security deposit

why can't landlords/ladies give tenants back their security deposits back in a reasonable amount of time? the building manager from my pasadena apartment, being a crackhead, stopped returning my calls about getting my deposit back. i had to email the city of pasadena to find out who the building owner was, google her, found another business that she owned, and then email her through through her other business's website. she was furious that i contacted her (go figure) and thought i was being inappropriate in contacting her...although it took her about 3 months to mail out the deposit to me. per pasadena's law, the landowner has 30 days to give the tenant his/her deposit.

the issue i currently have concerns our old apartment in manhattan. we moved out at the end of august. i've been calling the company for the past 2 months regarding our deposit. they kept telling us that they were sending it out. it never happened. i'm getting ready to send them a letter to state that i will be filing a formal complaint with the city attorney general. under new york laws, the landowner has to give the tenant his/her deposit back with a "reasonable amount of time". why must i resort to this? why can't they just do what's fair? is that too much to ask? i hate people who can't just buckle down and do their job. argh. if anyone has any tips, please share.

sur la table

i used to frequent the one in pasadena which was only a 15-minute walk from where i lived. the very first time i stepped foot in the store, i was almost ran out - there's so much stuff there that it was a little overwhelming. but i grew to love it and would walk in whenever i was going anywhere in that vicinity, even if i had no intention of buying anything. they have all sorts of kitchen gadgets and the best classic kitchenware. they also have a large selection of cookbooks - not that i ever bought any at the store, but it's a sign that they're a good place for serious cooks or those who are learning to cook. and even though they have very pricey cookware, you can find something really inventive and cheap if you look hard enough.

new york only has one sur la table, and i finally made a special trip down to soho for it. i walked in and felt intoxicated and then comforted that this was a store that i have known and loved for the past 2 years. with thanksgiving coming up, i'm going to have another excuse to visit it again.

also, my sister pulled out a cookbook tonight that's put together by her stage manager for broadway cares, an organization that helps to support the fight against aids and other chronic diseases. then, i remembered he complimented the food that i made for betty which she brings into work. what an honor. sur la table, here i come.

stuff

how did i amass all this stuff? the down side to have had a large kitchen in la is that i have A LOT of kitchenware. the kitchen in the ny apartment is about half the size and a quarter of the cabinet space. i guess i'll have to leave some of my stuff that b already has in boxes...

with d's help and genius, my lofted bed is up. i can finally sleep in my own room tonight. went to ikea today - the closest one is not that far away - paramus, nj. about 20 minutes outside the city. the tolls make leaving and re-entering the island such a hassle though. luckily, we found the things we needed within our budget. so now, not only are there boxes to unpack but also furniture to build.

day 1

despite the complications that surfaced in preparing for my move from los angeles to new york, everything worked out well. my sister, who's going to be my roommate in nyc, was a little overwhelmed apartment hunting earlier this month. it's her first time looking for an apartment, ever, and if your first time is in nyc, it's quite daunting, if not horrifying. but she pulled through and found what sounds to be a great 2 bedroom apt for us in the upper west side/west harlem.

then, three of my amazing guys helped me load all the furniture and boxes into a moving container/pod last weekend. the truck arrived to pick up the container before we finished loading. thankfully, the driver was super nice and made another run to give us another hour. but the guys not only doubted that we would finish but also fitting everything into just one container. but it all worked out - everything fit and we finished with over half an hour to spare.

but today...mmm...not so well. i am driving cross-country to north carolina to do a car swap with my mom before heading up to nyc and have planned to stop in:

1. las vegas, nm
2. denver
3. st louis
4. hendersonville, nc
5. mom's

i'm seeing people along the way so each leg of the trip gives me something to look forward to (the exception being st louis). but this morning, i started the drive an hour later than i had hoped, having to call new york to find out about setting up a phone line and internet service and loading up more stuff than i thought i had. while driving through arizona, a huge storm decending upon the section of the highway i was on. it lasted for about half an hour. at one point, my car was beside an 18-wheeler, and the rain suddenly fell so heavily that i couldn't see anything out of my windshield for three entire seconds. quite a frightening experience i never want to encounter again. and now, i'm stuck in gallop, nm because the monsoon has flooded the highway, and there are 2 major accidents on each side of i40 (not to mention the train derailing), trapping everyone in this town.

so nevermind about making it to my first stop on my first day as i had hoped. but at least i'm safe and not part of the crazy accidents. and thankfully, the hotels in the area had rooms available so i can rest well tonight before continuing the rest of the drive. so i should take advantage of it and hit the hay now. more tomorrow...hopefully, no more drama!