=)

Happy Halloween! What are you guys doing tonight?

rooming nightmare

So much drama has been happening with this little apartment. As I’ve mentioned there was the asking of a deposit and the leaking in my ceiling which all has come to pass. My landlord had increased the rent by over 20% from the last tenant to now without any major repair to compensate for the illegal increase. The usual increase is 2% per year. So now, we’re asking for a rent reduction plus renovations done to this place b/c it’s falling apart. The kitchen faucet vibrates and there are moles growing around it because it’s not properly glued down. The bathroom sink is loose, the toilet doesn’t flush properly, water pressure in the shower is horrible and the bathtub is so old that the wall paint the repair guy layers on it is chipping off. My roommate’s mom and I went to Regis and opened up a file for the court to look at this place. But, you know, administration takes forever. We had a heavy meeting with the landlord and her husband to see what we could do about this place without taking the time and money to go to court. My landlord is an idiot. She wrote a letter asking us to sign it that we’ve read it. And part of the letter indicated that she has changed my cardboard piece in my ceiling twice and promptly but the problem to this situation was never fixed. It doesn’t matter how many times you change the cardboard piece of the fucking ceiling would always keep leaking if the upstairs compartment takes a shower without the shower curtains completely closed. Even more, she asked me and my roommate to pay her for the lock she put in the bedroom doors. This is ridiculous as it is her investment to the place, not ours. I’m only staying for a year, why would I want to shed forty dollars for that if I could just grab a Dudley lock instead. I’m not paying her.
On top of everything, my roommate doesn’t clean up her dishes and leaves a mess in the washroom every time she re-dyes her hair or drinks too much.

We’re probably moving out soon or I would endure this for a year. I might sublet if I find the time and energy to or get too fed up. But who in their right minds would sublet this place unless they’re a little crazy or desperate. I had a dream last night that I moved into a place that was worse than this. What a nightmare. Note to future me, who may be a home buyer or apartment renter----take my time. Even if all the good ones are going off the market don’t settle for anything that is just passable without fully examining and researching about it.

I never thought I would be the type to be sitting at a McDonalds, alone, enjoying a MacPoulet and drinking a really bad but cheap white moccachino. It isn’t too bad. I see that I’m not alone at being alone here. I can’t imagine doing this in Vancouver before though. I was thinking of bringing all of my food home but the repair guys is there all morning chipping away couple of our kitchen tiles. He’s such a slow and sloppy guy to be hired for the job. He has a grunt towards me because he knows I don’t like the work he does. I’m too sick and tired to argue with him today so I just left. I know I would have a pile of mess to clean up when I get home though.

post note-roommate left kitty drinking tray and dish on the sink thinking we would reuse it perhaps....left kitty's litter in the kitchen garbage and dishes are three days old. repair guy did leave a mess but i'm not in the mood to be generous. It looks like I would be staying in here for the rest of the year...I'll try to make the best out of it.

I started French courses yesterday and it was good to practice my listening. I got offered a Halloween bartending gig from my bar-teacher but have to get rid of a shift at my current job. He told me they're all easy drinks though =(...bore...

I will post pictures up of kitty very soon. Stay posted.

back from waterloo--I'd mogen ein Bier bitte

Nothing was going right for me the last couple of weeks. I got coffee spilled over my laptop I got fired from a job, screwed up on an interview, and was misinformed about class registration date. One of my roommates from Trois Riviere invited me to stay over at her house in waterloo for the Oktoberfest and I accepted it. I didn’t know how much I needed this to recharge and to rethink my intentions of staying in Montreal. It’s nice to be in an English speaking environment once again and to have friends who supports and encourages me on my endeavors…b/c I’m still pretty lonely here in Montreal. It’s hard…to meet good people here…I don’t know why.
I arrived at 11:30 at night and met her roommates and talked for a bit. The next day, I had breakfast with her first year roommates at this breakfast joint. Later, we went shopping in uptown for Halloween costumes and random stuff…thousand villages and had free starbucks where her friend was working. Went to a grocery store bought stuff to make dinner for later. Went clubbing…and that was very interesting. Bad free pouring…old guys…lizard kisser…slutty blue dress girl…test tube shooters…it was all very entertaining. Went back to her place, talked, reminisced and had popcorn.
Next day, our other roommate showed up in the morning as we’re making pancakes and coffee. Went to St. Jacobs…this outdoor market where they sell organic local food. Had hot apple cider…so good. Saw Mennonites. Our other roommate couldn’t make it to the reunion so she asked us to carry a photo of her around. Hehe. And we did. We printed out a live size head shot of her and took it around with us everywhere we went. It was awesome and the looks and laughs we got were priceless.
Made dinner again. Went to her roommate’s first year’s roommate’s residence and watched them play flip cup and drink. Took a taxi to Oktoberfest and waited in line for beer tickets. Never seen so much spilled beer before. Great music. I want to go to the one in Germany someday now. Hmm…what else…oh guy taking jager shots and pints of beer upside down. Great night. Cute guys.
Watched the entire movie of Grease for the first time. Slept for couple hours, woke up at seven thirty to catch the bus. They woke up with me and saw me off. I feel very lucky to have met these people.
Coming back on my ten hour bus ride, I felt refreshed and held a better sense of self again. I felt like I was drowning in Montreal just covered in self pity and misfortunes. It’s funny as I crossed the provincial border I felt my head tightened at the oppressive air that compresses my identity as if the very air could swallow me whole. I’m ready for this again though. I’m working at this place couple blocks away from my house. I had the call as I was in Toronto and he called me back this morning to work this afternoon. I’m working again tomorrow at three after getting my paycheck from my last job, private French lessons and an appointment with employment Quebec. Maybe things will pick up very soon. Hopefully…sigh. But not keeping my hopes up this time. Nope. I’m going to survive this time.
My roommate got a cat. Her name’s kitty Bella and she’s sitting next to me right now just staring. She’s so tiny and cute…almost four months but man can she purl loud. I think I’m going to go play with her now. Everything is good here. A friend of mine found classes for me so I’ll be starting next week on the 27th. It is forty five dollars for three months. I’ll let you know how that goes. Till then, take care and I’ll speak to you all very soon.