OCD
The handy dude came over yesterday, with his girlfriend.
He's young...super young, and I'm not super thrilled with the idea of a couple taking over the downstairs right now. Are they going to distract each other more than working? Are they going to end up fighting or having a kid or something? Too many instabilities in that scenario.
Biased? Of course. But not unreasonably so.
Its not like "Hey, I'm charging you $500 a month and can get in trouble for discrimination."
Its, "Hey, this is my shit, you'd be here for free, and I don't need anymore headaches than I already have."
While catering at the Buffalo Museum of Science the other night, Charles was working. Charles was basically the catering manager under Jason when I first started there, they had ego clashes and Jay fired him, but they've since kissed and made up, etc. Now Charles is back! And I really like him, as a person.
As the night progressed, Charles and I shared a bottle of wine while packing dishes into milk crates, and got to talking. He does property management, and can do everything except electrical work. Also, he's in his late forties, loves his mother, is gay, drama free, and really likes me.
So he called me up at work yesterday, to reiterate that it wasn't the wine speaking when he said he wanted to help me out. He's going to pick me up from work Monday, and take a look at the downstairs. He told me not to hire dude from Craigslist, and that he has some ideas for me. I had told him that money was a concern, and he said that we'll figure it out.
I am less stressed every day.
Maggie has been staying in the attic bedroom for over a week now, and its good to have her here, flake or no flake. Her dog needs some house manners, though, and I've been slowly and consistently working with her on that end...the dog, that is, as I don't want Maggie to feel like her toes are being stepped on.
She says she's leaving for Philly on Monday, but knowing Maggie, that might not happen. We shall see.
In other, more obsessive compulsive news, I have been looking at Vallhund puppies online. And I really want one. But they are very expensive, and I do want to travel overseas before taking on another commitment. I keep thinking, "When Remy goes", but in spite his age, and his arthritic feet, he is a very healthy animal. Which is good, and he's put on weight since Happy has been gone...partly because I've been feeding him this new Natural Organic dog food (while I eat ramens, thank you very much), and partly I think because the stress of Happy is no longer in our element.
Tangent.
So I've been looking at Vallhund puppies, which cost anywhere between $600 and $1200 a pup, and are very difficult to find. I want a pup that is going to look like Remy when they grow up, and have the same therapuetic personality. And because they are so rare, I want a dog that is absolutely 100% guaranteed not inbred, has health certifications and the whole nine. Especially if I plan on dropping a large sum of money on one.
But the overseas thing keeps coming up in my mind, and I really want to get to the point of having the freedom to travel, which having a young dog does not allow.
Solution?
I just found out you can get pet passports. You have to have your vet sign a bunch of stuff, and obviously pay to have the dog shipped in cargo, etc, but they are available. Each country has their own requirements, but its not an impossibility.
Goals. Gotta have them.
I want to go to Ecuador, very badly.
And Patagonia, just because they have blue ice. Freaking BLUE ice.
Spain someday.
Basically any country that I can fudge my way through Spanish enough to get by.
Charles made a good point, that with the revenue the downstairs could be generating, I should not offer free rent, but fix it and then rent it instead. It would cost out to my benefit in the long run, allow the house to become not only financially self sustaining, but also bring in income, and get me to the point of being able to travel, and not worry.
And then I can get a little Vallhund puppy, name him Ellis, and take him to Ecuador to teach English with me. He can be my little therapy language bridge.
Downstairs first.
Get a couple of stable tenants.
Have a property manager.
Go to NYC or Chicago, get certified in TEFL.
Go to Ecuador and hang out with some kick ass wildlife.
Call it a day.
That is a good goal list, something that as a single woman, without children, I can accomplish.
He's young...super young, and I'm not super thrilled with the idea of a couple taking over the downstairs right now. Are they going to distract each other more than working? Are they going to end up fighting or having a kid or something? Too many instabilities in that scenario.
Biased? Of course. But not unreasonably so.
Its not like "Hey, I'm charging you $500 a month and can get in trouble for discrimination."
Its, "Hey, this is my shit, you'd be here for free, and I don't need anymore headaches than I already have."
While catering at the Buffalo Museum of Science the other night, Charles was working. Charles was basically the catering manager under Jason when I first started there, they had ego clashes and Jay fired him, but they've since kissed and made up, etc. Now Charles is back! And I really like him, as a person.
As the night progressed, Charles and I shared a bottle of wine while packing dishes into milk crates, and got to talking. He does property management, and can do everything except electrical work. Also, he's in his late forties, loves his mother, is gay, drama free, and really likes me.
So he called me up at work yesterday, to reiterate that it wasn't the wine speaking when he said he wanted to help me out. He's going to pick me up from work Monday, and take a look at the downstairs. He told me not to hire dude from Craigslist, and that he has some ideas for me. I had told him that money was a concern, and he said that we'll figure it out.
I am less stressed every day.
Maggie has been staying in the attic bedroom for over a week now, and its good to have her here, flake or no flake. Her dog needs some house manners, though, and I've been slowly and consistently working with her on that end...the dog, that is, as I don't want Maggie to feel like her toes are being stepped on.
She says she's leaving for Philly on Monday, but knowing Maggie, that might not happen. We shall see.
In other, more obsessive compulsive news, I have been looking at Vallhund puppies online. And I really want one. But they are very expensive, and I do want to travel overseas before taking on another commitment. I keep thinking, "When Remy goes", but in spite his age, and his arthritic feet, he is a very healthy animal. Which is good, and he's put on weight since Happy has been gone...partly because I've been feeding him this new Natural Organic dog food (while I eat ramens, thank you very much), and partly I think because the stress of Happy is no longer in our element.
Tangent.
So I've been looking at Vallhund puppies, which cost anywhere between $600 and $1200 a pup, and are very difficult to find. I want a pup that is going to look like Remy when they grow up, and have the same therapuetic personality. And because they are so rare, I want a dog that is absolutely 100% guaranteed not inbred, has health certifications and the whole nine. Especially if I plan on dropping a large sum of money on one.
But the overseas thing keeps coming up in my mind, and I really want to get to the point of having the freedom to travel, which having a young dog does not allow.
Solution?
I just found out you can get pet passports. You have to have your vet sign a bunch of stuff, and obviously pay to have the dog shipped in cargo, etc, but they are available. Each country has their own requirements, but its not an impossibility.
Goals. Gotta have them.
I want to go to Ecuador, very badly.
And Patagonia, just because they have blue ice. Freaking BLUE ice.
Spain someday.
Basically any country that I can fudge my way through Spanish enough to get by.
Charles made a good point, that with the revenue the downstairs could be generating, I should not offer free rent, but fix it and then rent it instead. It would cost out to my benefit in the long run, allow the house to become not only financially self sustaining, but also bring in income, and get me to the point of being able to travel, and not worry.
And then I can get a little Vallhund puppy, name him Ellis, and take him to Ecuador to teach English with me. He can be my little therapy language bridge.
Downstairs first.
Get a couple of stable tenants.
Have a property manager.
Go to NYC or Chicago, get certified in TEFL.
Go to Ecuador and hang out with some kick ass wildlife.
Call it a day.
That is a good goal list, something that as a single woman, without children, I can accomplish.