Home, Sweet Home

I love my new landlord. He’s a stooped, elderly, nearsighted Chinese man whose eyes twinkle. While trying to determine a time to meet today to sign the lease, present him with a check, and transfer the keys, I suggested 5:30. He countered with 5:00, so I wouldn’t be walking in the dark. This immediately endeared me to him.

As I walked up the hill, he glanced at his watch, and with surprise, exclaimed, “Right on time!” I smiled and introduced myself. His adult son, who had shown me the apartment, stood a few feet behind him.

At first I wondered why the son was there also. I soon found out. My landlord is the Chinese version of Mr. Magoo. He read the lease to me, then pointed out where I should sign. Except it was where he should sign. As his son pointed out. He showed me the new refrigerator he had installed. Except he forgot to remove the packing materials from the inside. As his son pointed out. At great length, he explained the lock system on the door (push button lock and deadbolt), then proceeded to leave the apartment without utilizing either. As his son pointed out. But he was so good natured, even in his clumsiness, I couldn’t help but like him. Even when he forgot to actually give me the keys at the end of our meeting. As his son pointed out.

Surprise

Found 3 Reese’s Cups in my jacket pocket this morning. Paired with a cup of coffee, a most excellent breakfast.

“Well…..

My wife and I reviewed your application to live in our building,” he said in a monotone voice.

Yes?

“We would like to invite you to live in our building. Do you still want?”

Oh, yes!

I’m so excited. I sign the lease and pick up the keys tomorrow. I called the storage company where my things have sat, somewhere in East Oakland, for a year now. First available delivery date: November 27. But, that’s like, two weeks away, I uttered into the phone. “Sorry, that’s the first available date.” Okay, then, I guess I’ll take it.

The more I thought about it, though, the more excited I became. This gives me almost two weeks in my apartment, sans furniture, so that I can clean, or paint, or do anything that needs to be done before settling in. I have my camping things with me, so it will be just like a weekend in the wilderness. Except with heat. And a stove. This could be very fun.

Searching…

That’s what I’ve been doing for a week. For the perfect apartment, the unbelievable deal smack in the center of San Francisco.

Things I’ve learned: “Large” is such a relative term. “Cozy” is a euphemism for small.

The tally:

77 phone calls placed regarding units for rent

41 units viewed (either at Open Houses or by appointment)

17.5 miles walked, from the Western Addition, to Pacific Heights, to Russian Hill, to Nob Hill, to Downtown, and back again, at least a dozen times

2 realtor agents who stood me up, left me standing on the street, waiting to see a unit

1 ad that truthfully represented the apartment’s features

1 apartment applied for (see above)

Fingers crossed….

“Where’s The View?…

You know, the panoramic view promised from the deck? Right here, in the ad? And by the way, where’s the deck?” I asked the agent who lazily leaned against the door jamb. He shrugged, then sauntered over to where I stood, a mere few steps away in the center of the “large floor plan” studio. He looked at the hastily scribbled notes about the apartment I held in my hands, then, with incredulity in his voice, uttered, “The ad said that? Hmm. It’s wrong. There’s no view here. Maybe another unit. But this one’s on the ground floor. No deck either.” I wanted to thank him for stating the obvious, but I refrained.

My New Favorite Site

I love public transportation. Maybe it’s because I grew up in North Carolina, where there was no public transportation. Or maybe it’s because I love to eavesdrop and crowded buses and subways afford me ample opportunity to do so. A lot of people complain about MUNI, San Francisco’s public transit system, but I love it. And now this has been added to MUNI’s website. There is nowhere I can’t go…

The Voting Party

Last night my friend Emily (best friend in the world who is still letting me share her studio until I find a permanent place to live – I love you!) had a “Review The Issues” voting party. Each person was assigned a proposition, then discussion was held, each person, more informed, decided how to vote in today’s election. Highlights from the evening (names withheld to protect the innocent):

Best reason to vote no on Proposition A (Water Bonds) – the opponents of the proposition can’t spell San Francisco correctly.

Proposition C: Veterans Building Bonds

He: “Why should a building that doesn’t pay for itself belong in a capitalist society?”

She: “You want something that pays for itself? Here’s an example of something that pays for itself: TiVo.”

Proposition F: Entertainment Commission Appointments

She: “Great. So basically, with all the surplus money, the city gets to make a committee to throw a party.”

He: “What was that? Proposition F? That would be an “F” for politics.”

Proposition H: Police & Firefighter Retirement Benefits

She: “Why should they get extra? I don’t get extra.”

He: “You don’t risk your life everyday….”

She: “Okay. Good point. I agree.”

He: “You have to be a real curmudgeon to vote no on this one.There’s not even an opponent’s argument for this one.”

Proposition I: Paid Parental Leave

While most people agreed this was a good idea, we had one dissenter: “I’m going to make an argument against having children here. You want unconditional love at a cheaper cost – get a cat or dog.”

And, the quote of the evening, as we were munching on leftover Halloween candy:

“If they gave out candy at the polls, a lot more people would show up.”

You Go!

My dear friend Cedric has jumped on the blogging bandwagon. He’s incredibly witty in person, more so in writing. Check it out.

Day 22

Home, Sweet Home

I can’t believe it. I’m finally back in San Francisco. I almost cried tears of joy as we drove over the Bay Bridge and I saw the Transamerica Building’s triangle top peeking out from the fog.

Day 21

He’s Good People

Growing up, those were the words I so often heard from my elders’ mouths, referring to a kind act or deed someone had performed. That’s what came to mind today when Kevin, the manager of Bybees Align & Brake, came in on a Saturday morning (when the shop is normally closed), aligned our tires after the owner of the shop, Dan, worked until midnight last night fixing structural damage, then drove out to our hotel, picked us up, and in detail showed us everything that had been repaired. As we thanked him profusely, he simply replied, “Ah, it’s nothing. I’d hate to be in your situation. You need to get on the road and get home as soon as possible.”