Smooth criminal

I'm trying very hard to not write daily about the horrors of apartment hunting. That might be as bad as the rash of "weather" blogging I perpetrated late in 2002.

Anyway, the hunt continues and what I've determined is that in the eyes of landlords (I've met so far) and airport security I am a criminal and a deviant until I prove otherwise. (To be fair, I suspect we are all deviants and criminals until we prove otherwise in the eyes of certain groups - see above.)

For the record, we are not deviants or criminals. In fact, exactly 100% of us have been cleared by the US Government to such a degree that one of us has security clearance. So I talked to this kind of hostile woman who is very protective of her building. Look - it's the landlord's right. I absolutely understand and am empathetic to such a position.

Our conversation, in which I responded to her had was hostile (on her side) and continued to be hostile when I went to the place to look at it. I thought things might be easier if we dealt directly with the landlord. I have been upfront and specific in my requirements and in our "limitations" - in that we don't want to move in before August and that we have a cat. I have not hidden this information. It's the first thing I tell everyone.

I have no idea why people think they can change that reality. I'm not dumping the cat and barring some extraordinary circumstances I can't move before August.

I have never been so strongly tempted to pull a Hail Mary and try to buy a place on the fly. I know it's such a bad idea, but then I'd never have to look for a rental again.

Deeps and I have started splitting up the viewings because it's so brutal that to subject us both is unfair. One of us goes the other stays behind to provide moral support upon return.

I haven’t felt this persecuted and paranoid since…. probably when I was a teenager and listened to too much Morrisey.

Labels: 2004