance.

 I appreciate everyone's emails, phone calls and well wishes. The computer situation here is precarious at best...they're both heavily filtered for kids since they're public computers. I couldn't even get on to the lesbian forum section of this site, but I could get onto it at the holiday inn. One of the computers here won't let me onto the victoria's secret site (my cousin sent a gift card for my birthday and I wanted to spend it) but another one would. Additionally I'm a lefty and of course this is a right handed one. Still, I;'m glad to get a little more time... I had almost an hr today so far, they have to clean out the room so I won't have much longer. I don't think they want to vacuum under my legs while I type.

Starting tomorrow they'll provide dinner in addition to breakfast which will be great. I do have some groceries. This week I hope I can get to my chiropractor, fibromyalgia is killing me, even if I have to take a cab. I';m going to try to figure out public transportation too and see if it comes closer to here that the HUGE hill I can't climb. I also hope to look for scooters online and hopefully will hear about my car settlement...

I have to say, being in the fire and having to evacuate, not knowing if my cats were ok was the biggest trauma of my life so far. On a scale of 1-10 it was a 9 . I screamed hysterically from the time I called 911 on my way out for about 15 minutes, "MY CATS ARE INSIDE". I've never been hysterical before and I hope never to be again. I never knew such loud, strange sounds could come from my throat. I'm so lucky I wasn't taking a nap, since the alarm didn't go off before I evacuated (the fire started on the wooden steps outside, i got out the back steps). I had that same zombie/shock thing that I did for a day or so after I was dx with breast cancer, but to me the fire was much more acutely traumatic. Breast cancer was about a 6.5 on that 1-10 scale, since I had the biospy (even though I was told it was benign) it wasn't as much of a shock as the fire.  If someone can PM me a link from inside the lesbian forum, that'd be great so I can see if I can get in the back door. I can't go to any of the lgbt sites (none of which are porn or anything like it) to check news or forums , still it could have been so much worse.

I am a very, very lucky woman to be here today. I am lucky I wasn't taking a nap at the time of the fire. I am lucky my cats survived. I am lucky to have good friends. I am lucky that not everything was destroyed.

Tomorrow, monday I'll have to start bugging my landlord and insurance company about when I can get back in... I want to be back yesterday even though free a/c and maid service is nice. The maid even found one lone set of pink sheets for me LOL. (I didn't ask, she knew I like pink LOL).

Thanks for all the support.

TenderIsOurMight

Glad to see things are settling down for you, Amy and hope you enjoyed your birthday.



Yes, you as do I in the big scheme of things, have so much to be happy for and it's great that you see it so clearly through this latest setback.



Enjoy the remaining time of luxury at the hotel; every woman likes to be waited on once in a while, and I'm sure you're no exception. But as you say, there's no place like home....



Best to you, Amy.

Tender

NoH8

My neighbor just dropped off my mail. Thanks Marin and Liz for the cards-- Liz, you didn't put your last name so I addressed your thank you card to Liz ??? I hope you get it LOL .

sccruiser

Hi Amy,

Glad you and your fur babies are settling in. I bought a birthday card to send you, and now I can't find it!! My brain goes soooo blank sometime. I am going to mail it anyway when I find it--so you should get it sometime in the next week! LOL

You must be exhausted and still worried about your 4th kitty. Hopefully, your neighbor is right, and this one is in the stairwell. Sounds like a terribly scary experience for you and the fur babies.

Take care, and miss you on this board,

Hugs, 

badboob67

Amy,

It's good to hear that you are in a safe place! Did all your kitties turn up? It sounds like you are getting all your ducks in a row and should be back home soon. In the meantime, enjoy letting someone else do the cleaning and cooking!  I'm sure the computer thing is frustrating (I go nuts if mine's ever down!) and I hate to know that your fibromyalgia is giving you trouble. I hope it is better quickly. How sweet the maid went to the trouble with the sheets!

I am soooooooooooooooo glad you were able to get out in time. Stuff is stuff--PEOPLE (and furbabies!) are irreplaceable.

(((HUGS)))
Diane

AnnNYC

Amy, so good to hear from you.  Thank God you're okay.  My card is in the mail !  Hope this link lets you in the back door...

http://community.breastcancer.org/topic/76

((((hugs))))

Ann

Anonymous

Hey sweetie....glad to see your post! Keep up that attitude-of-gratitude! You're one courageous woman, my chica!

~Marin

NoH8

My 4th kitty is alive and well and living in my neighbor's stairwell (the one on who's couch I was sleeping). Birdy made himself known by pooping on Ed's carpet. Birdy is the biggest scaredy cat so I'm leaving him where he is and I hope to just move him back to my place.

My cats are with me at the residence inn Mariott in conshohocken, about 2 miles from my house. They're doing remarkably well.

Ann, thanks for the link but no dice, apparently the Marriott has homophobic computers LOL.

ravdeb

Amy..so glad to see you are okay and have computer access..a little.

I'm guessing with all that has happened your fibro could be acting up. I hope you get the therapy you need...

 And..Marin sent me your address. Is this correct since you are at the Marriott?

Bugs

Amy,

Good to see you post.  I am sorry to hear about the fire.  I hope your fibro calms down and you start feeling better.  Is there anything you need that we can help you with?

 Take care,

Bugs

Anonymous

(((Amy))) I'm so glad to hear all your kitties made it!!

sccruiser

Hi Amy,

So thankful all 4 of your kitties are okay. I'm glad you have a decent place to stay. I found the card today--Hurrah!! It's in the mail tonight. Keep us posted. We are all hoping you get back to your place in record time!

Take care, 

Anonymous

Amy:  I feel so bad you have had to go through all of this.  Sending lots of love your way.  And the kitties!  They made it.

Love ya

Nicki 

NoH8

Rav, I'm right down the street from where I live and my neighbor is getting my mail and bringing it to me.

Bugs, Iwas thinking about what I need-- when I go back I'm going to need practical type things like first aid supplies and cleaning supplies, laundry etc. All of that stuff had to be trashed and yikes, even getting the generic brand is expensive.  Things like dishware was taken to be cleaned by a company paid for by the insurance company and I asked if they'd be able to salvage the cleaning stuff and they said no, lookibng at me like I had 3 heads. The place that is cleaning my clothes and shoes doesn't do scrunchies, so if anyone has any pink scrunchies for really thick hair. always kitty litter... and right now RIDES for anyone in the area. It's hard to get around to figure things out without a car since I haven't figure out the moped yet.

I've been looking at mopeds and motorscooters, exchanging some emails with felicia. If anyone knows someone who actually owns one I need to find out if one can be as uncoordinated as me and still drive one safely LOL,.

You know how when it rains it pours? I have an emergency dental appt tomorrow because my tooth that's been cracked for a while decided to become infected along with the one next to it. It's my fault, for letting it go so long, it's just that dental stuff is so expensive and I have no coverage. I thought maybe I could use some of the insurance money, but I haven't had that yet LOL. You gotta laugh except it hurts so much.

The kitties are doing well. My neighbor who has birdy is his stairwell says that birdy is eating, drinking, pooping and hiding, so that's comforting.

Anonymous

Oh woe is you.  *sob*

 How does a fire start on stairs?  Does that make it arson?  All the people you have begged for money and gifts who found out you have no shame in scamming people out of the things you "need".  Is this how they get you back?  either you started the fire with all you're cigarette butts or someone else did beause fires don't just magically start on stairs.

Oh and how was that "fling" with Marin?  (her "long distance" lover from her other thread on the lesbian board).  Did you finally convince her she was gay because her daughter is?  Why don't you describe what exactly a "fling" is.  You've never had a girlfriend or boyfriend or sex or anything.  What is a "fling" to you?  Shopping for victoria secrets and having the saleslady help you?  If you go to youtube.com and search her videos (pinkribbonamy) you will see for yourself how she speaks of Marin as her "wife" in the question for the republican debate.

You know if the fire cheif decides you started the fire with your cancer sticks they will revoke all of your insurance payments.  But that is what you get for being filthy and a slob.  A cat pooping and peeing in a stairwell is *disgusting* by the way. 

Ironic how banned members can come back and hit up people for money and things.  What was said on the other thread about the squeaky getting the attention? 

  

Anonymous

Such a shame, Starbucks, that you had to use your first post in such a way. Triffling, really...

Remember, this is a SUPPORT board. Keep your nastiness to yourself, please. If you don't want to play nice, move along to another playground/thread, please... 

AnnNYC

Glad to hear all the kitties are okay!

NoH8

I might be back at my apartment by 4th of July!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know this sounds like a departure from me freaking out that it might take a week, but at this point any end in sight is a positive.

My ulcer seems to be coming back-- I didn't grab that medication when the firemen let me inside after the fire, since I thought the problem was resolved and the endoscopy showed it was healed, but still irritated. I wasn't thinking at my best that day. At home I could walk across the street to a pharmacy but there isn't one in walking distance here.

I was supposed to get a tooth pulled yesterday but the dentist that was only a few blocks away couldn't do it in the emergency appointment and referred me to an oral surgeon, grrrr. I wish something could be easy, or at least not too hard.

More later someone needs the computer.

NoH8

Great news. Things are progressing in the right direction! I might be home by July 4th, although I'm not holding my breath because my landlord is usually a day late and a dollar short. I'm having a tooth pulled (finally) Monday and the wonderful shrink is going to take me there. I got my settlement for the car RIP on Friday. I'm looking into scooters and electric golf cart things because I don't think I can get another car. Thanks so much for all the well wishes.

badboob67

Amy,

I'm glad to hear that things are moving in the right direction! When I was little, our house caught fire and we ended up living in a hotel for several weeks while the cleanup/reconstruction was going on. I was only 4 or 5 at the time but I remember much about sorting through things and having to part with some favorite things that couldn't be cleaned or salvaged. I know you have a lot on your plate and it just isn't fair that you have found yourself with more problems to contend with in addition to the fire!

Have you tried calling your local UNITED WAY 2-1-1 system? (you just dial 2-1-1 and are hooked up to your local chapter). Its goal is to provide a centralized  listing for sources of assistance in your area. Maybe they would have some help for you in replacing some of the things you need.

Even though you are not in treatment for cancer anymore, I wonder if the good folks at www.cleaninforareason.org  might be able to hook you up with some cleaning supplies or even someone to help you if you contacted them and told them what has happened? 

Here are some other possible sources for you:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nwphillyfreecycle/ 

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/phillyfreecycle/ 

 http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/

Hope there's something there that can help!

Diane 

PS I don't know a thing about scooters, but it sounds like fun! Maybe you could find a local dealer and give one a test drive? 

wishiwere

{{{AMY}}} I'm so sorry you had a fire and went through all that, and now dealing with the aftermath of it all!  I have NO idea how I missed the original thread!  Lady, PLEASE know you are in my thoughts and prayers and Thank you Lord for getting YOU ALL out (kitties too) safe!  Holy geepers!  Did you have renters insurance?  Did you say you lost your car also? Oh goodness, I'm so sorry!  Fires are so scary!  Thoughts are going up that you are home very soon.  3 more days sounds great!  I can't imagine what you've been through with the worry!

snowyday

Hi Amy, I'm so sorry this has happened to you, I missed all of this.  I'm so happy your cats are safe, I would have been a screaming banshee as well if my cats were stuck in a fire.  I was a fire fighter for many years, I joined because there was a fire in my small town and I became OCD over my children and fire, I bought ladders for the second story, I did fire drills with the boys, but still never felt safe so I learned how to fight it, thank goodness, it stopped the OCD.  I have cats now that my boys are grown and have taught my cats the word hot for danger and they come to me when I say HOT, so I hope if we have a fire they will come when I say hot.

I am so happy that you are safe and your cats.  I hope that  you get back to your home quickly and your insurance and building are cleaned up and your home soon.  I will send you an email from the Lesbian forum. Good luck getting in.  Stay safe and get smoke detectors, new ones right away.

NoH8

snowy, before the fire I had never been hysterical--but that day I screamed and cried for 20 minutes, "MY CAT'S ARE INSIDE." while the fire was being put out. I didn't even care that a crowd gathered from the neighborhood. When they brought the first cat out there was a hush over the crowd, I was sitting on my neighbor's porch and didn't realize until the fire fighter handed me Puppy (my cat). A few minutes later Little One was brought out. It was really hard until I found Mousy a few days later. People were telling me they has seen Birdy around, so I was less scared for him. you're so smart to teach your cats HOT--I never thought of that.

The fire alarm was supposed to be the best kind, as ordered by the fire marshall, because of the store downstairs, there was a regulation that it had to be electric and go through the downstairs and 2 apartments upstairs.

Wish, I am so fortunate I had renter's insurance. I cannot say enough about the care I've gotten from state farm, who also  had my car insurance(RIP to the Pink Ribbon Amy Mobile). Not sure if you know that my car melted in the fire. Weirdest thing I've ever seen, the fire started outside on wooden steps, and my car was parked right by the steps. When I evacuated the house, I didn't pbring any keys, people said I should move the car but I wasn't going back inside for the keys. The whole front part melted,  When I get hold of my usb cord I'll post a picture.

Diane, I used the links you gave me. My family nixed the scooter idea, they talked some sense into me. My balance is realllly bad and I use a cane, they think I'd hurt myself if I had one. I'm thinking about one of those golf cart type cars since no balance is required...

AnnNYC

Hi Amy,

So glad you'll be home soon!  Really glad that State Farm has been good to you. 

Best,

Ann

NoH8

Good news, bad news. My apartment isn't going to be done this week, I had a feeling the landlord was being overly optimistic. The electric is supposed to be back on thursday but he has to put in a new toilet because of water damage. I'm disappointed but not devestated.

The good news is that my 4th cat, Birdy is now with me at the apartment. I brought him to the hotel, from my neighbor's closet in what was a stressful 2 mile ride for both of us.,I thought my neighbor was going to get into an accident from all the stress in the car, birdy wailing and me trying to calm him down while not panicking. I ended up getting my stomach cut up and I lost a shirt in the process, it was clawed up, but I'm not complaining. Birdy was on the bed with me last night for a while so our family is together .

NoH8

I'm having trouble posting pictures of the fire and the car-- is anyone else having problems?

NoH8

Looks like I probably won't be back until the 18th now . there's just too much that still needs to be done and I don't want to traumatize my cats any more than they already have been. They won't like the sounds the workers make with the machines and I want to be sure it's painted so we're not inhaling the fumes. I do have electricity which made me very happy. I'm going by tomorrow to see what the progress has been.

Anonymous

Amy:  Glad things are progressing.   Cant wait until you and your cats can go back home.

Nicki

Mary-Lou

Amy~ Wow, I didn't know any of

this had happened. I feel so

bad for you. But am glad to

see the babies are okay and so are you.

I love cats too! We have 5!

NoH8

5 cats mary-lou! Wow, 4 is probably one more than i can handle, but i couldn't part with any of them. How many of them sleep with you? All of mine do. 3 used to sleep on my body parts (shoulder and each leg) but the fire seems to have disrupted that.

Nicki, thanks for all your good thoughts!