phyncke

I am done for the week here - we had a staff lunch today - which was nice - we all ate lunch together on Zoom for the one year anniversary of work from home and had a few laughs and then we were dismissed for the week. We have tomorrow off for Spring Holiday and they gave us this afternoon as a freebie. So nice long weekend here. Yay. I am ready for the weekend. It looks like we will be going back to the office in the Fall in some manner. Not sure how it will look - maybe part time or something. That is what our VP said today. Will see what that means.

I think I am going to Santa Cruz this weekend - on Saturday - just to look around and get some oceanside time. I really like it there and it is very peaceful on the cliffs by the water there. I love looking at the waves crashing on the rocks there. The weather is supposed to be nice this weekend so will be great. We go to Woodstock Pizza for a meal and the bookstore there is amazing. Nice big independent bookstore. They have a great bakery too. We make a few stops there.

So the realtor showed the house today to a few people - mostly investor types. Not very nice people. One guy wanted to destroy our lovely yard and pave it over for parking. That kind of thing. My neighbor, B*** - is calling the rental board to see what our rights are. Here we go again. I hope this guy did not get it. Not a nice guy and I don't see him appreciating the charms of our house. Anyhoo. That happened today. Not good.

I figured out what to do about the car and will be getting a new transmission. It is lots of money but I have it covered. It is much less than a new car and there are many reasons why I cannot afford a new car or a car payment right now. So that is what I am doing. Not going into the ins and outs of the decisions but I feel better now that I know what I am doing on that. Just have to plan it all and it is easier to get this done with the work from home thing. More able to leave the car for some days in the shop.

OK. That is about it for me. I am glad it is my weekend now. Hope you are doing well where you are. Cheers to you!

So here is the weekend update. I finally cleaned my bathroom and that was good. I am cleaning challenged right now and am able to do my daily chores but not the real clean. I will get it eventually. I just cannot get that vacuum out and do the deep clean. Having trouble with that. I need to, just don't feel like it. Honestly don't want to. It is a little dusty in here, I have to admit. Ugh.

I got a new shower curtain and rug for my bathroom and am redecorating that. Really lovely designed one and a blue rug. Totally excited about that. I think it will look cool. I think it all matches the paint on the wall and all that so cool. Minimal investment and that room will look much better.

Today I am going to the movie Argo - it is about Iran and the hostage crisis there in the 70's, starring Ben Affleck. I am really looking forward to this one and have been for a while. A friend of mine is taking me for my birthday treat. We have a little birthday tradition going on for that. So fun. We get cupcakes and popcorn from Trader Joe's and make a whole day of it. Yays!

My mom's cat passed away this week. Wyeth was 19 and a big Maine Coon. He was a bit neurotic but a gorgeous cat. My mom is pretty sad about that but had to make the decision based on his health situation. That is how it goes. Boo has to go in for tests in a few weeks. Will see how she is doing on her CRF and renal stuff. She sleeps a lot but is eating fine and seems ok. Chugging along there. I am prepared for all eventualities.

Anyhoo. Sunday posting it up. Thank you to Sian265 for the lovely v-gift for my birthday and hope you are all having a good weekend!


www.laurahonest.com

So a few days ago, my neighbor emails me with the subject line, one word "Weird" and details about how she met some guy who is living in our garage and parking his van in our driveway. An older man. He has the garage set up to live in with couch and clothes etc. A few of us email back and forth in WTF fashion and this is yet another example of our greedy landlord trying to get more money out of the house by adding "an apartment" as the garage. I tried to catch a glimpse of the person myself but did not see him all weekend. 

I get a text as I am leaving work "He is sitting in the driveway, chainsmoking cigarettes". So I knew, on my way home that I could take the back street and walk right by that drive way and "run into him". My plan was to snoop, introduce myself and get a look into that garage and see what the heck is going on there. If in fact it is set up as a living space or just storage and figure out the deal. 

I near the place, my home, and end my cell phone convo and saunter into the driveway. The conversation starts in edgy manner. I was a little too aggressive but I suddenly realize the guy will tell me nothing if I don't get him to relax. I get more casual and friendly. Try and lull him to make more conversation. I physically move the conversation into the doorway of the garage so I can clearly see the place. He has a couch (fold out) in there, clothes, a fridge, a computer set up on a table, a rug on the floor. He had just done a load of laundry in our machines and his socks were all over the couch. 

He denied living there and said that he has a place in SF (impossible to verify). But as we conversed, he almost admitted it was a live work space. My question is - there is no running water in there. Where is he going to the bathroom? No bathroom in there! I am afraid of the answers to my questions! 

Earlier in the day, I spent a solid hour, once I got info from the rental board, researching all the contacts for the Code Enforcement Office at the City of Berkeley. Clearly this is an attempt by our landlord to create a habitable dwelling where there really is none. I am going to nail him for this...to the wall. He has no idea. I made friendly with the person. But honestly - Mr. Chainsmoking Weirdo Dude is gonna be gone. 

Long gone. I will keep you all posted on here. For sure. 

I am having a devil of a time getting the LJ scrapbook to work for my share on the Bunday today so I am having to amend what I usually do here. I am going with an illustrated approach that I think will be acceptable to the censors on Photobucket. This is a work from LP Designs and has a nice tush in it. I really love art work too and so this will have to suffice today. These men are pretty buff as drawn and pleasing too. No cut today, I am just putting it out there.



In my little world:
It is going to be a really stormy day. Kind of wintery. I still have to get things done so I am going to brave the weather and winds to do so. Definitely laundry. We will see if I venture further. I do want to see about the Farmer's Market but might wait until better weather on Tuesday. Just have to play that by air. There are a few markets during the week so I have more chances to get my stuff. I have a market right here and can get what I need for a few days.

Tomorrow is a free day (furlough) but we got a notice about a house inspection from a company. I think this smells like the house is selling and am philosophical about that. Our current landlord is such a dink that it might be really good to get someone better. I am in a rent control place so there won't be a rent hike. Just have to play it by air. I have also been looking at purchase pricing around here and the market is getting way better. I figure that a mortgage payment would be a big less than I am paying in rent so that is something to think about. It is best to be flexible and resilient. I have told them that I want to be present for the inspection and want to see what stage the current landlord is at with this. Pending sale or beginning of process. Information is key for planning what I might do.

Cheers to all and have a great day! I hope your weather is nice there.


by hisescape

So my landlord is trying to get me to move out because he wants to make capital improvements AND he wants to now charge me a security deposit when it was previously refunded to me. I have checked this all out with the Rent Stabilization Board. A legal letter from the Community Law Center will go to him and I am going to take legal action now. I was also advised that because he has acted in a harrassing manner to three, now probably four of the tenants here, that we have the basis of a very good punitive damages law suit. I am ready to go for the jugular.

Here is what I wrote in an email to the other tenants here:

I am telling you. I have had a very stressful day. I was home sick and I am mightily pissed off. I want to nail this guy to the wall.


I am really angry. You don't want to get me angry.

So a day off here in the ponderosa and I am drinking one of those endless cups of coffee. I keep reheating it in the micro when it gets cold. Still tastes good to me. *nod*

I have been organizing and tidying the palatial estate...*coughs* and lo and behold what do I find, but a painting that I bought about a year ago, all wrapped up in its paper from the gallery and not hung up. It is a lovely painting and I do remember buying it now but I had put it away thinking to hang it when I had time and simply forgot about it. O.o. It is just a stunning piece of work by a local artist named Ed Terpening. It is of Sea Ranch which is north of San Francisco on the coast.

( Here is a digital shot of the painting... )

The colors are much more vibrant in person, but this gives you an idea of what it looks like. It is very serene and I love sunsets.

I am going to make pancakes for brunch and then go in search of those things you need to hang paintings with. I am all out.


Cheers and have a good day.

I am loving this Basque thing....

Post over Sunday morning coffee. Ahh the marine layer. Houston, we have a fog bank. It is rolling off the hills and it is nice and cold right now. I love that. Our own natural air conditioning. It did not really get hot here yesterday. It was in the low 80's so not that bad.

( My meanderings yesterday and other things... )

Thanks for listening to my long ramble. *snort* I thought this would be a short post.

I put that all behind a cut since it got longer than I expected! :)