I need some advice.

I realized the other night that the majority of the outlets in the house are two prong and not three prong. I've had to run extension cords in order to get my tv/dvd/vcr and computer plugged in. I'm sure this isn't the safest thing to do.

But I'm not sure how to approach my landlady --- I know that there wasn't much done on the house in the 10 yrs that my grandmother lived there and for some reason she bought the stove and maybe the fridge. I feel kind of demandy because I've already mentioned the gutters need to be cleaned, the screens need to be replaced, and asked to have an exterminator come because of possible rats. They were keeping the rent really low Grandma E and only raised it by $50 for me. They could get at least $300 more for the place and I haven't signed a lease yet so I'm worried that my landlady will think I'm too much trouble.

I was thinking about waiting and sending a note about the outlets with next months rent. Should I mention it now, or just wait?

Askye, can't you just get adapters for the outlets?

t edit Something like this: [link]

Or a single adapter, like this: [link]

And this one is a thing of beauty, because of its many outlets (I use it in my apartment): [link]

askye, I'm not sure about the timing - I'd wait, but I'm kind of diffident towards landlords right now, so my advice might not be the most objective. I"d certainly want a signed lease first.

However, I do recommend that you approach the landlady about an improvement to her property that will make it more valuable to future tenants, and maybe volunteer to get it done and deduct the expense from the following months rent (giving her the receipt so she can deduct the cost of property improvement from her taxes). That way it's no trouble to her, you get exactly what you want done and it's (eventually) no cost to you. You do have to front the cost of the upgrade, which may or may not be doable.

(eta: or just get adapters. I've used them, but I never really trusted them. I have no reason for this distrust)

Askye, can't you just get adapters for the outlets?

Actually, there are good reasons to mistrust adapters. They allow you to plug in three-pronged cords, but your outlets are still not grounded. Surge protection won't work as well as it's supposed to, because the ground is the best path for the electricity. Ungrounded outlets also indicate an older electrical system that might not be adequate for modern demands. I'm not sure how you convince a landlady to replace an electrical system, though. It's a pretty expensive proposition.

could it be night terrors?

Night terrors are usually pretty obvious. There is absolutely no consoling the child--who's still asleep but usually pretty active physically. I was worried when O kept waking up and crying, seeming to still be asleep so I called the pediatrician. As long as they're consolable, I don't think they're considered night terrors.

Toddlers are crafty, manipulative little people and if they don't want to sleep alone, they'll do anything they can to achieve that end.

We finally broke down and did the crying thing and it worked. Only it's more of an on-going process because things will still cause interruptions in the cycle and he'll go back to waking up or sleeping less, because of teething, travel, or whatever. I just try to get through those re-training periods whenever I can and enjoy the times when he's sleeping through while they're there.

I'm just lucky because he's not big enough to get out of the crib yet. I can't imagine dealing with a child in a toddler bed who decides he or she wants to go and get into bed with Mommy and Daddy on their own. Or who can actually speak words--plaintively yelling for me and crying for long periods of time. *shudder* I'm already formulating a plan to deal.

The wiring may need to be replaced eventually anyway, though. I guess that depends on what demand for rentals in the area is like. But if your willing to have the work done while you're living there (and paying rent) taht would be better for the owner than having to do it between tenants. I would think.

Anyone have advice on buying a washer and dryer?

Anyone have advice on buying a washer and dryer?

No advice, but I think Sears is having a big sale...worth checking out anyway.

As long as they're consolable, I don't think they're considered night terrors.

Yeah. I looked it up and I don't think it's that either. She snuggles right up and stops crying when we go in to her.

It just drives me batshit -- she goes to bed every night just fine, after books and milk and cuddles. But come 2 a.m., boy, she is not going back to sleep. And she's got major willpower -- one night the tears went on for an hour before we gave up.

I can't imagine dealing with a child in a toddler bed who decides he or she wants to go and get into bed with Mommy and Daddy on their own.

Ben, the 8-year-old, was so funny because we finally took the crib down when he was three, and gave him a toddler bed. He'd never climbed out of the crib, and he didn't understand that he could get out of the toddler bed whenever he wanted to. He'd wake up in the morning and call, "Mommy! I'm waked up!" and just lie there waiting for us. He's still a peach.

She snuggles right up and stops crying when we go in to her.

That's not night terrors. I kind of remember doing the same thing - waking up and yelling for mom in the middle of the night (though I must have been older) because I was scared of the dark and, well, she'd come. I don't remember that anythign was done about it, though, I just eventually got over it, I think.

vw, we're going to Sears tonight. I'm anticipating being completely overwhelmed by the array of choices and being putty in some happy salesperson's hands. I feel like I should know more about what I want from an appliance I could have for the next 20-30 years, you know?

-t, I have an online Consumer Reports subscription. I could e-mail you the recommendations, if you want.