/rant/

Property management did apartment inspections today at my complex because the Housing Authority is doing inspections next week. The property manager called me this afternoon and asked, "How many people live in your apartment?" Apparently the person who did the inspection thinks TWO people are living there. I said, "Just me. I have no idea what would give him the impression that two people live there. I don't even have anyone who could be living with me." Is it because my apartment is FULL? Is a single person not supposed to have as much stuff as i do? Is it because I have a queen size bed? Am I supposed to sleep on a twin even though I'm a 5'10" adult? No idea... I only have ONE toothbrush in the bathroom...

Yesterday when my property manager was taping letters to the doors alerting tenants that they'd be doing an inspection, she wrote on mine, "Please turn your porch light off when not in use." My porch light has a sensor on it so when it gets dark, it comes on. So I flip the switch in the morning so that it comes on in the evening and I can SEE to unlock my front door. and when it's foggy and dreary out, the damn light comes one before the sun sets, so i guess i have no choice, but to NOT turn my porch light on until AFTER i unlock the front door. I'm paying for the damn electricity. Why does she give a shit if the light is on??

I wrote her the following email this evening:

Hi [property manager],

I want to address your note about my porch light. I had been flipping the switch on in the mornings so that when it gets dark, the light will come on and the porch will be lit when I get home from work around 6 or 7. Unfortunately on days like yesterday when the sky is overcast and darker, the porch light comes on earlier than dusk. I would also prefer that the light be off during the day in order to conserve energy, but as there is no other light between my apt and apt 5 (like the one upstairs) it gets pretty dark in my little corner. Would it be possible to get the porch light on a timer or perhaps change it from a darkness sensor to a motion sensor that the porch is illuminated at night when I get home from work? I have no doubts that the complex is safe, but safety cannot be guaranteed and I don't want to take any risks walking into the dark porch area.

If you need to reach me or would like to discuss on the phone, I can be reached at xxx-xxx-xxxx.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Thank you!

Julie