House Repairs

It's so nice to sit in this house and hear through the windows only the faintest echoes of the torrential wind storm that is outside right now. With the old windows, they rattled at the slightest breeze. Tonight, it's the windiest it's been as long as I can remember in Baltimore, and there's no rattle and no draft. The difference is astounding.

Things have gotten a lot different in the house since SuperLesbian bought it in September. First off, Fool moved out in order to save some money. She was the best roommate I'd had at the place in the five years since I lived here, but her moving out may have been for the best, as the ensuing months of construction may have strained the available living space. I've left the first floor, and am now living upstairs. The basement is full of all the stuff on the first floor that wouldn't fit on the second floor.

Besides lots of painting and new windows, the landlord has also gotten the place a new stove. The furnace will be replaced in the next few days, as well as the electricity upgraded in preparation for a washer and drier in the basement. She's going to gut the kitchen next.

Very soon, that first floor will be done, and my rent will increase back to $750 a month. I'm anticipating this to be in March. This will leave me with some dilemmas. I could try to find a roommate, something that scares the heck out of me, or I could try to find another place to live, something that's pretty difficult with a dog and a cat. I checked through City Paper today, and I felt like just about every ad was "No Pets." As for a roommate, I don't mind having them, if they're good, but I've had my share of bad ones. Plus, the house's dynamics will be changed a bit with one kitchen rather than two; the overlap of living space is certainly something that is of concern.

All in all, it's been pretty exciting to watch the house be refurbished. However, it's also disconcerting - the house is being turned over under my eyes, and I walk in every day with new paint chips on the ground or new things I have to do in order to prepare for new workers to come in. I can't wait for it to be done, on one hand, but on another hand, I know that the completion of this work will force me to either find a roommate or move, neither prospect which makes me happy.

In other news, I've never been closer than I am right now of quitting the second job. I'm just so tired of working so much. If I get the guts, I will give my month's notice tomorrow. Or maybe I'll make a bunch of money tomorrow and delay it some more.