I wrote a Letter to My mother today

I wrote a Letter to my Mother today, I have been writing her everyday to tell her of my ongoing struggle. I reread it and felt it was good and powerful. I want to share it here (also I am posting this at my myspace blog space)...

"So far I cant tell you if it did any good.

About 4pm yesterday it was so humid I had to turn on the A/C. It took over an hour before it started to get cool. After I got home at 1130pm from work, Nicky told me there was the Cigarette Smoke & Odor in the Bedroom. That made me really mad and frustrated. I cursed and yelled and cried. I really had hoped that somethings would change for the better. We turned off the A/C and I closed all the vents again and blocked the returns with pillows again.
Nicky got really horse in her throat and that burning came back in her chest/throat. I Opened all the Windows again and turned on all the fans back to high. It even felt 2x as strong in the hallway as before. The smell in the hallway is even more Acrid. Its just disgusting. No one in their right mind could say, Oh I don't notice anything. Fortunately the Sheets we hung up have kept the Toxic Smell from coming into the Living Room and Kitchen as much as it did before. But theres no Way of telling what crap is crossing through that we cannot smell... crap that is still cause us both harm.

So I think you are Right. Air Ducts are the Magic thing. Somehow, Someway, our Ducts are tied to other ones or there is a significant blockage or something interferring with them. Because when the downstairs neighbors use their Exhaust fan in their Laundry Room or Brathrooms, the Shit comes into our Laundry Room and Bathrooms. When they Use their A/C and we try to use our A/C, there is a crossover somewhere and the Shit is forced into our bedroom and other areas we thought we were able to block off.

Every single Night, for some reason, the Smell, the Odor, the burning in our throats, our noses, the sneezing the headaches get worse after 10pm. EVery single night it seems like those 3 people down there are Smoking even more. Its just unfathomable to me HOW these people can even smoke... I cannot for the life of me UNDERSTAND how anyone who smokes can continue to smoke.

I always thought I was pretty tough. Before I usually could deal with being around a friend or coworker outside who was smoking. Shoot I even used to not have too many problems when I was at a Bar. I never liked the Smoking sections in Restaurants because thats when I am trying to eat.

I almost laughed in the Maintenance guys face yesterday when he said it didnt smell to bad in my hallway. THE GUY IS A SMOKER. HE HAS NO SENSE OF SMELL LEFT!!!!! Then he has the audacity to tell me the guys downstairs are really trying to be neighborly, they got Glade plug ins and air fresheners. EXCUSE ME, a Glade Plug In does not DESTROY Cigarette SMOKE! I for one can attest to that.

I am so torn right now. I think about my brother Karl. and I pray to God he can quit Smoking. I don't dare talk to him about or I face being Preached too or worse, he could decide to Cut off communications with me.

Love, Luke

P.S. If I knew that Fountain Park Management gave a Damn about us, If I knew that They would do something other than telling us they cant, then I'd suggest to them that they move the downstairs neighbors elsewhere.
But I know, already, Ms. Mary Rogers, the Apartment Manager already told us the Building 9 is the only Smoke Free building in the complex. Which suggests to me, She thinks WE SHOULD MOVE. What she Doesn't KNOW is WE ARE GOING TO MOVE... WE ARE GOING TO MOVE OUT OF FOUNTAIN PARK NOVI FOR GOOD! Somehow, Someway, As God as my witness, We will Move out of Fountain Park. I can only hope and wish and pray that were we move to is a New Home in a New place where we can afford it."

A Surprising Change

sometimes all it takes is to change ones mind to a different way and the world changes with you.

that sounds like a famous quote I've heard but I don't know.

Something new has happened. About 45 minutes ago at about 2:00pm, 2 guys form the Fountain Park Maintenance crew showed up at my door with some cans of Spray Foam and Filler. They said "We;re here to fill the cracks."

I was like its about damn time. Sure took a fricking long time. Over One week, 4 phone calls, 1 Typed letter, 2 complaint emails.

They didn't apologize or say much. Just said they were going to the bathrooms and checked under the sinks, filled some spots under each sink, and in the laundry room around the pipes. they said next they were going to check the spots in the downstairs neighbors apartment as well. then maybe 5 minutes later they came back with 3 Furnace filters which were newer and I guess a bit higher end scale than the crap they had in there before. The checked the A/C for about 3 seconds. and Told me to close the Vents in the rooms used the least. Then they were on their way.

I am still Mad. Mostly because it DID take over a Week. And Also Never once did the Apartment Manager give me a timeline or any response.

My wife sent me some links for home kit to test Indoor Air Quality. I intend on buying a kit and testing the air in here to see what comes as a result.

I know the Air in my own home is still foul. I can still smell the Tainted Acrid Toxic Smoke in the Carpet, the Drapes, the Furniture, on clothes hanging on the door, and in the Stuffed Animals. I still am Coughing and Sneezing 5x more than I ever used to before.

We are still going to move out of this place. That hasn't changed. Fountain Park Management has ruined it for us.

A coworker told me our Union has a Prepaid Legal services. I am going to use them to get a Lawyer to write a Letter on our Behalf to break our Lease. and move out of this Toxic Zone.

Peace,

Luke

Being Smoked Out.

Smoked Out.

thats the only way I can describe it. For the last Week plus, my wife and I have been Smoked out of our home. Its a terrible feeling when you sit in your own living room and are forced to wear a Respirator Mask and have 5 different Fans, 4 different Air purifiers on just so u can watch TV.

I am going to be updating my Old Blog page with a revamped look and feel and new title if I can use it. Smoked Out.

We've lived in our current home for over 4 years, a lovely 2BD/2BTH apartment in Novi in a complex called Fountain Park. We've loved living here and Have not had any reason to move except we did hope to move out one day and get a nice Condo in a few years. But We've been content and Intent on staying here for a long time.

Just over a Week ago, some new neighbors moved in to the vacant downstairs unit. It had been vacant for about 3+ months. Before that our good friend Dylan had lived there for over 4 years. Dylan was the perfect downstairs Neighbor and was always respectful and courteous and friendly. We were sad when he and his fiancé moved out, and into a new home. The biggest difference between Dylan and these new Neighbors is, Dylan didn't smoke. These new neighbors do. They must smoke a lot. Because whenever I see them, they have a cigarette in their hand. And I also smell it all the time. Not just a little, But a ton. You see, Soon after these new neighbors moved in, my wife and I noticed something we never noticed before!!! Apparently our Apartment has some serious Leaks! The smoking our new neighbors do, Comes into our HOME! So far it seems mostly through the Stairs. Oh Man its been bad.

So even after just One day of it, I decided to call the Management of Fountain Park and ask to talk to our Manager, Mary Rogers. I told her what was going on, and I asked, What Can We Do?
And she told me, That Fountain Park cannot stop those new Tenants from smoking. I understand that, But What I asked is WHAT CAN WE DO? What CAN I and MY WIFE DO to MAKE our HOME Smoke FREE and Breathable and Livable? She told me she Would write up a Work Order for the maintenance to come out and Seal Cracks, Leaks, Crevices in the Stariwell, on the Walls, around Fixtures, Lights, plumbing etc. And That they could Help us get Better Furnace Filters for the Furnace for when we have to use the Heat or A/C. That Was Last Week Tuesday.

I figured, as in the past, maybe a day or two later, I'd get a visit from Maintenance. But that Hasn't happened. On Friday, May 18th early early in the Morning it was quite cold out, and We had to try to use our Furnace for a bit to take the chill out. Instead we got a load of Toxic Secondhand smoke come in through our Vents. I could smell Smoke in our Humidifier! Even in my CPAP machine which I need to help me sleep since I have Sleep Apnea. My Wife, who has suffered with Severe Asthma for the last 3 years could barely breathe, has had new symptoms that are making her sicker. Its been a living hell.

I decided to take matters into action if I could. My wife and I both work and do not have a lot of money. We pay our bills on time the best we can, We make sure our Ford Fusion is paid every month and we make sure We pay our Rent on time and we scrimp and save wherever possible. We don't go out a lot. We don't eat out a lot. We are basically home bodies. We Spent well over $200, probably more so far, on 3 new Air Purifiers in hopes they would help us breathe better. We also bought a couple Fans which we use to try and draw out the toxic odor and smell from our hallway and force it outside.

I also called the Oakland County Housing Counseling services to try and find some one there who could help me with Information on how My wife and I can deal with our Landlord problem.
I talked to a very nice woman named Kathy Williams who gave me some great tips, and told me some actions I can take. I took the 1st Action she suggested by Writing a Short, Simple, a VERY nice Letter explaining that my wife and I are very sick from the Toxic Smoke coming into our apartment and We wanted to find out when Fountain Park Novi was going to get back to us and let us know what they were going to do. I typed it out on my computer, put it in an envelope, and addressed it to Mary Rogers the Fountain Park Novi Manager and hand delivered it to the office. I gave it to Sarah, one of the ladies who works in the main office. That was Monday May 21st.
Today is Wednesday May 23rd. I have not received any phone call, letter, note on the door, or visit from a human. It doesn't seem to me like it would take much to Respond to us, Even just a simple "We are busy, but we are analyzing your situation and will get back to you" sort of response would be even enough to give me some Hope.

Some other things we have had to do was we bought some 3M brand Dust/Pollen masks. We wear them whenever we enter our Stairway and go up and down the stairs or whenever we have to go into our living room or try to move around our hallway. For a few days we even have had to wear the Masks when we sat in our living room to watch TV. Our clothes, furniture, and my our precious things are all getting a foul odor on them. It makes me cry often. I've had some many Anxious days and nights. I am afraid of Leaving my wife home at night when I have to goto work, for fear of coming home and finding her so sick or passed out. Over the weekend, My wife went into our Laundry room to try and wash my uniform shirt for work and some of her work clothes. She nearly passed out from the smoke, she had an immediate asthma attack, and I had to literally carry her to our bedroom, where we have a Fan, an Air Purifier, her Nebulizer and the window wide open. After a while, after her treatment, she felt a little better. Even so, I went into the Laundry room and did the clothes as best as I could.

Hope right now is something that I wish I had more of. Everyday, the inside of my Home gets harder to Breathe and stinks a little more. Last night My wife had a genius idea, Put up some makeshift curtains to help block out the living room from the hallway and kitchen from hallway in hopes of reducing the Smoke Fumes and Odors. Well We used what we had on hand, some Packing Tape and some large Sheets which don't fit our bed. We tucked and adjusted and created a partition. And It works! mostly. There is still an acrid Odor in the living room, But now My wife and I can sit and watch TV without gasping so much or wearing Masks.

There is some Joy and glimmer of hope in my life. My wife and I love each other and we've been through a lot. We are trying to make it through and Right now We want to move out of here. This place is not a Safe Haven anymore. Our Home is no longer enjoyable. And I worry everyday about my wife's health. and I am embarrassed when I think I cannot provide for her the way I once did.
After all the trials we've dealt with, like the Tumor in 1999 and in 2003 Her being diagnosed with Asthma, and again in 2003 the week and a half when she was in the Hospital with the wildest case of allergic reaction, to recent times when she's dealing with Heart issues and muscle pains. We want so much to have a family and want so much to have a good home and to be able to live life to the fullest.

I love my wife so much and will do whatever it takes.

I sat today and watched Extreme Makeover Home Edition and was inspired by the efforts of Ty and the design team as they helped a family in New York where this mother has raised her 4 boys, 2 with HIV/AIDS. It just makes me feel so blessed to watch those shows. and Know there are people out there like that, That care about others.

I wish someone out there could do something to help me and my wife. But we just live in this apartment and don't have any great disasters or tragedies like most of the other people on that show.

I decided I'd redo my old Blog site with this idea of Being Smoked Out. No one I know has ever read it or commented on it. It just sits there in cyberspace. I decided to test out my notes here on myspace and then transfer it to my old blogger page and see what happens.

I wish I had some Cash to move out of this place. This Apartment is Toxic. Its making me sick and my wife sicker. I don't have anywhere else to go. I don't earn enough money to save much and what money my wife makes is enough to pay our regular bills we got here.

I wish I knew some people who could help us. I feel so helpless right now.

--LUKE--
aka Lz3broc

my blog:
http://beingsmokedout.blogspot.com/
my space:
http://www.myspace.com/lz3broc
my art gallery:
http://lz3broc.deviantart.com
my email:
Lz3broc@yahoo.com

Bold new Ideas and Bold new Changes

There are some major changes today.

Today I am all about Trying to Educate myself about the Toxic nature of Secondhand Smoke and what it does to people.

And I am trying to tell People about my problem. I am hoping someone out there in the world sees my blog and gets inspired to write me.

If you want to send me an Article or a clipping from somewhere or want to comment to me directly send me an email to Lz4broc@gmail.com.

I wrote an essay the other day on Myspace page about being Smoked Out of my home.

I will post it here in a while.

No longer do I care about talking about anything else except the dangers of Cigarette Smoke and about People's Right to Breathe.

Peace Out to all,

Luke

myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/Lz3broc
email:
Lz4broc@gmail.com
&
Lz3broc@yahoo.com