Looks sure are deceiving. Because he initially looked like a pleasant old man.

Ahahaha.

Sean, hon, I'm so sorry. I hope you figure it out. I'm in a similar situation - either need to move, get a higher paying job, or get a second job. And I really don't want to do any of those things.

eta with the pet thing... I love Frankie more than my cats. I feel like a traitor to the Cat Nation. Completely unexpected, but that pup owns my heart. Even when he's a pain in my ass. Sometimes I get sad thinking about a future when he's gone, even though he's only four and goddess willing will be around for a long time. I still love my Queen Bitch kitty and Little Miss Melancholy, but it isn't the same, and I feel extra bad because I had them first by a long shot.

Blech. I don't like it when my friends struggle. I want to magically make it all better.

Sean, in the short term, can you start saving just a little bit of money each month to resolve the license issue? Even if you can't afford a car right now, I would think that getting your license back would be a good first step.

You can also work to get your apartment cleaned up so you can search for another roommate. It doesn't have to be fancy, just clean.

Beverly, it's a reach in closet, not a walk-in, so walling in more of the opening will make it hard to reach in and access those areas of the closet. When I woke up this morning and looked at the closet, I couldn't help but notice the rod and shelf are hung rather simply. Couple 2x4's around the sides and back of the closet, with the rod/shelf hangers screwed into it. I'm thinking, screw the custom closet thing. I can raise the rod I have up, duplicate the set up lower, and have the double rod that I want. Then it's just a matter of some drawers unit in the closet. Home Depot can do the custom cutting of the 2x4's and rod (well, if they have a rod, I think they do). Doesn't solve the door issue. But I'm guessing the rod/shelf thing will save a good $1,000!

Sean, getting your license back would be awesome. By chance, is there a zipcar station near you? That might tide you over until you get a car.

omnis, how wide is the space you want to span? If it's wider than standard closet rod, you might want to go with permanent shower rod to avoid sagging with the weight over the span. We hung a rod across the 8'3" width of our old bedroom, slipped the rod through the top hems of a pair of rather dramatic sheets before we screwed the rod to the wall. Behind the curtain we did drawer units, ceiling-hung rods, and shelves. It worked out well, and we used Home Depot closet stuff, plus a stack of cedar drawers for sweaters and a thrift store child's dresser and another small drawer unit about the size of a night stand. Doing it again, I'd have included shoe racks for the floor, or a hanging shoe bag, because moving all the frakking shoes to vacuum and putting them back was daunting enough for me to chronically postpone the vacuuming.

We do want before/after pics, you know, however you solve your dilemma.

Sean, in the short term, can you start saving just a little bit of money each month to resolve the license issue? Even if you can't afford a car right now, I would think that getting your license back would be a good first step.

I need to find steady, solid good paying work to do that. I also owe the IRS a bit of money as well, and that's my first concern.

You can also work to get your apartment cleaned up so you can search for another roommate. It doesn't have to be fancy, just clean.

The issue there is less about the apartment and more about me. I can barely live with friends and/or lovers.

Sean, getting your license back would be awesome. By chance, is there a zipcar station near you? That might tide you over until you get a car.

Don't know. Once I can get my license back, that would be worth looking into.

Maybe you should get a steady, if boring, job for now to tide you over. I know UPS hires hugely for the holidays (not drivers but workers). Andre offered to hook you up with info if you need it.

I haven't had a dog since I was a child, though I love them. But the cat of my heart is back in NC with our son. I miss him, but his vet suggested he would likely not adjust, nor even survive the trip, so he's with his boy in his familiar home. StY says he still goes to the top of the stairs and bellows for Dad, though.

Oddly, I was the human of our Jenny cat's heart, and I loved her, but she wasn't my heart-cat. And TC *is* that heart-cat for me, and he loves me. But Dad is his human.

Sean, you've all my good thoughts.

We are going to be fostering one of the soon-to-be homeless German Shepherds/Shepherd mixes from Westside, looks like. We can't adopt another dog, but we can at least help one through the transition to a forever home.

And Sean, I don't mean to pester with advice. Mostly I just want you to know I care and am wishing you well.