Apropos of Nothing v.5

On another topic completely...Yippee, I have finally finished writing report cards and can go to bed!!

Summerkid, just another consideration regarding roomates. I think it would be best to have a formal written contract, keep dated receipts for rent payments, and keep all this in a locked file. I once helped my parents when they had a woman living in a room in their house who was not paying the rent and who had several annoying characteristics, some bordering on sociopathic. We had to go to court to get her out in the end, and it took several miserable months. She tried to steal some of their furniture on the way, and was probably paying the rent with money stolen from my dad's wad of cash he brought home from his shop each day. Their contract with her and the receipt book mysteriously disappeared, hence the advice to keep it locked up. I hate to sound paranoid or scare you when many arrangements with people renting a room are probably just fine, and help pay the bills, but it is best to be prepared and have a clear written agreement to begin with. This woman was in her late 40's but behaved like a teenager running up long distance phone bills and then whining about the cost to pay.

Yeah, take precautions. Tracy and I almost ended up homeless once because of a parasitic roomate that lied, stole and dragged us down until we wound up evicted. It was a nightmare.

Arrrgh. My hand is swollen up like a balloon. Using the computer hurts like heck. I think I may not be around much for a day or two.

Summer, here is another vote for what seems to be pretty much the majority opinion. No matter how badly you need the money, remember that if she were to move in she would probably not be able to come up with it. And I certainly wouldn't count on any help with the housework! We have rented a house out in the past and have had a few really bad experiences. Evicting someone is a long, difficult and often expensive job. For your own best welfare, please keep looking. Someone much better will show up.

On another note, there has been posts in the recent past about hand warmers. It occurs that they would be a perfect gift for a friend who has to help feed his alpacas each day. Please let me know what you have used, and where to get them. Thanks.

Pony, did I miss something? Why is your hand hurting? I will admit that I have had very little time on the computer these days, what with keeping ahead of cold weather problems, and planning for the holidays ( and being a bit depressed about all of that.)

Sharon, I use them all the time and they are great! I buy them by the case this time of year at costco. One case lasts me the entire season and is only about 15$.

Just another note for Summerkid, when people are negotiating new relationships, such as being room mates, they are generally on their best behavior. 1. If someone cannot maintain good behavior and follow through during that time, they certainly will not later on. 2.People take advantage of you only in so far as you let them. That generally begins by giving too much 'benefit of the doubt' up front. When you keep number 1 in mind, it cuts way down on #2.

that last line is really funny and very true in many ways.

You guys are so right. That is a good point about the best behavior & giving too much benefit of the doubt. And you all raised some relevant issues about how this would play out down the road. Now I feel stupid for even needing to get a second opinion on this nonsense. Now I realize that she flat-out lied about leaving a message on Thursday -- I checked my voicemail just in case that's where it landed, but there were none. And I would have driven to Portland despite the weather this weekend to watch the Montana game & to cut a Christmas tree with the Crniches, except that I needed to be here Sunday when she allegedly was moving in.

I'm also very sorry for all those nasty rental issues that I'm forcing you to relive.

Hey - we all need to ask questions and vent. Sometimes when you are too close to a problem you can't make a good decision. Don't beat yourself up about this! You identified the problem, got input from others, and now you can make the right decision. Cool.

Sharon, I'm a convert on the hand warmers and they would make a fantastic Christmas gift, IMHO. They are so inexpensive, work so well, and are environmentally safe, too. And the price is hard to beat. I'm keeping a bunch in my car for the winter.

Melissa put out her points so well. I was thinking exactly the same thing. It's like a relationship - things are supposed to be at their best at the beginning. So if things are rocky at the beginning when everything is supposed to be a bed or roses, then you know that you're only setting yourself up for disappointment.

I had someone say to me once that "potential is a lovely thing". There was potential in this relationship and that potential was wonderful. But the reality wasn't anywhere close to that.

I think I have a lot of "potential."

Also, I'm glad that she blew me off on Sunday. Otherwise, here she'd be, screwing up my life, probably.

Thepeople here will always give you their opinion and a big hug.

Sounds to me like you have lots of potential - which is a lovely thing. ;-p

Summer, Wasn't on the computer at all this weekend, so I am another who is late in pitching in, but fortunately for you, I think you have gotten very sound advice from the rest of the gang regarding your possible roommate. I think that Pixy had the best point... most likely this IS her best behavior, and there is a very good possibility you would be very miserable by the end of your relationship. I know from experience that it is hard for caring people to turn someone who they perceive as "in need" away, but I also know from experience that there are people in life that are constantly "in need" because they have found taking advantage of caring people a convienent way to go through life.

Pony, forgot to mention in the weather thread "Sorry to hear about your hand!" Willow was dead on when she said that cat wounds and rose thorns are some of the worst! Hopefully your pain is due to bruising rather than hitting a nerve. I once stabbed a rose thorn directly into on of my knuckle bones and my whole hand ached with shooting pains for well over a week. Hope yours feels better soon!

I want to thank you all again for your help. I used to REALLY struggle with this issue & have felt like a magnet for people in emotional distress. Fortunately, I haven't heard from Tara since Friday, so thankfully she might have blown ME off.

Shore up your reserve. You know what they say about a bad penny.

Don't want to clutter the weather thread anymore with my whining about my hand, so I'll say it here:

OUCH.

It's very swollen and discolored. I'm hoping that's just bruising. I've been keeping it wrapped with lots of ointment, and icing it every so often. Going through pain killers like candy. (I guess I'm lucky I have a bad back so I have Vicodin to take... always lookin' on the bright side, me...)

Okay, typing hurts too much, off I go. Will see a doctor tomorrow if things haven't improved.

Finger kisses for Pony.

A propos of nuttin ... I have a music channel on the TV, and it's a country singer named Tim McGraw ... holy smokes, that is ONE sexy cowboy. Where do I get me one of them?

You know what would be great? A motion-activated jack-in-the-box that would SPROING noisily and scare the behiney out of any cat thinking about peeing on the carpet by the washing machine.

Hey, SK - how was the garlic soup?

OH, glad you asked. It's delicious. Very easy to make, too. I peeled the garlic before roasting & added cayenne pepper to the mix. It could have used a loaf of dark, crusty bread for dipping -- next time.

I can see using it as a "base" soup, too, for all sorts of tarting up. The flavor reminded me of wild mushrooms.

Oooooh. Mmmmm. Good to know!

I also used half & half, because I didn't have whipping cream on hand, so that's a thought if one wants to cut a few calories.

Cumin probably would be a great addition, too.

This gal posted pictures of her Florida Garden in the Container Gardening Forum: http://katg.phanfare.com/1709026_4678153#imageID=87451593

I think I need a few head planters . . .

I want garlic soup. Now.

Just changed the dressing on my hand again. Tracy and I agree I need to go to the doctor tomorrow. Ugh. I hate going to the doctor. But it's not looking too good- I think perhaps antibiotics are in order. :(

epsom salts. Soak in hot water and epsom salts. Did I read that a cat caused this? That can be extremely nasty. Take no chances with infection. I hope I misread that. Maybe you posted on the weather forum. I've not checked that one. Go to the doctor! Definitely.

Garlic soup? Yum!

Here's how I explained this whole 'law of attracting people' stuff to a 10 year old today: It's kind of like fishing. If you put the 'I need to fix people' bait on your hook, you are sure to catch people that need to be fixed. If you put 'I'm a taker. I take and take and never give' on your hook, you'll catch people who 'give and give and never take'. Putting the 'I need to help people who need help' on the old line catches people who will take your help and run with it every time. If you want someone who knows how to give and also to receive, then you must give and also receive gracefully. Yep, it would not surprise me if Summerkid's bad penny showed up again. But this time Summer and her posse are ready for her!

Those head planters are a little disconcerting...very lifelike... especially for Seattle.

Okay, I couldn't go to bed without reading what happened to your hand so found it on the other thread. Get thee to a physician stat! Cats carry very nasty bacteria in their mouths. Bad kitty! Bad, Bad kitty biting the nice pony!

Yeah, I'm gonna call in the morning and see any doctor that's available if mine has no openings.

I've been bitten by this cat before, last year at Christmas time (I guess it's tradition now?) and it was fine- but that bite wasn't as deep as this.

Dude, the mohawk guy is sick. (sick means cool these days)

Where is my holiday spirit? I can't seem to find it, and I have no desire to put up outdoor lights or a tree. I don't want to shop, either. Send me some holiday vibes!!!

Can't I'm in the same boat. My daughter and I have a tradition. It is that there will be no traditions. We love it when holiday are different all the time. I just go with it.

That Florida plantation was fantastic! Love the heads, well and everything else.

This message was edited Dec 15, 2009 1:49 PM

You know, if we could just get some molds, we could have a head-making party . . .

Hyper-tufa maybe?

This Christmas, I'm living alone in the country with few visitors to notice any decorations, so I'm skipping it.

Instead, going to concentrate on catching up on my obligations by making fancy cards & writing letters, sending presents to as many people as I can. Sort of sending my decorations out into the world, I guess.

Those head planters are really nice, yet disturbing in a an alien kind of way. They would make good fodder for a childs nightmare. I gotta get me one of those.

This message was edited Dec 15, 2009 1:38 PM

So, Pixy ... what is YOUR hook baited with? Or are you through fishing?

Does that woman with the heads post on DG somewhere? Maybe we could ask where she got them.

Funny, I don't get that creep vibe about the heads at all. I did find out where you can buy them online. They're expensive:

This is interesting. This site http://www.stonefacecreations.com/ takes you to this DG Marketplace site of KatG's http://davesgarden.com/products/market/user.php?q=KatG. KatG is the one who posted the photos. She's selling a limited number for $55 - $65 a piece. I don't know whether that includes the plants.

I saw them online somewhere last night for $75 and up.

http://www.accentsinthegarden.com/headplanter.html

KatG appears to have the best prices. I wonder if she makes her own.

I've been obsessing over these and thing that I'd like to have about 5, placed in various places around my property to surprise you as you walked by. Sort of like ruins.

Hmmmm . . . I wonder if we could get a co-op going on these

Back from the doctor. Hand is worse. Have a fever. Antibiotics started. Hurts to type- see ya.

So happy you saw the doc. Rest up.

I'm with you katie, I love those heads and need at least a pair. You are amazing for finding great stuff online.

This message was edited Dec 15, 2009 5:14 PM