mortality and thoughts

Today my aunt died.  She had multiple problems, wasn't really coherent and didn't want to hang around like that.  She told my mom and her kids so emphatically.  My mom's younger sister.  The funny thing, she's about 4 years younter than my mom, and my mom's pretty spry.  In spite of various things...

I still miss her, but if she's in a better place (the euphemism), so I will hope.  (I don't really believe in life hereafter, it doesn't make sense in a rational universe.  But, I wish I could).

July 20, 1925 - November 13, 2011 at about 8 pm. Sleep well Aunt Ev. 

So you think you park close?

I got out of the car, and am just grateful I didn't scrape.  (somehow didn't even "see it" coming).
Shows how off perspective is sometimes. (it's actually that close!)

CBTL and why I love consulting

I'm too busy to post.
No, correct that.

I *was* too busy to post.  Now I'm coming back to my normality.  
Sometimes I wish otherwise.

I got a consulting gig.  And as usual with such things, there is no such thing as half-way.

So, I've been working my tail doing their stuff, and trying to keep the plates in the air for MY stuff, and...
You get the idea.

I've got New RENTERS (yay) whom I like; and are quiet/busy/self-contained and they have manners.
Not perfect! mind you, but real adults for a change.  UN-Believable.

Now I just have to play catch up on bills and chores.

(And somehow, fatten up the cats again.  They've gotten entirely too skinny)

Next gig?

Desperation and renters (September)

IT's amazing how fast things can go wrong.

I'm now going to be TWO months behind on my house payment (gee thanks) as of September 20th.  And, I do NOT see any way of magically coming up with $2200 (1100*2) that fast.

Since the last set of roommates moved out (after NOT paying for a month); I have a few people come see the place (two rooms) and they (a) run away if they have a sense of smell or any sense of style; or (b) want to immediately move in ... but have no funds.  Even a Mother-Daughter pair from CSUN (shows that a college education is good for something!)

I get the cat surprise cleaned up... again.

Then, I get a gal who comes by (seperated or something like that), and she's all interested until her "creep" alarm goes off... (which is I'm guessing because I want someone in the room ASAP).  Nothing at all to do with the fact that she's wearing the lowest cut top and pushup I've seen yet outside of a club.  I thought I was being a polite gentleman, but evidence seems to point to the contrary...


Late July:  Get a new roommate.  He (three weeks in) gets a bigger, better deal closer to work and immediately moves out.  Wants his deposit back.  Great.  (working on it, but wasn't expecting mid-month and no notice and no other roommate or consulting income).

August:  Get a new roommate.  Immediately (after move-in) discover that she has no funds whatsoever; and her receivables are mostly pot-induces imagination.  Specifically, a BS artist, or at least a wishful thinker.
My (ex) GF / [FWB / FWoB]... (depending on the day) asked me why I let her move in without cash in hand.  Good question.  I'm still asking myself that now.  It took three plus weeks to evict her.

And... just before she left; we have another plumbing malfunction (my favorite so far:  flushing the kotex is the most common, but not sure what happend this time...); and the check valve just happens to NOT shut off; so guess where all the black water goes.  I'm still cleaning the carpets with bleach.  Thanks ...  Both possible individuals said "It wasn't me" which is typical.  I have yet to see someone own it.  (Doesn't matter, neither one could afford to replace the carpet and padding anyway).

THEREFORE::
RULE #1:  If there is no cash, there's no move-in.  This especially applies to anyone who is even a little-bit sketchy.  One Month plus Security Deposit, unless (a) the background check is exceptionally clean and detailed, and (b) I'm so damm desperate that I'll latch on to anyone still breathing with the price of admission.
RULE #2: Background checks are now MANDITORY.  No exceptions; bra-size is an automatic lock on rule #2 -- if they are attractive; then the background check must be paid for in advance, AND they must pass with flying colors.  No lizard brain judgement calls.
RULE #3: If I feel "hinky", then they don't get in the door.
RULE #4: NO holistic types, even if they can take the chrome off a trailer hitch.  NONE.  NADA.  Tinfoil hats not required.

And NOW...
maybe two kids from CSUN will move in.  If the background check passes ( I think it will) and ... they can pay.  Here's to hope.


Did I mention that I NEED A JOB?

Android Blues

You know your'e getting olde when...

I'm trying to relearn something new that I dropped a year ago (after my class was over).
It's amazingly hard to find your way in the technology without a rosetta stone and a native guide.

And I do this stuff for a living?

Crap.

I had to uninstall and refresh all the tools, sources, and relink all of the add-ons so that the environment would just compile Android applications. Oh wait... it still doesn't work completely.

And I'm trying to score a QA gig in San Diego based on this?
WHO are you kidding?

Maybe tomorrow.  Back to it...

(Links may follow, if...)

Desperation

Desperation is a self-fulfilling prophesy.  Fear of failure affects performance and that creates a feedback loop.

First I have too many roommates.
Then I have too few; and the remaining one wasn't paying full fare.

So, he's gone.

I replace him with a new guy... and he's apparently unreliable. He's moving out already after less than a month in search of the BBD (bigger-better-deal), closer to his work by a couple miles.  I can't fault him, but his timing...

And I just got a temp roommate downstairs (who shows all sorts of signs of being flakey), and she's only here until the end of the month.  (Can't afford it and it's too far from downtown, plus she has 5 cats!)

And I just sent off emails to 5 prospective tenants, saying that I'm all booked until the end of the month.

Fabulous.

One of the basic *laws* of the universe: “A politician will write a law that will create more harm than good”. With the best of intentions…

1. Because of the tremendous amount of male-female spousal abuse in this country; we have a law in California that says if the couple (defined as ANYONE M-F having Sex or having had Sex in the past), then the male MUST leave.  It doesn’t matter if it’s his house or not, if she’s a owner or not.  (Because the cops would come, see “nothing” happening, then leave… and the husband/boyfriend/fucktoy would beat/kill the woman…)
2. So the cops had their discretionary choice legislated away; and by POLICY the LAPD cannot leave me in my home if a gal says (a) we’ve had sex, and (b) I’ve harmed her or she fears that I’d harm her. 
3. (I think that’s taking away the role that a live police officer is supposed to play…)
4. Because tenant rights have gone so extreme in thefavor of the tenant, (because of rampant abuse by landlords)… evicting a non-paying tenant is extremely difficult and time consuming. Even in your own home.
5. IT almost makes it not worth it…
6. I’m a firm believer in love, romance and the American dream… white picket fence, etcetera.  However, I’m currently suffering from the Nightmare version; (Elm street complete with Freddy), because it turns out that I can’t get or keep a job.  Some of that HAS to be my fault; but the rest is definitely the economy. 
7. I can get work as a consultant, but only in “emergency” terms, and only on stuff that I’m subject matter expert.  Nothing current or new, because no company will pay for that.  So, over time I have to reinvest in myself… and it’s hard to have street credibility doing commercial work in a area without someone PAYING you for the work…
8. Which leads me back to 1,2,3…  I need renters to help pay the mortgage; but (with very FEW exceptions) they CANNOT be someone I’ve dated or am dating…

 And... I might add, that takes all the fun out of the desperation of the current economy.

Yay.