sj, I'm sorry your landlady insists on being a PITA. When she arrives with the person tomorrow you should open the door with, "I'm so glad you're here because now I can show you the leak I've been telling you about!"

That was the other thing she stopped doing. We told her we were not comfortable with strangers in our apartment unless her or her husband was there, and she agreed. Then, she just stopped coming with them.

If your landlord is otherwise decent, I wouldn't split hairs, or let myself get upset by a 21 hour notice instead of 24. I know 24 hours is your right, but it's not like she called you at suppertime. The realtor is likely pushing her, because they don't want the client to buy something else from another realtor in the meantime, and buyers want to see places on their own schedule.

She's not decent. Being asked to constantly leave our apartment is becoming very inconvenient and a nuisance, and she has very much made it clear that she doesn't care about anyone's inconveniences but her own.

Thanks, Vortex. I wish I had the nerve to stand up for myself like that, but the truth is I don't.

It’s cool. Not everyone is as confrontational as I am :) But, I think that you should write her a letter, even if you don’t want to talk to her about it.

If your landlord is otherwise decent, I wouldn't split hairs, or let myself get upset by a 21 hour notice instead of 24. I know 24 hours is your right, but it's not like she called you at suppertime. The realtor is likely pushing her, because they don't want the client to buy something else from another realtor in the meantime, and buyers want to see places on their own schedule.

I totally disagree. This woman has shown her willingness to take advantage of them in the past, and this kind of thing is a slippery slope. Next thing you know, she’ll be calling you on her way, and expect you to have the place spotless when she arrives.

I’m sure that the realtor IS pushing her, but that’s not your problem. It may mean that she’s not doing it on purpose, but that doesn’t mean that she doesn’t have to live up to your agreement.

sj, you mean the people who are looking to buy come without any escort or just with her husband? I'm confuzzeled.

Now I'm wondering if I need to give Fred Pete grief about this...

Pearls Before Breakfast

Joshua Bell is one of the world's greatest violinists. His instrument of choice is a multimillion-dollar Stradivarius. If he played it for spare change, incognito, outside a bustling Metro stop in Washington, would anyone notice? [link]

sj, you mean the people who are looking to buy come without any escort or just with her husband? I'm confuzzeled.

They come with the real estate agent, which I guess is fine, but it just creeps me out a bit that more people have keys to our place and that there are all strangers in here. Plus, they leave the door the the shared space in the cellar unlocked every single time, despite being asked not to, which means any of the other tenants can get in our apartment. Which reminds me, I am going to go put a sign that says, "please keep locked" on the cellar door right now.

Mal's been taking notes from Owen.

sj, I'm sorry you have to deal with this. This woman just sounds like she's angry and resentful about the duties and responsibilities of being a landlord and is trying to end them as soon as possible. She's just not being very respectful and taking it out on you.

Grrr. DH and some friends from work were planning on going to the new Sonic for dinner tonight. Only, there is no indoor eating area and it's too cold to eat outdoors. I offered to let the coworkers come to our place with their kids and eat their Sonic. They even offered to buy our dinner. Of course DH is grousing because he hates to bring take-out burgers home--says they are cold and he hates to eat them that way. He'd much rather I sit and try to feed two toddlers sitting in their car seats. ::eyeroll::

Me, I'm up for a free burger and don't care if it's lukewarm as long as I don't have to drag the kids out in this rainy, cold weather.

Sorry, Raq. My Metro station is Federal Center.

We had some LaRouchies passing out leaflets about something or other one evening last week. I had my iPod with me, so I didn't hear a word they said. And I almost never take leaflets from strangers.

Joshua Bell is one of the world's greatest violinists. His instrument of choice is a multimillion-dollar Stradivarius. If he played it for spare change, incognito, outside a bustling Metro stop in Washington, would anyone notice? [link]

Maybe I'm just being overly cranky, but that article rubs me the wrong way. (Not just cause it kept crashing Safari). Dude. It was morning rush hour. Try me around noon on a weekend.

Kids get up in the middle of the night to play when they are 15 too, but it usually involves text messaging friends and doesn't usually wake me. Yay!

JZ, have a glass of wine (or brandy) and then nurse. I hear it works wonders.

I don't know if it does anything for the baby, but mom might get back to sleep easier.

Hi Sox!

I’m sure that the realtor IS pushing her, but that’s not your problem. It may mean that she’s not doing it on purpose, but that doesn’t mean that she doesn’t have to live up to your agreement.

I don't suggest that for the landlady's sake. I was suggesting it for sj's. If you can be assertive without it exhausting/upsetting you, it's one thing to say, "Sorry, our agreement is 24 hours notice."

When you aren't assertive enough to be heard and understood the first time, and can't/won't further assert yourself without getting yourself all upset, three hours is (to me) a small price to pay.

She's not decent. Being asked to constantly leave our apartment is becoming very inconvenient and a nuisance, and she has very much made it clear that she doesn't care about anyone's inconveniences but her own.

I know, and I know it sucks. I wasn't suggesting it for her sake, just yours. I hope you find something for yourselves, soon.