Liesje said:
Thanks, Merc. I'll take some more pictures if it starts to mature, or whatever. Right now it all looks like green and pink fuzz, which is a little odd since it came from swabs of mold that is black and not really fuzzy.
I'm not sure if the large spots on the ceiling are actually mold, or just watermarks left from a spill above us.
The black mold surrounds each window and so far I haven't seen it growing anywhere else. I know exactly why this is: our windows have metal frames. Right now, it's freezing temps outside and 75 inside. None of the windows have storm windows. I dunno if you're familiar with a "storm window" or not, but in places like Michigan, when it gets cold you actually take out your screens and put in a second layer of glass to help insulate the house. Since we've got metal frames and only a single layer of glass, the frames are constantly condensing. I don't think any water is actually leaking in, it's forming inside of the apartment.
Also, since we live on the "ground" floor, we're actually mostly underground, so there's not a lot of ventilation, not any really. There's two floors of apartments above us.
I'm wondering if the toxicity may not be so much of a problem, but maybe I am allergic to mold? It doesn't seem to bother Phil, but I feel sick all the time. My eyes feel dry and itchy. I'd like to have an allergy test and see if there's something I can take continuously for this, but I don't have health insurance (or money) at the moment.
You're welcome - anytime!
Your explanation with the windows and the lack of ventilation sounds like it could very well be the root of the problem!
I really hope you can get it fixed as soon as possible, so that you (or Phil) don't get more sick! If you get rid of the mould/fungus and make sure your home is dry and ventilated, I'm pretty sure your symptoms will go away and you will not need any medicine - but in any case, an allergy test would be a good thing! It is in cases like this I
at the American health care system, cos there no doubt that you should have that test done now, so that you have a document that prove that it is actually the mould/fungus that is making you sick (if your renting your apartment a document like that might get the management to act faster)!
On a brighter note, I was at the Bruce Springsteen concert last night, my first but certainly not last concert with him!
Wauh, that was some gig!
I only know two men that can get "Parken", our national stadium,
to gospel songs and psalms - Bono... and Bruce!
If everyone wasn't
already, his "Get your Danish ass up of your Danish seat!"-comment certainly did the trick!
Here's the setlist if anyone is interested...
John Henry
Old Dan Tucker
Atlantic City
Eyes on the Prize
Jesse James
O Mary Don't You Weep
Love of Common People
Bobby Jean
Erie Canal
My Oklahoma Home
Devils & Dust
Mrs. McGrath
How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?
Jacob's Ladder
Long Time Comin'
Open All Night
Pay Me My Money Down
Fire
My City of Ruin
You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch)
When the Saints Go Marching In
This Little Light of Mine
American Land
.
.
kind of. for a short while.
Maybe if I ask real nice.
