Wow, spices are expensive. The cinnamon, ginger and cloves I need for my gingerbread will cost over $20! Check the prices also of the other ingredients I'll need: sugar, flour, baking powder, baking soda, molasses, eggs, and lard. No lard in the store, or on the street. I'll call Trade Fair's two locations but it's doubtful they'll have it, as it is a seasonal item these days. Will cost me a trip to the City, I guess.
Chicken stuffing casserole will be very nice; found excellent chicken breasts and all other ingredients. Can't wait to make it. Didn't get around to checking prices for containers, thought; too tired. Did find a nice square Pyrex baking dish for $8.99. Perhaps I should shop at the thrift store for other kitchen items.
Many other prices, including a variety of beans, instant mashed potatoes, and dairy and meat and dairy products. Will see if they have a gift certificate card I can use, which hopefully will come in handy when I need a few items and have no cash. Little or none of the soup mixes I wanted are there. Will have to check in with Trader Joe's, and see if there's a Tuesday Morning around here. Oops, no. Only Yonkers, Cedarhurst, and Midland Park.
Now to check for tea at Good Earth. Can't wait to have more of the Sweet and Spicy, as well as plenty of coffee and cream each day. That sure picks me up and keeps me happy all day.
Now, about Trader Joe's. Where are they, besides Union Square? Rego Park, Queens; 72nd and Broadway; Chelsea.
Need to call the following for lard: Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Fairway in Manhattan, Trade Fair.
Wow, after a ton of stupid, rude people at Fairway on 72nd and Broadway, I confirmed they do carry Armor Star lard in the meat department. Couldn't give me a price, but at least I found a source. Hooray! Now I'll check Trade Fair.
Wow again. Another round of stupid, rude people. They tell me they won't carry lard, but when I ask what it is, they don't know. How bright is that? Finally pushed someone (sometimes you have to push), and got him to say they carry Armor lard at $1.50/pound. Well, now if he wasn't lying, I can walk there and get my lard. Hallelujah! And if it's not expired, which I was warned about on Yelp, I may actually buy it!
So, what else did I shop for at Key Food: Let me check my list... But wait, let's see if the mailman has come yet... Be right back...
Shucks, no check. I guess that means no beer at Peter's comedy show tonight, and no present for him either. Probably best that I don't go. Also means I'll be living on my pasta this weekend, and no grocery shopping.
Just had to chew out my roommate for telling me to watch how I speak to her. She is such an asshole and a bully, she really needs to be put in her place. Too bad I have to fight back, but it's good for me, and I will continue to stand up against her rudeness and intrusiveness. She asked me about MS, and I told her I am doing exactly what I said I was doing, and that she should already know that. She said, "Watch how you speak to me!" I said, "No, you watch how you speak to me!" and went into my room, leaving her mumbling in the kitchen.
Okay, so where does that leave me today? I can still clean my room, and I will make progress there today. She had better not give me grief later, or I'll chew her out again. This time I'll make sure I have my phone recorder on. She will be very lucky to get an extra cent out of me when I move out. She has been an extremely horrible roommate, in every way. Intrusive, hostile, whining, filthy (smelly fridge and dirty dishes piling up), and preposterously rude. I think this must be an eye-opener for her that someone is fighting back for the first time. I may have to call the office in Queens that Tenant.net referred me to.
Oh, and I let the beans spill about expecting a check from a relative. Stupid of me, now she knows it's coming and will probably ask how much it is and monitor the mail more closely. I told her I wanted to give her at least something (told her it wouldn't be a lot), but now I need to withhold it until she shows me our agreement (unless I can find my copy when I clean). But bottom line is, she doesn't get a red cent from me until I get what I want. Oh, and I want to see her lease, so I can tell how much rent she pays, and see if I've been paying more than my fair share. Because if I've been paying more than half, every penny over half from the time I've paid since moving in will be deducted from what I owe her. And I'll adjust my future rent based on that.
When I checked the mail, there were two items for me and nothing for her. I wonder if she had checked the mail and left mine down there. She is so used to being abusive in order to get one up on people, she is now getting a taste of her own medicine, and learning that her tactics don't work with me.
Can't believe she threw away my body wash. I'm leaving it back in there. I really need to confront her about things as they happen, and chew her out on the spot.
Oh, and from now on, I'm only giving her $650 per month for rent. She had the audacity to claim she never raised the rent. I remember our conversation so clearly. Not a penny more, then, asshole. And all conversations will be recorded. You didn't raise the rent, then it's still $650.
Today is Feb. 19, the day rent is due. Based on my previous calculations, I will now owe her either $21.67 or $20.97 per day (depending on whether you divide the $650/month using a 30- or 31-day month, starting today, for every day I remain here before moving. Let me check Tenant.net and see what they say.
Wonder what she'll do when I ask her to attest to my rent in writing for food stamps? Because if she doesn't she's not getting the $100 I am planning to give her. No signature, no money. No paperwork, no money. She gives me what I want, or she gets nothing. Period.
Oh, and I'm going to withhold rent from her until my room is painted to my satisfaction. No gloss paint, no stark white. A nice very light off-bone in matte or semi-gloss for all ceilings, walls and doors. I will move the furniture around and be packed so they get get around me. This means the flaking heating pipe and radiator, too.
Gotta remember to wash the curtains on my next laundry run. I promised I'd do it; only reason it didn't get done is because I forgot to remove them last time. This time I need to; they should look much nice (I hope so) after they're clean.
Oh, and I'm calling the housing department to get inspectors here. I will have to arrange that they don't enter her room, and they must come when she's working (Mondays or Fridays after 2 PM). Will have them check the bathroom, kitchen, and my room. Need to include paint, electrical outlet, outlet in the bathroom, tiles, etc. They should probably check the common areas as well, including the lack of a directory, which is demanded by Federal law.
