A shower of sparks was the figurative nail in the coffin. I'm definitely going to look into moving out in the fall.
I've never had so many problems in a rental suite before. Let's recap:
- When we first moved in the cleaners had done everything but the windowsills and blinds, which were disgusting and black for the bottom 2 feet. We called the landlord and requested he have them cleaned, which he did. But the cleaners still didn't do the windowsills very well.
- A week after we move in we notice a slight ladybug infestation. It could be worse, so we systematically removed them from the apartment one by one. I later discovered the point of entry was through the windows, where a large gathering of them had decided to camp around the window seals.
- 1 month after moving in the toilet in the suite upstairs sprung a leak and bored a hole through my bathroom ceiling. It took 2 months to finally get somebody in to fix the hole, and then another 2 months for him to come back and finish the job by sanding and painting. But he did a half-assed job and left all the sanded plaster all over the bathroom for me to clean up.
- 3 months after moving in I notice a lot of water forming a puddle behind the toilet. Thinking it's a pipe leak, I called the landlord. His plumber checked it out and said it was all because of the condensation running down the outside of the toilet and dripping off the pipe in the back. Okay, fine, no problem. I notice around this same time that the windowsills are literally filling with water from condensation. I soak up the water using paper towel, and go through 2 rolls doing so. The suggested fix for both was running the bathroom fan all the time. Refusing to run the fan 24/7 for electricity reasons (see next bullet point), I decided to set the humidity control in the hallway. 2 months later the puddle in the bathroom is still a problem and so are the windowsills.
- 4 months after moving in we recieved our first power bill in the amount of $191.00. We called Hydro to find out what's going on. They blamed the electric heating. So we turned the thermostats down by 3-4 degrees in every room. When our power bill came last week it was $213.00. That's almost $20 more than the previous one, after turning down the heat. We called hydro, but again they blamed the electric heating.
- 5 months after moving in the puddle problem in the bathrooom persists, despite the automatic humidity control turning the fans on every few hours. The control is currently set at 65% and is still triggering the fans, which is a sign of far too much humidity. I then decide to clean the windowsills, which are filled with water again. While doing so I discover black mold starting to form around the edges of the window. I also find a large mold growth on the back of the toilet. I contacted the landlord last week, and am still expecting somebody to come look at the windows, which I suspect are the source of at least three of these problems (the electric bill, the condensation, and the mold).
Now on to the newest exciting disaster:
So last night I'm sitting in the living room playing X360 like I often do. Suddenly I hear a very loud electrical buzzing and look up to see a shower of sparks spewing from the ceiling-fan light fixture. I scream and leap across the the room to the switch, turning the lights off to avoid starting an electrical fire. We check the breaker box, but it's not clear which breaker the fan is on. So instead we put tape over the switch as a reminder not to touch the lightswitch under any circumstances.
But the landlord is gone away for the weekend and the building management are MIA as well.
*Sigh*
3.22.2008
3.17.2008
Rental Suite Woes
And speaking of my landlord...
So we still haven't done that dinner thing. It's just as well. I think the next time I talk to him I'm going to try and bow out gracefully. Thanks, but no thanks.
That will probably happen tommorrow, since I have to call him anyways. It all started with a really high power bill.
Our electric bills have been excessively high that last 4 months. After talking to hydro and messing with breakers and trying to sort out the problem, my best guess is that we're just losing heat through our single-pane windows and the electric heating is working overtime to compensate.
So I started researching into ways to address the problem. I talked to a few people and made a few phone calls. I also did some online research. I went to the hardware and looked at caulking, weather stripping, and plastic coverings. And then I stocked up on cleaning supplies including paper towel, bleach, rubber gloves, etc etc.
The windows in question get a build-up of condensation. It's not just a little moisture either. It's a lot. In a matter of days I will likely have a small puddle below my windows. In 2 weeks the recesses will have become a mini-reservoir in my room.
The nasty side-effect to this is that the windows grow mold. Black mold. The toxic kind. I've also found this same mold growing on the back of my toilet where I have a similar condensation problem.
I'm not an expert when it comes to this sort of thing, but it seems pretty clear to me that something is wrong. Especially considering the humidity control automatically turns the fans on frequently and the dial is set to 65%. That's way too much humidity.
I'm not sure how to solve this since there seem to be quite a few different things going on that are all related. But they all need to be fixed. Soon. I just wish I knew what kind of professional I'd need to consult to get the answers I need. But since I don't, I'll let the landlord figure it out. It's his responsibility anyways. (Although frankly I think he's just as clueless as I am. He doesn't even live in the building. He just collects the rent from my bank account every month.)
And before my lease runs out in September, I think I'll start looking for a new place to live.
So we still haven't done that dinner thing. It's just as well. I think the next time I talk to him I'm going to try and bow out gracefully. Thanks, but no thanks.
That will probably happen tommorrow, since I have to call him anyways. It all started with a really high power bill.
Our electric bills have been excessively high that last 4 months. After talking to hydro and messing with breakers and trying to sort out the problem, my best guess is that we're just losing heat through our single-pane windows and the electric heating is working overtime to compensate.
So I started researching into ways to address the problem. I talked to a few people and made a few phone calls. I also did some online research. I went to the hardware and looked at caulking, weather stripping, and plastic coverings. And then I stocked up on cleaning supplies including paper towel, bleach, rubber gloves, etc etc.
The windows in question get a build-up of condensation. It's not just a little moisture either. It's a lot. In a matter of days I will likely have a small puddle below my windows. In 2 weeks the recesses will have become a mini-reservoir in my room.
The nasty side-effect to this is that the windows grow mold. Black mold. The toxic kind. I've also found this same mold growing on the back of my toilet where I have a similar condensation problem.
I'm not an expert when it comes to this sort of thing, but it seems pretty clear to me that something is wrong. Especially considering the humidity control automatically turns the fans on frequently and the dial is set to 65%. That's way too much humidity.
I'm not sure how to solve this since there seem to be quite a few different things going on that are all related. But they all need to be fixed. Soon. I just wish I knew what kind of professional I'd need to consult to get the answers I need. But since I don't, I'll let the landlord figure it out. It's his responsibility anyways. (Although frankly I think he's just as clueless as I am. He doesn't even live in the building. He just collects the rent from my bank account every month.)
And before my lease runs out in September, I think I'll start looking for a new place to live.
3.01.2008
In Case You Don't Hear From Me...
I'm leaving to meet my landlord for dinner 15 minutes from now. He's treating us (my roommate and I) to steak at the Keg.
He's been trying to arrange this dinner since before christmas. We've had to cancel a few times for various reasons. But he's persistent and keeps trying to reschedule. He's a very nice guy, but the idea of dinner with your landlord is just a little bit strange. Not only does if cross the imaginary professional relationship barrier, but what could we possibly even have to discuss over dinner?
I figure we'll go tonight, get it over with, and be done with it, and hopefully not have to think about it again. And maybe I can convince him to get somebody in to fix the seals on my windows.
In any case, if you haven't heard from me in 24 hours, it means I've been murdered and ended up as the Keg's feature special of the week. Should this happen, please inform my family.
_____
UPDATE: We didn't make it to the Keg, so I'm still alive. We had agreed on a 6pm dinner, which got pushed to 6:30pm, and then to 7pm. And of course the landlord didn't take into account that it would be busy on a saturday, so we would have had to wait until 8pm to eat. We didn't want to wait that long, so we cancelled at the last minute and rescheduled for later in the week. I'd like to be happy that we've postponed this dinner since I'm not really excited about it, but I'd rather just get the whole thing over with.
He's been trying to arrange this dinner since before christmas. We've had to cancel a few times for various reasons. But he's persistent and keeps trying to reschedule. He's a very nice guy, but the idea of dinner with your landlord is just a little bit strange. Not only does if cross the imaginary professional relationship barrier, but what could we possibly even have to discuss over dinner?
I figure we'll go tonight, get it over with, and be done with it, and hopefully not have to think about it again. And maybe I can convince him to get somebody in to fix the seals on my windows.
In any case, if you haven't heard from me in 24 hours, it means I've been murdered and ended up as the Keg's feature special of the week. Should this happen, please inform my family.
_____
UPDATE: We didn't make it to the Keg, so I'm still alive. We had agreed on a 6pm dinner, which got pushed to 6:30pm, and then to 7pm. And of course the landlord didn't take into account that it would be busy on a saturday, so we would have had to wait until 8pm to eat. We didn't want to wait that long, so we cancelled at the last minute and rescheduled for later in the week. I'd like to be happy that we've postponed this dinner since I'm not really excited about it, but I'd rather just get the whole thing over with.
2.24.2008
Ashes
Earlier this week a friend lost everything he owns in a fire in Toronto. It's been quite the shock to everbody. At the same time, people are really pulling together to help him out. It's funny how through the magic of the internet our generation is redeining the meaning and scope of the idea of "community". It's a bittersweet truth that tragedy really does pull people closer together.
If you'd like to help out Alex, please visit Jessica's blog and click the donate button.
People who have commented about the fire or have had similiar experiences have been commenting on his and my sister's blog about what they grabbed on the way out. Everybody seems to say that either they grabbed the family photos, or they wish they had because they missed those the most.
Maybe I'm missing something here. I mean, I would hate to lose all my things. But they're just that: things. The cost to replace everything I own would be brutal, but ultimately they're all physical possessions that won't mean a thing in the long run. They're all replaceable, mostly dispensable things. And I don't see my photo albums as being any different.
I have certain possessions that have emotional significance attached to them, and I'd miss this things. Things like the Teddy Bear I've had since my first birthday, for example. But my photos would be the absolute last thing I'd be upset about losing. To me a photo is a visual reminder of a memory. But the memory, to me, is more important than the photos themselves. Photos are images printed on pieces of paper - more useless material possessions that take up space in my closet. And while I can take or leave the photos, I can carry the memories and emotions with me for the rest of my life. If I want to remember a family vacation from 10 years ago, all I need to do is close my eyes and think back to that time. My memory of events may have changed, but our perspectives and opinions on things that happen to us change all the time, and I don't see that as a bad thing.
Maybe I'm just being far too practical here. Maybe I'm just an insensitive jerk who doesn't get it.
But moreover, I'm fascinated by the idea of being able to rebuild my life from the ground up. Our lives, memories, emotions and friendships are what make up our being. Those aren't tangible things you can lose in a fire. Material posessions just fill the up space and time.
What would I save if there was a fire? Bobby, my teddy bear. Which of my things would I miss? All of them, for a while.
But like a I phoenix, I could rise from the ash. The fire would purge the clutter, and afterwards I would have a chance to start things fresh. Why dwell on the past, when I can look forward to the future?
2.10.2008
The Past is Memories...
... And the future has yet to come. It's both the end of an era, and the beginning of a new chapter.
It was dark, dirty, grimy. There was conversation, laughter, and a few tears. There were good friends, familiar faces, and new acquaintances. There were die-hards, groupies, hecklers, and rowdies. There were drinks, cigarettes, earplugs. There were young metalheads, old punks, and a modern-day pirate with his hunting hounds. The crowd bumped and bounced with raised fists. The air in the room wasn't still for a single moment.
It was excellent. You should have been there.
Last night was Corey's last night as the singer forFlood of Fire. The band played a late set at the Cobalt, and they definitely ended on a high note.
I've been going to as many Flood of Fire shows as I can for the last three years to lend my support as a fan. I've seen them play some really good shows and their fair share of bad ones. I've seen them grow as a band and as a circle of friends. I've partied with them late into the night, driven their van back to their jamspace for them, and celebrated special occasions at their homes. It's weird to think that these guys have been a significant part of my social life for the last three years.
For those of you who never had the pleasure of seeing them play, you don't know what you've missed out on. It's rare to find a group of people with such great chemistry, both on stage and off. But these guys just gel. It sounds cheesy, but I can't think of any better way to say it.
It's not the end for Flood of Fire, and it's not the last of Corey. Corey has started a blues project with a good friend of his. Flood of Fire will take a bit of a break to decide what to do about a vocalist, but they're not done yet either.
It's a time of change, but I suppose change is good. And the way I see it, this just means two bands to support, which means my social life just doubled.
But you still have no idea what you've all missed out on.
It was dark, dirty, grimy. There was conversation, laughter, and a few tears. There were good friends, familiar faces, and new acquaintances. There were die-hards, groupies, hecklers, and rowdies. There were drinks, cigarettes, earplugs. There were young metalheads, old punks, and a modern-day pirate with his hunting hounds. The crowd bumped and bounced with raised fists. The air in the room wasn't still for a single moment.
It was excellent. You should have been there.
Last night was Corey's last night as the singer for
I've been going to as many Flood of Fire shows as I can for the last three years to lend my support as a fan. I've seen them play some really good shows and their fair share of bad ones. I've seen them grow as a band and as a circle of friends. I've partied with them late into the night, driven their van back to their jamspace for them, and celebrated special occasions at their homes. It's weird to think that these guys have been a significant part of my social life for the last three years.
For those of you who never had the pleasure of seeing them play, you don't know what you've missed out on. It's rare to find a group of people with such great chemistry, both on stage and off. But these guys just gel. It sounds cheesy, but I can't think of any better way to say it.
It's not the end for Flood of Fire, and it's not the last of Corey. Corey has started a blues project with a good friend of his. Flood of Fire will take a bit of a break to decide what to do about a vocalist, but they're not done yet either.
It's a time of change, but I suppose change is good. And the way I see it, this just means two bands to support, which means my social life just doubled.
But you still have no idea what you've all missed out on.
1.29.2008
Cupid with a Vengeance!
In a moment of weakness I logged into one of my old online dating site accounts. I was really really bored, okay? And yes, I have accounts on dating sites. Yes, plural. I never use them. I just happen to have accounts on various sites all over the internet. I mean, if I could find a record of all the websites I've ever registered or created a profile on ...
Back to the point. I decided to peruse the forums rather on said website rather briefly, and a post reminded that Valentine's Day is coming up.
I hate Valentine's Day.
But I had a thought: what if I celebrate it this year in my own twisted demented way?
What if I dress as a cherub on February 14th. Armed with a bow and arrows. Maybe arrows with pink shafts and fluffy white feathers. And I'll prance around with merriment and spread joy in the spirit of the "holiday" by sending my pink and white arrows sailing through the air to pierce the hearts of all those happy-go-lucky lovebirds out there.
It sounds terrible I know, but it's for the greater good. Sure, the deaths will be tragic and bloody and horribly unjustified and immoral. But at least all us single schmoes can get some sick enjoyment out of the day too, right?
Okay. I have issues. I admit it.
Back to the point. I decided to peruse the forums rather on said website rather briefly, and a post reminded that Valentine's Day is coming up.
I hate Valentine's Day.
But I had a thought: what if I celebrate it this year in my own twisted demented way?
What if I dress as a cherub on February 14th. Armed with a bow and arrows. Maybe arrows with pink shafts and fluffy white feathers. And I'll prance around with merriment and spread joy in the spirit of the "holiday" by sending my pink and white arrows sailing through the air to pierce the hearts of all those happy-go-lucky lovebirds out there.
It sounds terrible I know, but it's for the greater good. Sure, the deaths will be tragic and bloody and horribly unjustified and immoral. But at least all us single schmoes can get some sick enjoyment out of the day too, right?
Okay. I have issues. I admit it.
1.20.2008
== Channel Open == Waiting for Signal ==
There are a lot of things I could post. So many thoughts, feelings, opinions, stories. It's been a while since I've posted anything, and to be honest, I just haven't felt like I've had anything worth throwing up on the internet.
One of the reasons I started blogging, I suppose, was to try and connect with people. Granted, there are plenty of better ways to do that. But That's neither here nor there.
So, let's change things up a little. To heck with how I am, what I've been doing, or what I'm thinking today. I'd rather know how your'e doing. How's your day? What have you been up to? Got any good stories? Maybe you've heard a good joke lately?
Leave a comment. Let me know.
One of the reasons I started blogging, I suppose, was to try and connect with people. Granted, there are plenty of better ways to do that. But That's neither here nor there.
So, let's change things up a little. To heck with how I am, what I've been doing, or what I'm thinking today. I'd rather know how your'e doing. How's your day? What have you been up to? Got any good stories? Maybe you've heard a good joke lately?
Leave a comment. Let me know.
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