Reasons #487-490 I want to buy a house

#487: Neighbors. I am so sick of sharing walls. My "must have" list for a house is short: 3 bed/2 bath, 2-car garage (learned after the latest ice storm) and single family. The wish list is what will get us, but those are seriously my 2 major requirements. NO CONDOS OR TOWNHOMES!! Last night, Husband called in a noise complaint. It was 11:30 and our neighbor had his bass up so loud, my jewelry box and things in the bathroom RATTLED. We may have been able to put up with it if it was at all earlier or the first time it's been that loud. It has become routine to hear his music or movie or TV or whatever the HECK it is at least once a week. Normally it isn't as loud as last night, but still hearable.

#488: Water heater. I timed my shower tonight: 5 minutes. In my college days, when I didn't have a water bill, that was unheard of. When I had my own apartment (and a water bill), I cut it down to a solid 7. I'm barely able to do what needs doing in 5. Why am I taking crazy short showers? Because our water heater sucks. We've called maintenance and they came to look at it. He basically said it gets hot, so what's my problem? We probably just have a smaller heater than we're used to. The problem with his diagnosis is that he checked the downstairs kitchen faucet. Yeah, because that would have the same output. And I never said it didn't GET hot. The problem is it doesn't STAY hot. When I'm taking a 5 minute shower, the knob should not get turned AS FAR AS IT WILL GO. As in the scalding setting. Nope, warm, but not hot. And heaven forbid I want to take my time shaving, because it will be COLD by the end.

#489: James. He's one of our leasing agents and a total Phi Tau (for you non-Transy folk that means tool). I called the office last fall because a family of birds had taken residence on our dryer vent inside our porch. I asked if someone could please come clean it up and get rid of them before they really began nesting. It didn't get done. So in the spring, when there were baby birds, I tried again and it didn't get done. I got a reason: They won't take out a nest if the birds are still there. Fair enough. Don't like it, but I'll deal. So a month later, I notice the birds come and go, but the babies are out. This is when I begin my hate-hate relationship with James. He assures me it will get done. Normally, maintenance is pretty quick about coming out, so 3 days later, when it wasn't done, I go back and ask AGAIN. I think maybe the birds happen to be there, so maintenance skips it. But, the birds will keep coming back if they have somewhere to come back to. But what do I know. He says no problem. STILL not done. Husband is beyond livid by this point as the bird poop has over-run our otherwise nice porch. He went ahead and knocked down the nest. He calls the office, speaks to James and in no uncertain terms says the porch will be cleaned by the end of the day or the health department will be called. I get home and the porch has been cleaned...it left a little to be desired, but I no loger worry about what diseases I'll catch just by walking outside. Granted, this rant is partly on the others in the office, but I have never had pleasent encounters with him. Plus he was incredibly Phi Tau-ristic to Husband this evening when he went to follow-up on our noise complaint.

#490: PAINT! I am so excited to not have off-white walls it's ridiculous!

Brown Thumbs

I've never fancied myself as the "gardener." I enjoy seeing beautiful flowers, but am not willing to put forth time and effort towards the actual growing process. I kept a plant in middle/high school, but that was enough of a commitment. I left it in the care of my parents when I went to college and it has since gone to plant heaven. My mom isn't the best at keeping plants either; she kills cacti. So I wasn't surprised to come home and see the pot, but not the plant. I will also admit I didn't leave "Philemon" in the best of health anyway, so it's not Mom's fault (I love you)!
When I moved into my own apartment I made the goal to keep a plant. I would water it regularly and watch it grow and brighten up the boring off-white walled room. I researched the plants available at my local Wal-Mart and corner garden center. I considered the needs of the corner and bought a plant accordingly. I also got potting soil, a pot, and a collection tray for the water overrun. I carefully planted it and watered it regularly...a little TOO regularly. I noticed gnats flying around the room. I emptied the trash, cleaned the kitchen, and made sure all food was put away. The gnats were all over. I finally noticed they seemed to gather around my plant. So, I did what any young college grad would do--I put "gnats in a plant" into Google to see what would come up. Sure enough, that can happen when you over-water a plant. I tried not watering it for awhile, to let the soil dry out to no avail. I went to Lowes and bought some spray. That cured the gnat problem, but made my plant sick. When I gave it water again, the gnats came back. Finally, I took the whole plant, pot and all, put it in a garbage bag, and threw it in the dumpster. So much for my green apartment.
When we moved into this apartment, I decided to take another stab at growing plants. I considered the needs of the space and got 2 small plants for our bay window. After some frustration, figured out a watering schedule and both are thriving. Then, Adam came home with a pot of 3 different plants for Administrative Assistants Day. One I knew as a philedendron, easy. Another is what I think is a peace lily. At least I identified it! I still have no idea what the other one is though. All of our plants are doing very well, except for one. The peace lily does what I call "fake dying" and it drives me crazy! I try to remember every couple of weeks to water the plants. Mr. Peace Lily doesn't like that. So like a 4-year-old, it gets dramatic. It limps over the side of the pot and goes all wilty. Guess what happens when it gets what it wants? Pops right back up and even gets a flower or two. Who knew raising plants is this difficult?