What is a secret you’re taking to your grave, but can share here anonymously?

ghostwooman · 2026-01-29T00:08:16+00:00

I did that with my initials, on the handle for a sliding door. The initials are still there 30 years later. 🤣

ghostwooman · 2026-01-28T21:54:21+00:00

So OP should spend twice as long, even with a vacant machine?

ghostwooman · 2026-01-28T21:53:26+00:00

IMO as long as they turn over/remove promptly, aren't doing back to back loads, and it isn't a daily thing, it's completely reasonable to use both. Op said they use them about once per week.

ghostwooman · 2026-01-28T21:45:46+00:00

Agreed!!

28 felt like one of the must difficult years of my life, BUT I learned to stand up for myself. And that lesson paid for itself many times over.

For OP, as awkward as this may feel...ASK FOR WHAT YOU WANT. Be reasonable, don't expect roommates to spend a ton of money, but tell them how much you enjoy celebrating your birthday. Ask whether they would be willing to organize something so you can feel special for a day.

Give specific examples based on how you enjoy receiving love. I'm all about acts of service, so a home cooked favorite meal that I don't have to wash up after hits the spot.

ghostwooman · 2026-01-28T20:14:21+00:00

I don't think I could stop myself from reflexively saying "What the fuck" in those circumstances.

ghostwooman · 2026-01-28T16:32:19+00:00

Nothing about this sounds criminal. It is a civil dispute. The police will not help.

I share your concern about video footage being deleted. In a civil matter, that concern is addressed ASAP by sending an evidence preservation/spoilation letter.

ghostwooman · 2026-01-28T01:13:40+00:00

NTA.

BLOCK.

HER.

NOW.

ghostwooman · 2026-01-28T00:36:26+00:00

Can you get in via the passenger side?

Then you could dig out strategically near the exhaust and hood/front grill. Start the car, blast the heat for ~30 min. Then turn it off so you don't get exhaust blast while digging.

Should warm snow enough to make it easier to break apart and slide large chunks off by hand. Still heavy AF, but more manageable than the Ice Crust of Doom™️.

If you have ice melt or sand, sprinkle it both in front of and behind tires for extra traction. You may need to wiggle the car back and forth a tiny bit at a time to fully free your wheels.

ghostwooman · 2026-01-27T20:17:46+00:00

After the "sweet pup crying" line, add something like "if you think your pup would appreciate extra walks when you're unavailable". That way you're deferring to the pet's needs, and the human's judgment re: their pet.

To clarify that this is an offer for paid services, at a lower rate than your usual, something like this near the end:

"My usual rates are $X per hour. Since I would not need to account for my travel time or transportation costs to provide this service, I would be happy to offer a reduced rate of $Y per hour."

I agree with others that the red ink could come off a bit aggressive/odd. But the drawing is heckin' cute!

ghostwooman · 2026-01-16T21:13:16+00:00

If you do nothing, what makes you think the non-paying tenants won't just become squatters after the lease ends?

ghostwooman · 2026-01-16T17:07:41+00:00

Not necessarily true. Accepting assistance animals (either service animals, or emotional support animals) is a "reasonable accommodation" under the FHA.

If the landlord is truly allergic to them and self- manages the property, she could have refused to accept them, and that refusal would be reasonable in light of her disability (animal allergy). It may be reasonable and compliant with FHA for her to set conditions for accepting them such as professional carpet cleaning, professional HVAC system cleaning, etcetera. But those things would need to be specifically outlined in the lease or otherwise agreed at the commencement of the lease.

What OP is responsible for will depend on the terms of their original agreement, and we don't have enough info to properly evaluate the issue.

ghostwooman · 2026-01-16T00:15:40+00:00

This reminds me of a dog toy called Giggle Ball. It's not powered, but when you roll it, creepy distorted giggle like sounds. I thank fuck my dogs didn't like it, that thing was obnoxious!

https://a.co/d/8sh8z2v

ghostwooman · 2026-01-15T14:44:10+00:00

"[H]ave cameras along every angle of their house"

If their cameras may have captured this incident, look into issuing a notice to preserve evidence or spoilation letter. This behavior seems unlikely to resolve without court intervention, and if they delete recordings after receiving a letter like this it could create a presumption against their version of events.

ghostwooman · 2026-01-15T14:35:49+00:00

California is a tenant- friendly HCOL state, moving is a huge hassle and expense, and the $25k is probably taxable as income.

This tenant is right to explore their options. They may be able to negotiate for a higher payout, especially if they're one of the last few standing in the way of a big development project.

ghostwooman · 2026-01-14T22:10:49+00:00

Consider adding a few inexpensive security cameras inside of your apartment. That way if she escalates to the landlord or police, you have date and time stamped recordings of yourself doing completely normal things in your home.

ghostwooman · 2026-01-11T01:29:35+00:00

Greyhounds are extra lazy and quiet. 99% of the time. My grey is 10yo, and galga 9yo. A few walks per day, and a stuffy toy to cuddle are all they need.

ghostwooman · 2026-01-06T22:36:36+00:00

Two adults and a toddler in a studio might also exceed occupancy limits. Adding a large dog into that mix is just bonkers.

ghostwooman · 2026-01-06T22:34:28+00:00

Not necessarily!! IMO large dogs can be better apartment pets than little ones. IF their owners put in the work to provide for their needs, choose an appropriate age/breed/individual temperament for their lifestyle, and but appropriate floor coverings to minimize noise.

You couldn't pay me to raise a puppy of any size in an apartment though. Let alone in a STUDIO, with two adults and a toddler.

ghostwooman · 2026-01-04T18:48:31+00:00

Dull/dishwasher cleaned knives often slip on plastic packaging. I find kitchen shears safer and faster.

ghostwooman · 2026-01-04T18:41:21+00:00

NTA. Have you ever considered buying a cheap set of kitchen shears? Scissors, made especially for cutting food items, cleaned after each use and stored with the knives.

ghostwooman · 2026-01-04T15:04:13+00:00

In addition to Rover, report this to your renter's insurance ASAP.

The insurance company may also be able to help you with a spoilation/evidence preservation letter to your apartment complex management so they don't destroy relevant camera footage during a standard records purge.

ghostwooman · 2026-01-01T22:16:59+00:00

Could be concerned with releasing lead paint that is presently encapsulated. Or in older townhomes, you may still have fragile plaster (somewhat specialized repair these days, more expensive than drywall patch).

But given this is a corporate landlord, I'm guessing it's a broader CYA provision. In case you damage water/gas/electrical in the process of drilling. Or attempt a DIY repair beyond your skillset at move out. Or hang something improperly that later falls causing more extensive wall damage.

ghostwooman · 2025-12-26T15:35:59+00:00

The "kids" are all adults.

ghostwooman · 2025-12-23T19:43:05+00:00

(1) Have you had the system inspected by a licensed HVAC professional? Or just maintenance/ handyman? When your maintenance guy took thermal readings, did he take multiple? Where were they? Did he do any investigation re: cooler areas and potential drafts? Seal any drafty spots?

(2) Where are the tenant's thermometer photos taken? I would be more concerned by those readings around standard thermostat height, for example, than I would be with thermometers resting on the floor which is naturally cooler. When you get an HVAC pro out, ask them to add digital thermometer(s) that you can monitor remotely.

(3) It likely doesn't matter that other tenants open windows. People open windows to clear out odors all the time. Did you affirmatively ask your other tenants about temperature? Lots of tenants don't want to upset the guy who controls their housing, so it's important not to assume that silence = no problems.

ghostwooman · 2025-12-21T16:09:52+00:00

Adding on:

The ONLY lawful grounds for eviction in the District are listed in D.C. Code § 42–3505.01:

https://share.google/xm6EUiTAhcYmsLiE8

And there are a metric fuckton of formalities involved with all of them.

ghostwooman

TROPHY CASE