Lifestyles of the poor and nameless

If you've been reading faithfully, or are just tuning in...welcome to the 2nd round of Survivor. In the 1st round, I voted off a co-worker referred to as "Roberta" (check the archives). As you know, Survivor the TV show didn't stop with one elimination, so I've decided to keep going, but also add a twist. This week, we will have "Survivor--- Home Edition". Is there a family member/living partner who is getting on your nerves? Vote them off right here.

I only live with one other person at the moment, so naturally, because it's either her or me, I'm gonna pick her. But even in a house full of people, she would be the first one eliminated. I'll call her "Diane".

Diane is an older woman who's agreed to let me stay at her place when I moved to PA. Although I was skeptical at first and hate to be dependent on people, she insisted it was not a problem, and I didn't have enough money to put up much of a fight. My parents thought it was a great idea. The agreement was that I would pay an undetermined amount of $ each month. Not full rent, but a little something. Although it wasn't stated, the understanding is that I would help out around the house (buy milk, wash dishes, etc) to subsidize the rent. Kudos to you Diane, for your gracious offer.

The dish-washing was my mom's idea really. It seemed innocent enough- if Diane leaves a bowl in the sink and you're done with breakfast, wash her bowl too. Cool. But lately, Diane's been getting out of control, leaving not just a couple bowls and utensils, but pots and multiple dishes from meals that I do not share. In all fairness, yes she offers me food from time to time, but I don't want to "owe" her for the food ya know? Whether I ate or not, I still got stuck washing the pots and dishes from last night's crab-leg dinner (which I didn't eat, mind you). Alright, whatever.

Then, there was the incident with the snow. Last Saturday, we got a total accumulation of about 20 inches. While the snow was still falling, I went out and started shoveling. Maybe 8 or 9 inches had piled up by then. Diane comes to the door (with an attitude), exclaiming about how it didn't make any sense to be outside shoveling at that point because the snow hadn't stopped. Now, there are several schools of thought on whether to wait till snow is finished before you start shoveling. But either way, was the elevated voice necessary? Was the attitude required? How about appreciating the fact that you, an older woman, now have 8-9 less inches to remove and it was done for free?!

Lastly (oh there's more, but this is the last one I'll write about)--- after Diane's famous crab-leg dinner, she did not take the garbage out. So crab remnants stayed in the garbage over the weekend and by the time I got home from work on Monday evening, the place smelled like a fish market. I took the garbage out by the street and put plastic bags in the bucket, as was the custom. Keep in mind that I barely put things in the garbage there. On occasion I might throw out a yogurt cup (but only after I've rinsed it out). I generally eat things that produce "smelly garbage" (fruits, food, etc) at work. In the house I only eat cereal/bread/turkey. I don't even cook there. So imagine my surprise when Diane comes at me the next morning (with her 'tude) talking about "next time you go to the supermarket, ask them for paper bags because the plastic gets holes in it and things drip in the bucket and I don't like to have things dripping all over the place."Excuse me?! She's the one making the mess. I don't even throw things out so all that 'tude was not necessary.

Oh yes...and as to that undetermined amount of $, it ended up being $100- $200 less than what I would pay for full rent elsewhere. I would have preferred to pay the extra money and at least be on my own.

So for all these reasons, Diane--- pack your bags and get out. Oh wait, it's your house. Fine. I'll go...but you're still voted off the island.