Raven on a Writing Desk
No Use Crying Over Spilled Ink

Scyllacat
Date: 2009-10-14 14:10
Subject: (no subject)
Security: Public

To Alexander Properties Group, Inc.:

The last year I have spent in your property has been one of the worst errors I have ever made in choosing an apartment complex. I am writing to you now because the last year has not actually resulted in any proof that you are in the business of maintaining apartment homes for the use of your tenants.

I think I'm a savvy customer, but you sure put one over on me. Look at the pretty apartments, almost like houses. Just a few residents in each one, as they have 8 apartments. Look at the pretty clear blue water in the pool and the high ceilings. Look at the pretty faux wood paneling. For an inexpensive apartment, it seemed perfect.

But I didn't see which building they were going to put ME in. That was my first and biggest mistake.

Most of the problems, admittedly, come from the fact that the buildings apparently are sitting on unstable ground. So the cracks in the walls and the doors and cabinets that are off level were the first surprise.

The second surprise was the paint job. Although someone had come in with a spray painter and coated the apartment, it did not conceal the large grease stains on the walls, the dents in the walls, the warped and filthy kitchen counter (painted right over it--all clean now!). The nice wood cabinets weren't nice anymore, what with the previous exploding food cans and whatnot, but no matter. I didn't ASK for an apartment like the model, with actual wood cabinets, so the fact that they're the same beige as the kitchen counter, the walls, the ceiling, and the BATHTUB (who paints a bathtub?!) is assuredly my fault.

They put a "cutting board" into the kitchen counter that was nothing but an unfinished piece of board. They wouldn't have done that if I hadn't complained about the previous unfinished piece of board being blackened, mildewed, and stained. Of course, it would be, since it's NOT a cutting board. Cutting boards have a finish. Cutting boards are not embedded INTO a counter with a metal ridge around the outside. That just naturally invites bacteria and turns the wood to rot.

Of course, there's no sign any of your residents would know this. The junked car that sat under the carport for several months was replaced with a patio (this is in the front, visible to guests) filled with junked furniture. In spite of multiple cameras and signs, the dumpster was always a place surrounded with old furniture for children to play with and rich opportunities for local residents to recycle the trash others had thrown away.

I couldn't figure this out until I realized that, like the "cutting board," until I TOLD the management there was a problem to be dealt with, they didn't notice--or didn't care. I guess they were following your orders to save money, or maybe you just don't pay them enough to go to the trouble of fining and harassing residents to clean up their act.

For another example, when the apartment was new to me, they seemed to think that cigarette-burned, scratched, and scarred linoleum in the kitchen and the bathroom was acceptable. It was replaced at my insistence with faux wood vinyl. That vinyl was poorly laid and is curling up around the step in the bathroom and shows gaps all around anything more complex than "flat."

Last night, water came bubbling up from my kitchen sink drain, filling the sink, covering the kitchen counter, and spilling onto the floor. Although I paged the emergency number twice, no one answered. I was told today that sinks overflowing were not emergencies. I wonder how they divined what my emergency was from just a phone number?

Next to all of this, the roaches that have become my constant companions in spite of several months of weekly "treatment" seem practically negligible.

When I complain to the management office, they say they will do "anything" to make me happy. "Anything" does not, apparently, include:

1. Putting me in an apartment that looks like the one advertised to me.

2. Refunding any of my money.

3. Giving me any way of contacting you.

I will be pleased to post this letter repeatedly on the internet and share your name with all of my friends so that they can make appropriate judgments of their future residence.

Former resident of
Azalea Ridge Apartments
Pleasantdale Road
Doraville, GA

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Scyllacat
Date: 2009-10-05 18:30
Subject: Moving again
Security: Public

It's so odd to say, same old, same old, moving again. Because it's not the same old, same old. As it turns out, it worked. Trying to do something we didn't want to do and weren't sure we could do, it still worked. Charlie and I are moving back in together.

We've both done a lot of personal work over the years, but I especially want to say how proud I am of him, [info]heofmanynames, because I know he has worked hard to get through (I won't say over, because it wasn't stuff to get OVER) a lot of tough emotional times, many of them in the past few weeks.

I also want to thank our counselor, who said that she could get us to a place where we could deal with this, within a year, and by Jove, here we are.

I feel like anything I say would be too personal about that, seeing as how this is a public post, but for the past couple of weeks, I have been happier, but mostly, LESS FREAKED OUT.

Things about the house are still in flux, so we have a rental unit staked out, and I'll be moving most of my stuff in there over the next few weeks. I'll need a FEW heavy things moved (like, 3 or 4), so watch this space for the beer-n-pizza call.

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Scyllacat
Date: 2009-10-01 15:07
Subject: (no subject)
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Haunters

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Scyllacat
Date: 2009-09-29 14:28
Subject: (no subject)
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I love atlanta costume, but they were not help today. Costumes etc. Next

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Scyllacat
Date: 2009-09-28 19:58
Subject: (no subject)
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In spite of predictions, I did not get into zombieland. They gave away way too many free passes.

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Scyllacat
Date: 2009-09-28 17:54
Subject: (no subject)
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The real reason I like cool weather is pockets

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Scyllacat
Date: 2009-09-25 23:07
Subject: (no subject)
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And that's a wrap. Good opening night.

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Scyllacat
Date: 2009-09-20 18:49
Subject: (no subject)
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Scene: QT. Kat: Strobel! Strobel: AAH! Kat: Scream when I tell you to scream! S: That's the hottest thing you ever said to me.

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Scyllacat
Date: 2009-09-18 23:11
Subject: (no subject)
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Very low signal out here at Camp Sleep-Away... Or whatever it's called

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Scyllacat
Date: 2009-09-15 17:55
Subject: (no subject)
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I think today successfully put weather in my Top Three Factors influencing driving conditions

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Scyllacat
Date: 2009-09-13 17:32
Subject: Like another friend, my blog become almost worthless...
Security: Public

On the other hand, my thoughtful contributions have seemed contentious and hard to deal with.  The responses never seem to take the conversations in new directions.

Right now, I wish I'd brought home soda--oh, wait, I did.  I bought it Friday and forgot to get it out of the car.

Oh, yeah, and, my love, Hello, Quizzy! Says we're doomed, which I think is funny, because I always thought I was INTO the interpersonal thing, but I only got 10%.  Apparently, I'm a Verbal.  Don't tell my Language teachers.

iTunes is still the Suck of Download McSuckyness. Literally.  But where else will I get all my downloads?

The Good :  Found a different way to play sound on my laptop that much improves it.  The Bad :  It's busting my eardrums and needs an attenuator, which, unfortunately, seems to be quite a bit more expensive and a little harder to come by.  The Ugly :  The guy who sold me the USB Audio device charged me 4x the list price for it.  He's always given me a good deal before.  What's up with that?

Really, I'm afraid to comment on the state of things, I'm sure all I'll do is stir up people telling me I'm wrong.  President?  Done.  Health care?  I don't want to hear it.  Twilight? TMI.  Dragon*Con.... hmmm, maybe I can talk about Dragon*Con.


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Scyllacat
Date: 2009-09-12 11:22
Subject: (no subject)
Security: Public

Omg Target has high button boots a la Victoriana $30

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Scyllacat
Date: 2009-09-12 10:05
Subject: (no subject)
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Writes to @whatthecast on her phone. (tell me if it worked, brian)

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Scyllacat
Date: 2009-09-08 20:10
Subject: (no subject)
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I went for a walk, trying to keep energy up

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Scyllacat
Date: 2009-09-07 16:25
Subject: (no subject)
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Now that dragon con is over, I can go home and find out what happened online. DCTV, I can haz uploads?

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Scyllacat
Date: 2009-09-06 22:13
Subject: (no subject)
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A wedding, walking a n00b thru the dealer's room, and the Mad Scientist's Ball. Not bad at all.

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Scyllacat
Date: 2009-09-06 10:55
Subject: (no subject)
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Now is the twitter of our discontent... No akshully, is mail list meetup tiem!

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Scyllacat
Date: 2009-09-04 19:19
Subject: (no subject)
Security: Public

stephen, reminder: check out radiolab from NY public radio.

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Scyllacat
Date: 2009-09-04 19:10
Subject: (no subject)
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I need some monster teeth. Anyone @ D*C? Text (my name) @ vtext.com

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Scyllacat
Date: 2009-09-04 15:00
Subject: (no subject)
Security: Public

Just saw dean haglund's improv. Now going to find out what is wrong w/gravity

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October 2009