![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Greg on May 17, 2000, at 18:04:46
Noa,
I don't know how things work on your side of the world (New York if I remember correctly?), but here in California a landlord or his employees are not allowed to enter your premises without written permission (although verbals are acceptable in some cases). The only exception being if they believe that there is a situation that threatens property damage, such as fire, broken water pipe, etc. As far as the condition of your home, as long as you're not putting holes in the walls, ripping up the carpet, breaking windows or something like that, it's none of their damn business how you keep your home! This is clearly a violation of your right to privacy. I would look at your lease and find out exactly what they are allowed to do and not do. Then check with your states rental laws and make sure that your landlord is complying with them. God Noa, I would be SO PISSED! I guess whether or not to push the issue depends on whether you feel up to it or not, but at the very least let the landlord know that this is totally unacceptable to you and any further violations will be reported to the police. If someone is allowed to enter your home without getting permission, what's not to say that some unscrupulous person wouldn't help themselves to your belongings? It happens all the time. OK, end of tirade.My day was pretty good, no major FUBAR. Thanks for asking. I actually have a day where my son doesn't have a game or practice to go to (Little League...) I got to come home and sit in front of the computer (one of my addictions) and relax. I've contacted a research institute here locally that is trying out some new meds for GAD. I have an appt with them next Tuesday to meet with their Psychiatrist for an hour. If that goes well them I go thru a physical, if I pass that they will start me on the new med. They won't tell me what the med is though, and I'm a little concerned about that, I've never really viewed myself as a guinea pig.... The Wellbutrin seems to be triggering my anxiety (I think...therefore I am?) and thought something new might be worth a try, probably should let my doc know about it though, huh? I am going on vacation (I'll really miss you guys) for a week starting next Wednesday (camping in beautiful Southern Utah), and I'm really getting excited about that, except for meeting my wife's father, I hear he's a real piece of work. WOW! I'm getting excited about something, maybe I am getting better, baby steps I suppose. Well Noa, I didn't mean to talk your ear off, but when I heard about your "break in" I just really had to say something, it really is total b**ls**t. Let me know what happens, his excuse should be interesting....
You have Bell Atlantic, we have Pacific Bell....cute.
Have a peaceful evening,
Greg
Posted by Kathie on May 17, 2000, at 18:26:37
In reply to Noa, I would have a MAJOR problem with that!, posted by Greg on May 17, 2000, at 18:04:46
Noa,
I totally agree with Greg!! Totally.
Greg, I asked earlier how you were doing but I have the answer now so you don't have to write it all out again for me..8)
Have a good evening.
Kathie
Posted by Greg on May 17, 2000, at 19:27:32
In reply to Noa, I would have a MAJOR problem with that!, posted by Greg on May 17, 2000, at 18:04:46
Noa,
It just dawned on me(albeit slowly thru my occasionally thick skull) that I discounted your feelings about how you felt about having someone see your house when it wasn't clean. I feel the same way about mine. I freak when somebody knocks on the door when the house is dirty. I don't think that anyone could fault you given how you've been feeling though. I just really got caught up in the indignity of having your house entered when you weren't home.Sorry if I was insensitive.
Greg
Posted by Noa on May 18, 2000, at 9:10:09
In reply to Re: Noa, One more thing, posted by Greg on May 17, 2000, at 19:27:32
I did not feel discounted at all. Thanks.
I guess what I worry about if I call the management, is this: This is a condo unit. The owner has been good in that I had two one-year leases in a row with no rent increase, which is very unusual around here. He is now asking for an increase, which is ok, but he seems to have made an error in his letter to me. He wrote that he is increasing the rent from 795/mo to 825/mo. Well, I don't pay 795, I pay 695. So, I think it is just a typo, and we have been trading phone messages, and I haven't spoken to him about it yet. After the first lease ended, he had planned to visit and see how I was keeping the place, and said that if I am keeping it well, he would not raise the rent. I scrambled to clean it last year, with a good friend's help, but the owner ended up cancelling because of an unexpected business trip he had to go on. Anyway, I am a bit worried now that if the condo management, maintenance, whatever, has told my owner how the place looks, that when I call, the owner is going to say that he feels a need to raise it to 825 (not 725, as I think he originally meant). In this market, he can do that. Things have gotten very expensive in the past year. I cannot affort 825.
I know it sounds far fetched, but I am feeling paranoid.
I am thinking about calling the owner first, and if I can clear all that up, then I will call the condo office to complain about coming in to my unit just for a running toilet.
Posted by Greg on May 18, 2000, at 9:39:59
In reply to Re: Noa, One more thing, posted by Noa on May 18, 2000, at 9:10:09
Trust me, I am no stranger to paranoia. I understand completely.
$695 a month!?!, I pay $1395, and that's good for this area. Wanna trade? Of course my kids come with the deal....
I hope that you are able to talk to the owner without jeapordizing (sp?) your situation.
May your day be a walk in the park,
Greg
Posted by Noa on May 18, 2000, at 17:16:50
In reply to Re: Noa, One more thing, posted by Greg on May 18, 2000, at 9:39:59
Greg, my rent is very very cheap for this area. I think it is because even though rents are steep around here, the standard level of amenities is pretty high. So, even though the apartments around here are pricey, especially within the past year or so, you usually get a relatively recent kitchen and bath, dishwasher, wall to wall, central air, easy access to laundry (down the hall or even in the apartment itself), pool, etc. My place, otoh, is an individually owned condo that has not been updated since going condo in the early 80's, and much is original from the 1940's (other units in this development that have been refurbished go for much more rent). It has no dishwasher, the kitchen cabinets are pretty shallow and the cupboard doors don't stay closed. The utensil drawers pull out not on tracks, but with the bottom of the drawer riding directly on the bare wood, which causes lots of sawdust, meaning the cupboard space underneath is worthless for food. I do keep some containers, pots, etc, but they must be rinsed every time I use them (hah!! use them? when was the last time I cooked?). The bathroom is not updated either, although I prefer it that way, because it has some charm to it--has the original black and white tile, art-deco sink and hardware (falling apart, but cute). The closets are older, ie, small, whereas in newer buildings, there are usually walk-in closets, or wall-to wall closets. There is no pool in this development, and the laundry is outside and around the corner, in the basement of another building. The unit came with one room air conditioner, and I bought another. I like the place a lot. It has nice hardwood floors, which is unusual for apartments around here they are usually carpet over concrete or carpet over messed up parquet --in the earlier era buildings--50s, 60s-- or if you are lucky, halfway decent parquet), and it has some character to it, unlike all the concrete 70's and 80's era apartment houses. And it has quick access to outdoors, with nice small-scale brick house-like buildings and gardens. So, not complaining about the amenities, but you get the idea as to why the rent is low, when people are used to getting more for their rent around here. Which was culture shock for me when I moved here from Boston (and was in NY before that). In Boston, YOU pay someone to find you an apartment. Here, they often pay you, ie first month rent free (although this is beginning to change--the market is getting tighter). In Boston, you are lucky if you even have laundry in the building (basement, whatever). Here it is usual to have it on your floor, or in your apartment. In Boston, rents are high and spaces are TINY. Here, rents are high, but spaces are decent. To have a porch in Boston is for the elite. Here, it is common. (oh, yeah, I have no porch). I moved into this building from a more expensive one with a pool, porch, etc etc because I couldn't afford it anymore, and wanted to stop living beyond my means.
Thing is, the housing market is getting hotter and apartments are getting more expensive, so my days of this "find" with cheap cheap rent, are probably limited.
I made some phone calls today. I cleared things up with the phone company and should have service back on tonight. I called and left a message for the landlord to clarify the rent increase. And, I called the condo manager about the maintenace entry into my apartment. He agreed to always notify me and clear it with me before coming in. They said they did that because they couldn't reach me (phone was disconnected) and they only had my old work phone number. I suggested if that were to happen, and it wasn't an emergency, just leave a note under my door to call them. They agreed. It turns out the guy never mentioned to the condo manager that the place was a mess. The manager put it this way, "Bob has been in about 10,000 apartments over the years, and he has seen it all. He really doesn't care and doesn't tell me anything about them".
Phew!
Posted by bob on May 18, 2000, at 23:56:19
In reply to Re: Noa, One more thing, posted by Noa on May 18, 2000, at 17:16:50
> The manager put it this way, "Bob has been in about 10,000 apartments over the years, and he has seen it all. He really doesn't care and doesn't tell me anything about them".
>
> Phew!Well now! You didn't say ANYTHING about the guy's name being Bob! Lots of worry over nothing, I say.
;^) =^P
bob (not the maintenance man)
Posted by Greg on May 19, 2000, at 7:31:01
In reply to Re: Noa, One more thing, posted by bob on May 18, 2000, at 23:56:19
Mr. bob (sir)
I have an acquaintance named Bob who I wouldn't leave alone in my home if my life depended on it. This just serves to prove that contrary to what the Constitution says, "All Bobs are NOT created equal".BTW, I continue to be impressed with your writing skills, if you ever get the urge to move to the Silicon Valley, look me up. I can always use a good Technical Writer.
Greg
> > The manager put it this way, "Bob has been in about 10,000 apartments over the years, and he has seen it all. He really doesn't care and doesn't tell me anything about them".
> >
> > Phew!
>
> Well now! You didn't say ANYTHING about the guy's name being Bob! Lots of worry over nothing, I say.
>
> ;^) =^P
> bob (not the maintenance man)
Posted by Cindy W on May 19, 2000, at 9:19:28
In reply to Re: Noa, One more thing - bob, posted by Greg on May 19, 2000, at 7:31:01
> Mr. bob (sir)
> I have an acquaintance named Bob who I wouldn't leave alone in my home if my life depended on it. This just serves to prove that contrary to what the Constitution says, "All Bobs are NOT created equal".
>
> BTW, I continue to be impressed with your writing skills, if you ever get the urge to move to the Silicon Valley, look me up. I can always use a good Technical Writer.
>
> Greg
>
> > > The manager put it this way, "Bob has been in about 10,000 apartments over the years, and he has seen it all. He really doesn't care and doesn't tell me anything about them".
> > >
> > > Phew!
> >
> > Well now! You didn't say ANYTHING about the guy's name being Bob! Lots of worry over nothing, I say.
> >
> > ;^) =^P
> > bob (not the maintenance man)Noa, hope things go OK with your abode. As an OCD hoarder, I always cringe when somebody even looks in the front door. But maintenance people I'm sure have seen worse, so I hide most of the worst mess and put it back after they leave!--Cindy W
Posted by bob on May 19, 2000, at 18:27:02
In reply to Re: Noa, One more thing - bob, posted by Greg on May 19, 2000, at 7:31:01
> Mr. bob (sir)
> I have an acquaintance named Bob who I wouldn't leave alone in my home if my life depended on it. This just serves to prove that contrary to what the Constitution says, "All Bobs are NOT created equal".Well, yeah, sadly that's true, but those are usually Robs, not Bobs (=^P to all the Robs lurking out there ;^).
Then, of course, there was Microsoft Bob. Never in the history of the universe had Bobs everywhere been given a nastier black eye than that.
cheers,
bob (the real thing)
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.