patrick.net

I took it apart, noticed I could just push the chain through the hole and it would work without my fixing it.

I bought the part instead which was a whole $5.

Just the fact that I considered not heading out to buy it brings back memories of how frugal (now just cheap) I had to be to move here and not fall backwards 15 years ago.

Even renting in the bay area can be rough for many college grads. Must be REALLY painful for any recent grads around here that can't move in with family given the current economic situation.

Good choice, I used to fix stuff that was a non-issue. I hated having the ll come over unless he had to.

APOCALYPSEFUCK says

Just crap in the driveway or backyard until the complains from the neighbors rise to a level that the LL actually does something but complain he’s not getting 10x the rent from a Saudi prince or whoever the fuck else owes him a living for being bright enough to buy a house in 2006.

Sometimes I piss on my lemon tree.

Anytime you engage in fix it yourself, you should send them written notice. If they have failed to fix it, at least there is a paper trail that you fixed it.

just_passing_through says

Sometimes I piss on my lemon tree.

When I was married & we bought a house, my husband & 10 year old son marked our territory in a similar manner.

Fixed and BAWOOOOSSSSHHHH!!!!

Reminds me of the story of the Ferguson:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IL2YRDzpTL4

Moot now, but just curious... was it your fault as in:

'Crap, (then) the lever in my toilet broke'

or just circumstance, such as:

'Crap(!), the lever in my toilet broke'

?

My toilet seat cracked a couple of years ago. I rent. When the super replaced it he replaced it with a very cheap pressed particle board seat. The problem was that it bubbled the very first time I cleaned it. Over the past couple of years it just got worse every time I cleaned it. And it started to look dirty even when I had just cleaned it. I decided not to call the super because I knew I'd get the same kind of very crappy (pun intended) toilet seat. I just marched myself in to Home Depot and bought an inexpensive plastic seat that doesn't warp or bubble when it's cleaned. Installation was a breeze. I fixed my issue for about $10.

I moved here to go to grad school in June 2002 when it was still a renter's market from Iowa. I was 32 then. Rents were more expensive then. Since then I succeeded in negotiating my rent lower and I still pay less than when I first moved in. The expenses were horrific to me when I first got here. I maxed out my student loans just to survive. I was changing industries so I had to start over on the pay scale. That hurt. In my industry an entry level job paid about $11/hr. (Now they start at $13/hr.) I worked full time during my 3 years of grad school. I had an extra year because of my specialization.

Post graduation my field pays barely a living wage. I had credit card debt that was out of control. I needed to eat when in grad school. Seriously, I lived and still live very frugally. I'm just getting out of the financial Hell that I got into while in grad school and post graduation when I was making less than I make now. At least I don't owe credit cards anymore. I'm rebuilding my credit.

Staring over in the Bay Area sucks. I don't regret having made the choices I made because the education I chose was the best fit for me. Now I'll be paying off my Federal Student Loans until I'm 70. At least I'm doing what I love. Thank goodness I don't care much about being rich or having a whole lot of stuff.

You're lucky. My landlord told me to go find a bush and a smooth rock.

Yes, and yes, the double entendre was intentional. :D

simchaland says

Staring over in the Bay Area sucks. I don’t regret having made the choices I made because the education I chose was the best fit for me. Now I’ll be paying off my Federal Student Loans until I’m 70.

This is a bit of an aside from the post topic, but have you considered living other places where you could have a higher standard of living? It doesn't look like your industry pays that much here... is pay that much lower elsewhere?

Uh... I suspect that turds over 10 pounds might need to be wrestled to the ground before any further action could be taken...

terriDeaner says

simchaland says

Staring over in the Bay Area sucks. I don’t regret having made the choices I made because the education I chose was the best fit for me. Now I’ll be paying off my Federal Student Loans until I’m 70.

This is a bit of an aside from the post topic, but have you considered living other places where you could have a higher standard of living? It doesn’t look like your industry pays that much here… is pay that much lower elsewhere?

Yeah, my industry pays poorly in every state in the Union. Once I'm licensed a few years I can start supervising and make a bit more. Licenses don't automatically transfer from state to state. It's complicated. Until society values mental health this industry will continue to pay crap. (back on topic! :-) )

shrekgrinch says

Call the White House. Didn’t Obama insinuate that things like this wouldn’t happen if only he was elected?

You're hearing liberal voices, shrekkie. You might wanna call Simcha and see if he can work you in.