| Update: House-Hunting and No Car |
[Jun. 15th, 2008|01:56 pm] |
I work in this building in SW DC.
I apologize for my internet absence but these days I am truly busy between work, commuting, house-hunting, and figuring out the logistics of school. Let me explain to you how my days go: I wake up at 7:30, walk to the bus stop, catch the bus to Wheaton Metro station, get on the Metro, switch trains at Fort Totten, arrive at L'Enfant Plaza, walk to HUD, work (and lunch) for 9 + hours, leave between 6:30 and 7, commute home, arrive between 8 and 8:30, look for housing in DC on the internet, eat dinner, go to bed, repeat. Somewhere in there, I've managed to look at 6 houses so far. House-hunting in DC is waaaaaaay harder than in Philly; you're expected to be a "young professional" and if you're not, no one wants you. Well........that's not true. I got an email back from this guy the other night and we talked on the phone. It was a house that had shows and things; it was for artists and musicians which I thought was cool but then he said something to the extent of, "We're a progressive household....." and after a bit of prying I found out that means they smoke a lot of pot. Uh, thanks but no thanks.
Is there not some happy medium? I'm sorry that I don't wear a suit to work and I'm sorry that I don't have a proper college education. However, I work 9:30 to 6:30 Monday though Friday and I make enough money to pay my rent and bills.
And what's with all this application fee and credit check fee stuff? I just want a room to sleep in!!!
My absolutely favorite response I got concerning a room was this; it just blew my mind and made me want to strangle someone...
Hi Katie,
Thanks so much for your interest in our house. We've received a pretty overwhelming response, and we're hoping you wouldn't mind providing us just a little more information to see if we'd make for a good match.
A bit more information about us and our house:
- ____ is a 26-year-old lawyer originally from New Jersey. He graduated from Syracuse University in 2003 with degrees in Journalism, Philosophy, and Psychology and from GW Law in 2006. He currently works at a non-profit organization that focuses on free speech and other press freedoms. ___ is a 27-year-old from New England (CT, RI, MA). He graduated from Providence College in 2002 with a degree in Business Studies and a minor in Social Sciences. He currently does Bid and Proposals, Business Development, and Contract Administration for a small government consulting firm.
- The available room is indeed very small. It has an armoire and could hold very little more than a bed. It is available as early as immediately.
- There are 1.5 bathrooms in the house, with the full bathroom upstairs.
- We keep the common areas very clean and neat. We won't care how you treat your own bedroom though (at least as long as it doesn’t attract vermin). Neither of us smoke, and would prefer that you didn't either. Neither of us do drugs, and neither will you. Both of us drink (one of us perhaps a little bit more than the other), but typically only on the weekends and maybe for a happy hour during the week.
- Utilities vary depending on the time of year. Water is about $15 a month. Gas is about $15 a month. Electricity during the winter months is about $55, and about $100 during the summer months (A/C being the major difference maker - we typically keep it at 76 degrees in the summer). During the winter, we have oil heat, and we're charged based on how often they have to refill our tank (usually, each time they fill it costs about $200, but some months they won't fill it at all – we typically keep it at 65 degrees in the winter). We also have a pretty hardcore cable package (high def with DVR, HBO, SHO, Starz) and wireless internet that runs about $140 a month also.
- We share groceries and some other universal house expenses, though you're on your own for personal items (for example toiletries, etc.). If one of us hosts a group of friends for dinner or drinks, that individual will pick up the tab for the night. We typically eat in four or five days a week.
- We're both socially aware, but you're just as likely to see Sports Center on in the mornings as you are CNN.
If you're still interested, we'd really appreciate it if you could answer a few additional questions. In the spirit of fairness, we've answered the same questions as well.
1. Please list your five favorite authors, movies, musicians, TV shows.
____:
Authors: Bret Easton Ellis, Chuck Palahniuk, Max Barry, Craig Clevenger, Augusten Burroughs.
Movies: American History X, Fight Club, The Royal Tenenbaums, Reservoir Dogs, Garden State. I'm also a fan of most of the Frat Pack movies and quote Anchorman pretty regularly.
Musicians: Green Day, Death Cab for Cutie, Bright Eyes, Weezer, All Time Low (I listen to a lot
of indie/pop punk/power pop and try to spend as much time as possible at the Blackcat and the 930). Recently, I’ve been listening to The Submarines, Firewater, and Justice a lot.
Television: The Office, Lost, Californication, Entourage, How I Met Your Mother.
___:
Authors: I don’t have a fav, in fact, can never remember the authors name of books that I read. Last book I read was called "American Gods." It was a fun read. I have followed that up with "This is Your Brain on Music," an analysis of why people can say they "like" a certain type of music.... its more scientific a book than I though, so I wouldn’t really recommend it.
Movies: The Big Lebowski (obviously!), Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Pulp/Reservoir Dogs, Lock Stock, American Beauty, Romancing the Stone (token 80's pick).
Music: Black Keys, The Strokes, Modest Mouse, Radiohead, Sublime, Clutch (I go to see them several times a year), Black Rebel Motor Cycle Club. You can catch me listening to anything. i've gotten addicted to streaming music instead of taking the time to download it (i know, getting lazier) and then its everything from reggae, 50's blues music, classic rock (zep/sabbath), hiphop (usually in that somewhat intelligent style or from the early-mid 90's) and classical. I am one of those people who says I like "everything but country" but I can actually back that statement up. Even country is okay sometimes.... sometimes.
TV shows: I can’t say I'm actually 'in' to many shows... I generally watch Sportscenter, Comedy Central (The Daily Show, basically), and if I'm bored, a movie or Discovery Channel (if its not a stupid reality show). I am getting into Lost, great show. I own the DSC Planet Earth DVDs; if you've never seen them they may just change your life forever.
2. Have you spent much time traveling abroad?
____: Not as much as I would like. My passport has marks from Israel (twice), France (thrice), England,
Costa Rica, Canada, and the British Virgin Islands.
___: My dad is from Dublin, Ireland and i have been there 6 times. Been to London, Mexico, Canada, Caribbean, too. I really want my next vacation to be to Japan.
3. What would your perfect DC Sunday be?
____: I’ll probably be recovering from the night before. Brunch is a great start. If it’s football season, an Eagles win would be tops. And in the fall and spring I play in a kickball league on Sunday afternoons.
___: My perfect DC Sunday involves sleeping until around 10:00, then having breakfast and reading the sunday paper for awhile or going out to brunch. This would be followed by a walk-around downtown or a trip to great falls. If I wasnt feeling social or the weather was bad I may just go to the gym for a half a workout. If we are talking perfect Sunday I would then like to either go to see the Nats play, watch the Red Sox play on TV, or go to a local concert. If none of those were options that night, I would vote for grilling some food on the deck with friends.
4. How do you feel about participating in and watching sports?
____: I watch a lot of football, baseball, and college basketball. I'm a huge Philadelphia sports fan (Eagles, Phillies, Sixers, Flyers), and a huge supporter of Syracuse sports. I played golf and baseball in high school, and since moving to DC have played in Ultimate Frisbee, kickball and softball leagues. And
if you count bar games as sports, then I’m always down for darts, table shuffleboard, beer pong and flip cup.
___: I'm a huge baseball fan and die hard Red Sox fan (sure I can be obnoxious if you push me, but in general I'm an overall baseball fan first). I like watching football on Sundays but don’t follow it as closely. Hockey games are fun to go to, but I dont think I could name a single player who came after the New York Rangers won in... was it '92? How do you say it? O-vech-kin? I dont really care that the Celtics are in the finals, but I guess I hope they win. I play softball once a week throughout the spring/summer and occasionally get drafted for kickball games... I might play on Matt’s summer team if he asks me enough times. I do enjoy playing golf. Sometimes I'm really good at pool, and sometimes I'm really bad at pool.
5. Do you cook? Do you like to eat out? Any weird food allergies or eating habits?
____: I try to cook as often as I can (which, sadly, isn't that often). I've previously worked as a line cook in the restaurant business, and my brother is currently in culinary school, so I've picked up some tips from there. I love trying new restaurants and new cuisines (I like most everything except for Ethiopian, but if I had a choice, I'd probably go for French). I'm not allergic to anything, and I don't think I'm too
weird in my eating habits (though I don't really eat beef, and prefer leftovers from last night's dinner over traditional breakfast foods).
___: I like cooking quite a bit, but don’t do it often enough. I like eating quite a bit and do it fairly regularly. I pretty much can eat anything and do, although I'm not cool enough to actually like sushi... but if I need to impress someone I will cover it in ginger and suck it up.
6. What is your dream job?
____: Multi million dollar lottery winner. Ever seen Office Space? Yeah, I'd do nothing.
___: Dream job is to own my own company. What the company does is less important than the fact that its mine and no one can tell me how to run it.
7. If you were rich, where would you buy your second home?
____: Costa Rica.
___: My second home would be in Southern California and my third would be in either Vermont or Montana.
If you have any additional questions for us, please feel free to respond to this e-mail or to call ____ at xxx-xxx-xxxx. We'll be in touch ASAP about meeting with you and showing off the apartment.
Best,
____ and ___
The beginning of the email is pretty standard and relevant but......give me a break on those questions! I called them and asked if they were serious (they were) then I sent them an email telling them I wanted to rent a room not date them.
I strongly dislike how both dating and house-hunting in DC seem to be about horn-tooting.
In other news, I am officially car-free. 2 or 3 days after that POS Dodge Neon got fixed (after breaking down in Baltimore), it became possessed. I had driven it down to GMU to do some paperwork and the thing was accelerating in its own and revving up when I put it in park. I thought for sure it was going to explode in the parking lot but I somehow managed to drive it back up to the Jones' where its been sitting for a few weeks. My uncle car to pick it up yesterday and finally I think my family got the message that I do not want a car.
So that's about it for now. I haven't gone to too many shows and there are no roadtrips in sight because I am so focused on giving up the things I love to somehow succeed in a more socially acceptable manner. I am committed to 2 years of this; I need that piece of paper so I can toot my horn, too! Once I move, you're all more than welcome to come crash at my DC home, though. I'd really enjoy your company since I can't travel too much now. |
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