This is going to be a rough war

Today's Sunday Stream of Consciousness prompt is Roughing it.

Yesterday in the mail, I received a notice from a collection agency.

First time in my life.

The move here to NYC was an abrupt one that only left me with 3 weeks in StL to gather things, finish things, and say goodbye to that sort of life.

From the first day I knew I was going to be moving, I started talking with the landlord of the apartment complex where I stayed.  I loved and still love that apartment and hoped that if I had to go back to live in that city, I would be welcome there.  I have never lived in such a clean, friendly, bright neighborhood.

I kept asking them what I needed to do before the move.  Even asked them if I needed to pay September rent since it was going to be in the middle of August when I left (I was trying to be helpful so they would want me back if necessary).

After 4 visits to the office, 5 phone calls, and a letter that I wrote to them, they kept giving me the same answer: We don't know what the protocol is for such an abrupt departure after you have lived in the complex less than 6 months. They mentioned that they would have to talk with their corporate people to find out.

They never got back to me.

I assumed things were good and I was free and clear.

Until yesterday.

Things are now rough.

It is not the apt complex telling me I owe money, it is a collection agency.  That is some big ish to me.  They say I owe over a thousand dollars.  The rent was not that high, and it is not two months rent, nor is it a month plus deposit.  I'm hella confused and super angry.

I need to make some phone calls tomorrow and I hope that I am more calm when I talk to them.  I couldn't even sleep last night imagining how the conversation is going to go.

I don't want this to get too rough, but I am ready to do what I need to get them off of me.

When I signed the lease, I gave them my phone number, email, my parent's information, and did the same in my letter that I was going to be moving.

They had ample information to get at me if they wanted some of my money.  At that point, I still had extra money in my savings that I would have happily given them.

The collection notice was sent to the former apartment - meaning they must still think I live there and am not paying rent?  That doesn't even make any sense.

This is now a war, and I intend to win.

You can see more 5 minute posts (mine went 3 minutes over with the linking and such) by going to Jana's Thinking Place.

Saturday Quote: Re-reading a chapter in life

This is a quote that radio-personality and author, Nikki Woods (who I adore and am happy to say that I have known since my childhood) put on her FB page a bit ago.

Taking work home

Long week.  I know all weeks are 7 days, but this one seemed longer.  It is only one of maybe 3 full 5 day work weeks we have had at school with all of the government and Jewish holidays and with the hurricane/storm.

It was such a long week that when I was on the subway on the way home after Staples this evening, it took everything in me to not go all teacher on the loud annoying teenagers on the train.

November Photos - Week 4

November Photo-a-Day prompts taken from Fat Mum Slim.

November 21 - What you wore

21. I love rings.  I don't have enough of them.  this one is a favorite because it is kind of juvenile, kind of hippy-ish, kind of cute.  And the band is some type of elastic, so even if my fingers swell, it still fits comfortably.

November 22 - Grateful

22. I'm grateful to have not bought the 2 pieces of Reese's that add up to a pound.  Have any of you seen these??? They were massive.  I was in line and their were people behind me otherwise I would have gotten a better picture so you could see just how big they are.  Behind them is a new Snickers container that is so big it is called Slice n' Share.  One inch is a serving of that massive Snickers you are supposed to cut up, but I'm sure people eat on their own.  The Reese's - 1/6 of the package is one serving.  Good luck keeping your portions correct with these snacks!

November 23 - Black

23. These tights are so far from the normal black tights most women wear that I had to secretly photograph the girl wearing them as I stood waiting for the subway.

November 24 - Sound heard

24. I taught my adorable nephew to clap.  It is always amazing to me to see how hard simple things are for a small child to do.  Eventually he caught on.  His claps sound more like golf claps, but they are cute - as is his little laugh and his smile and his cute eyebrows that naturally look like the best threading job ever.  Good time spent with family and friends for Thanksgiving.  Very relaxing and very fun!

November 25 - Sky

25. It was great being home for the holiday, but also felt great to land back in NYC.  I was welcomed by this sign and the Queens (?) sky in the background.  Took a pre-sunrise flight from StL - don't think I will ever book a flight at that time again.  Got off the plane, took a two hour nap and then got back to work and to grocery shopping.

StL friend in NYC

This afternoon after school I received a text from a coach from my last school.  He was my assistant coach and is a great guy who helped me find some joy each day even if it was through a dirty joke or a friendly jab at me.

His wife works for a company that has her travel occasionally for work and she is in NYC.  He took two personal days off school and is in town for today and through the weekend.

Of course, I had to meet up with him for at least a bit.

We met for drinks close to his hotel by Columbus Circle - an area I have been to a couple times to see the massive statue in the mall, but not really to do much else.

We found a hole in the wall, yet still kind of ritzy bar, and had a couple drinks and chatted it up.

Like me, he has made last season his last year of coaching.  Said my leaving made it even easier for him to walk away.

We caught up on him, his family, his neighborhood, the school where he works, the school where I work, and his views of NYC and where he was going to go while here with his wife working all day tomorrow.

It was so nice to see a familiar, friendly, face.  And to be corny and just catch up.

Good times.

Now, I need to catch up with all the other people I have been meaning to meet up with since I have been in The City.

Semi-wordless Wednesday - AM travel

Here is the view of Manhattan from the back of my BK-bound cab.  You can see the new WTC building - hint, it's the really tall one.

I had to take a $20 cab this morning since the train I normally take was backed up due to a stall at some other stop.  I waited about 25 minutes hoping it might arrive.  Then I walked to a different train line hoping that would work out; waited there for another 5 minutes before deciding to just cab it.

Money well spent that could have been spent on a lot of other things that I could actually use.