frustrating moments

When I first looked at the apartment I wound up renting we noticed that it lacked things like a toilet seat and towel rack, and the free-standing wooden closet had broken hinges, no door knobs, and missing shelves. When I did the meeting with the owner to sign the rental contract I gave my colleagues (who came along because they speak Italian and I don't) a list of things the apartment needed. After the meeting one of them told me that I was to do the repairs and get the things I needed and give the owner the receipts for everything, and that he would pay for it. And so it was done. Yesterday was the day the owner decided that he wanted to pick up the extra, cash-only, portion of the rent (the part which is above and beyond the amount specified in the contract, but brings the total in line with the price advertised on the web page). So I left an envelope in the letter-box with a printout of all items purchased, the receipts for the purchases, and the remaining cash. Today I get an e-mail from the other of the two colleagues who attended the initial meeting with me. The owner called him to explain that he didn't authorize anything save the toilet seat, and that I can take the rest of the stuff with me when I go, he wants his money.

I replied pointing out that it would be foolish to take away the new hinges, door knobs and shelves cut to fit the cupboard, to say nothing of the bathroom towel rack, and asked if he really wants me to undo the repairs I've made to his property, since the next tenant will have the same complaints as to the condition of things. I also pointed out that since I'd been instructed that the owner would pay for things I'd done my budgeting accordingly, and if he really would rather have the repairs undone and the cash in hand he will need to wait till I receive my next pay check at the end of November, but since he gets the cash two months at a time, and what I gave him was November and December's cash, it shouldn't be a problem for him. I haven't heard back from that one yet.

In the same batch of e-mails was a letter from the shipping company saying that they don't want to deliver on Monday the 9th as they said they would, that the'd rather make it Wednesday the 11th. Sigh. Monday marks 21 full weeks since the company picked these boxes up in Tasmania. I was told at the time that it would likely take 10 to 12 weeks to get here. I do not want the additional two day delay. I want my winter clothes and warm blankets. I want my kitchen toys. I want my books. My costumes. My project. I want my stuff! Now. Yesterday.

Ok, enough wining!

Yesterday's dance practice was fun. We didn't have many people, but one of them was a new guy. He tells us that one of his friends used to do SCA here before the group exploded/fizzled out some years back and agreed to put us in touch with him.

Tuesday's microprobe session was fun. There are photos on my geology blog (link on the top of my main LJ page or on my facebook info page if you want it). It is nice to be generating data again. Now I just need to learn how to make mathematica work to generate the graphs and such I need. The short lesson I got from my college before she left for her maternaity leave wasn't really enough. So today is devoted to seeing if I can make it work, and if not, I'll call on my boss, who tends to be very, very busy, so I prefer not to bother him if I can avoid it.

frustrating moments

When I first looked at the apartment I wound up renting we noticed that it lacked things like a toilet seat and towel rack, and the free-standing wooden closet had broken hinges, no door knobs, and missing shelves. When I did the meeting with the owner to sign the rental contract I gave my colleagues (who came along because they speak Italian and I don't) a list of things the apartment needed. After the meeting one of them told me that I was to do the repairs and get the things I needed and give the owner the receipts for everything, and that he would pay for it. And so it was done. Yesterday was the day the owner decided that he wanted to pick up the extra, cash-only, portion of the rent (the part which is above and beyond the amount specified in the contract, but brings the total in line with the price advertised on the web page). So I left an envelope in the letter-box with a printout of all items purchased, the receipts for the purchases, and the remaining cash. Today I get an e-mail from the other of the two colleagues who attended the initial meeting with me. The owner called him to explain that he didn't authorize anything save the toilet seat, and that I can take the rest of the stuff with me when I go, he wants his money.

I replied pointing out that it would be foolish to take away the new hinges, door knobs and shelves cut to fit the cupboard, to say nothing of the bathroom towel rack, and asked if he really wants me to undo the repairs I've made to his property, since the next tenant will have the same complaints as to the condition of things. I also pointed out that since I'd been instructed that the owner would pay for things I'd done my budgeting accordingly, and if he really would rather have the repairs undone and the cash in hand he will need to wait till I receive my next pay check at the end of November, but since he gets the cash two months at a time, and what I gave him was November and December's cash, it shouldn't be a problem for him. I haven't heard back from that one yet.

In the same batch of e-mails was a letter from the shipping company saying that they don't want to deliver on Monday the 9th as they said they would, that the'd rather make it Wednesday the 11th. Sigh. Monday marks 21 full weeks since the company picked these boxes up in Tasmania. I was told at the time that it would likely take 10 to 12 weeks to get here. I do not want the additional two day delay. I want my winter clothes and warm blankets. I want my kitchen toys. I want my books. My costumes. My project. I want my stuff! Now. Yesterday.

Ok, enough wining!

Yesterday's dance practice was fun. We didn't have many people, but one of them was a new guy. He tells us that one of his friends used to do SCA here before the group exploded/fizzled out some years back and agreed to put us in touch with him.

Tuesday's microprobe session was fun. There are photos on my geology blog (link on the top of my main LJ page or on my facebook info page if you want it). It is nice to be generating data again. Now I just need to learn how to make mathematica work to generate the graphs and such I need. The short lesson I got from my college before she left for her maternaity leave wasn't really enough. So today is devoted to seeing if I can make it work, and if not, I'll call on my boss, who tends to be very, very busy, so I prefer not to bother him if I can avoid it.

lots of upcoming flights

I just spent way too much money on my holiday travel plans. Ok, so I found the best prices possible given that the flights are right in the middle of the holiday season, and it was right about what I'd been expecting to pay for them, but still, it is a lot to spend at once.

So, my plans:

3-6 December, Stockholm, Sweden, for sight seeing and a music/dance SCA event. Why? Because it sounded fun, and my birthday is the following week, so it seemed like a good reason to celebrate.

11-18 December, San Francisco, CA, USA, for a geology conference and the Boar's Hunt SCA event. Why? Because it sounded like fun, my poster was accepted for presentation at the conference, and my funding will pay for the Milan-SFO journey.

18-21 December, Seattle, WA, USA, for my mother's birthday. Why? Because she is wonderful.

21 Dec-5 Jan, Anchorage, AK, USA (and, possibly other regions, depending on people willing to help me get places) Why? Because I haven't been home since I flew back for Kylson's memorial party, and I miss it, and I didn't get there this summer due to no time/money for it. I'm counting on seeing family, SCA friends, highschool friends, and making it to an SCA bardic.

5-7 January, Seattle, WA, USA to see mom & co again briefly, and, with luck, other Seattle friends, too. Why? Because the pre-Christmas visit here is a short one, and doing it as two round-trips was easier (and the same price) as booking four one-way trips. Sure, I may have saved a bit of cash flying SFO-SEA-ANC-SFO, but seeing folk in Seattle again will be worth it, I think.

7-11 January, California, again, to attend 12th Night Coronation before returning to Milan. Why? Because flying back to Milan on the 11th was half the price of flying the week before 12th night, so what the heck?

If you live in any of these areas and want to see me while I'm there, please let me know ASAP, it is a busy time of the year, so coordinating timing to see everyone may become challenging as some people only have small windows of opportunity that time of the year. If you've got crash space available, or want to share a room at 12th night, let me know--having paid for the journey I really need to be careful with my pennies for a bit while the savings recover...

lots of upcoming flights

I just spent way too much money on my holiday travel plans. Ok, so I found the best prices possible given that the flights are right in the middle of the holiday season, and it was right about what I'd been expecting to pay for them, but still, it is a lot to spend at once.

So, my plans:

3-6 December, Stockholm, Sweden, for sight seeing and a music/dance SCA event. Why? Because it sounded fun, and my birthday is the following week, so it seemed like a good reason to celebrate.

11-18 December, San Francisco, CA, USA, for a geology conference and the Boar's Hunt SCA event. Why? Because it sounded like fun, my poster was accepted for presentation at the conference, and my funding will pay for the Milan-SFO journey.

18-21 December, Seattle, WA, USA, for my mother's birthday. Why? Because she is wonderful.

21 Dec-5 Jan, Anchorage, AK, USA (and, possibly other regions, depending on people willing to help me get places) Why? Because I haven't been home since I flew back for Kylson's memorial party, and I miss it, and I didn't get there this summer due to no time/money for it. I'm counting on seeing family, SCA friends, highschool friends, and making it to an SCA bardic.

5-7 January, Seattle, WA, USA to see mom & co again briefly, and, with luck, other Seattle friends, too. Why? Because the pre-Christmas visit here is a short one, and doing it as two round-trips was easier (and the same price) as booking four one-way trips. Sure, I may have saved a bit of cash flying SFO-SEA-ANC-SFO, but seeing folk in Seattle again will be worth it, I think.

7-11 January, California, again, to attend 12th Night Coronation before returning to Milan. Why? Because flying back to Milan on the 11th was half the price of flying the week before 12th night, so what the heck?

If you live in any of these areas and want to see me while I'm there, please let me know ASAP, it is a busy time of the year, so coordinating timing to see everyone may become challenging as some people only have small windows of opportunity that time of the year. If you've got crash space available, or want to share a room at 12th night, let me know--having paid for the journey I really need to be careful with my pennies for a bit while the savings recover...