...just, wow

I was looking for an image to illustrate how different cultures view particular species differently, and I was going to focus on the very friendly example of dogs (which are adored in the US and despised as unclean in other countries).

And I knew that black dogs were harder to find homes for once they're in the shelter (that's part of the reason we picked Shasta). But holy crap, really???



What do all these puppies have in common? And what does that say about us?

NOT moving

I'm a little frustrated by people who put up houses for rent, let you come see them, pressure you to accept quickly so that they don't have to show it anymore, and then give it to someone else.

We just saw this great house in Pine Grove Mills. The woman who showed it to us said that her friend had been interested in taking over their lease, but hadn't been able to get someone to rent her own place, so had given it up, leaving them with only a few weeks to find a new tenant. We agreed to take it that night. The house was perfect for us.

We got in touch with the real estate people who own it, they knew we were taking it, and said we could drop off the security deposit today along with the application. Today, we got a call from the woman currently renting, plus the real estate people, saying that they had changed their mind and were renting it to their friend after all. The friend also dropped off a security deposit yesterday.

I know that legally, verbal agreements don't count as contracts. However, if you don't intend to actually rent your property, don't advertise it. And don't say to prospective tenants that the apartment is theirs and that it won't be shown anymore. I feel as though we were just used as an excuse to pressure her friend to rent the house. I don't think they ever intended to rent it to us. We just provided leverage at the right time.

This happened to us earlier this year, too. We found a house in Lemont that we really liked. We kept in close touch with the owner, who was for some reason slow on committing the property to us. We eventually found out that she was also trying to sell it, and had found a buyer for the property that she was trying to woo. Again, if you don't intend to actually rent the property, don't advertise it. Don't lead on people who are looking for a place to live.

Now, we're still stuck in an apartment that creeps me out when the floor squishes beneath my feet and, much worse, makes Jim sick with all of mold that doesn't exist (according to the landlord). Unfortunately, except for the mold, it's a great place, and really hard to live up to.

I'm sure we'll find a house eventually. Hopefully sooner rather than later.


Rant over.