Curious Things

We still haven't gotten our security deposit, and our landlord's "Representative" appears to be avoiding responding to our requests to schedule a walk through. This means I can't exactly talk about the debacle that was renting from that guy.

However I will say we did not shovel any snow from around this house, not even on the driveway where there was so much the day we moved in we were forced to live with a terribly icy driveway for a few weeks.

Shockingly! DRY BASEMENT.

I have a feeling we aren't being invited to do a walk-through because our old basement is (once again) full of water.

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In other news I am going to Indianapolis today at some point between when I drop the kids at school and 11:00am. Yes I realize Indy isn't exactly the Bahamas. But in these tough times we all have to live well with less. I'm a simple girl and 5 hours alone in a car with whatever music I want to listen to? Sounds pretty great. Add to that seeing great people? It's all palm trees and swim up bars as far as I'm concerned.

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Did you know that I've been without my laptop for three weeks now?

By the lack of hysterical whining and crying about it you'd think this was less difficult than it is. But no I'm hysterically whining and crying inside. I just know there's nothing to be done about this situation until we regain our financial equilibrium from the move (and, you know, pull our money from the Ex-Landlord's Cold Dead Hands). So I'm choosing not to get hysterical.

But seriously, this is awful. You know in the same way a really stingy paper cut is "awful" or finding out you left your electric juicer in that one bottom cabinet at your old place and now you've got to juice 30 limes for a party all by hand.

OHMYGODYOUGUYS THIS IS WORSE THAN I THOUGHT!!!!!!

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I glimpsed one of our new neighbors today. She looks like Gwyneth Paltrow's mom.

I'm not sure what this means.

Comments

[Sarah]

That you shouldn't make fun of the name Apple. Just in case.

[Amy]

So long as she doesn't have a boat sitting in the driveway, it's all good, right?

[Joy]

Please tell me you took pictures of everything and the basement before you left! If you didn't try to use the juicer as an excuse to go back and do it. I'm holding my breath for you!

Have a safe trip!

[Candy]

Blythe Danner lives down the street? That's awesome!

[nelking]

I am now picturing Blythe Danner with a 14 ft Alumaweld boat in her driveway.

[Elizabeth]

I think the worst scenario is having that nasty, stingy paper cut and then realizing you have to juice all those limes by hand. That would be brutal!

[kalle]

here's hoping that the paper cut and the lime juicing don't happen on the same day! that would really be something to whine about...ouch!

[Amy]

Random piece of unsolicited assvice:
(Hope you don't mind)
You might want to check into your state's landlord/tenant rules. In our state we only have 30 days from the last day of the lease to refund a deposit or provide an itemized list of costs for any deposit not returned. If the deposit is not addressed within 30 days, the full amount is due the tenant regardless of the condition of the house.

Good luck and sounds like it's great that you're out of there!

[dewshane]

Great point, Amy. Here in Massachusetts if the landlord doesn't return the security deposit within 30 days (or some written explanation of why the security deposit is not being returned), they owe the tenant 3x the deposit!

[dewshane]

my comments aren't posting

[dewshane]

Weird...my first comment didn't post. Anyways, great point Amy. Here in Massachusetts the landlord has 30 days to return your deposit or a written explanation of why you're not getting your deposit. Failure to do so means they owe you 3x the deposit!

[Katie]

Ditto what Amy said on the time line. Also in Maryland (not Michigan, I know), the landlord is required to pay you interest on the returned security deposit. Weird huh?

So sorry about the laptop! Mine no longer holds a charge in the battery so I'm always plugged in. Don't really want to spend $$$ on a new battery and having to carry around a power cord kinda lessens the awesomeness of a laptop.

[Sara]

I have no advice of any kind, but I will say: Welcome to Indianapolis! Hope your stay here is great (and at least 5 degrees warmer than MI).

[El]

I'm in Michigan and had to look this up about a year ago, and your landlord does have only 30 days to refund the deposit or send you an itemized list of damages.

[Jess]

Didn't you withhold the last months rent?

[Robin]

That would be Blythe Danner and she's fabulous. I'm sure it's a good omen. (And I'm so glad you had an ok report on your mamo!)

[Amy]

Aren't you glad you didn't buy that place? That was the house you so wanted to buy right? A flooded basement cannot be good for the foundation of the house. Not to mention MOLD problems (sorry, mold scares me) and the bathroom that was falling apart.

Enjoy your vacation!

[Megan Orem]

Just a suggestion with the Macbook. I'm not sure if you've taken it in to the Geniuses yet, but Apple has a depot service for out of warranty notebooks. It's a flat rate as long as there's no physical damage to it. It's around $300 so it might be worth it.

[imanitsud]

Indy: not the Bahamas, not a bad place to live, either! (Hey, we went Blue for Obama!)Are you considering Indianapolis as a possible place to MOVE?
I like it here. Next time you come you should do a meetup.

[sbk]

Yeah, 30 days in Michigan, too. I know from experience.

Plus, if he tries to give you a list of "damages" after the 30 days, you don't have to pay.

I've had two awful landlords; one of them in Royal Oak. Maybe they're related. Blech.

[Sarah]

Well, good luck with that walk-through and the security deposit. Why are some landlords so lame?

Also, maybe you shouldn't make fun of the name Apple or any really awful Paltrow films just in the off chance =) You. Never. Know.

[MH]

I a very old episode of Columbus with Blythe Danner. She was the wife of the murderer. She looked just like her daugther.

[ellen]

Not only do they have to give you the deposit back, but you are also owed any interest that the money accrued while being held in an escrow account.

[MIT Mommy]

Hi! Nice to meet you. So sorry about your laptop!!