Where's the refrigerator?

It's moving time. We've been in our loft for three years now, and it's time for a change. Mostly to lower our rent, but also for a change. Loft living is cool, but it has its drawbacks.

So I'm reminded of another curious thing about Los Angeles? Not every rental apartment comes with a refrigerator. Yes, I know that's odd, being from "back east". When I first moved here and looked at apartments, no one could really tell me why or how that started, just "...this apartment doesn't come with a refrigerator".

So, if you are a renter, you have to carry around a refrigerator with you when you move. I suppose you could leave it, I'm sure some people do. And what if you have a refrigerator and you move into a new place that has one already? I suppose you can sell yours, or ask the land lord to move his. If you do sell yours, and move again in a year, you may have to buy another one. It gets complicated. And if you find a really cool place and it doesn't have a fridge, would you really not take it because you have to spend a few hundred bucks on a fridge?

So as I scour Craig's List for our new apartment, I study the pictures of the kitchen closely. Is there a big empty space under the cabinet or not? Does it say refrigerator included? I even saw an ad today that says, " Comes with a gas stove!" Wow, really. The apartment comes with a stove? How nice.

We still haven't found where we are going to move to yet, but we have started the best part of moving...the Purge! Getting rid of stuff. Eliminating clutter before you move it. Going through everything you own and asking yourself, "Do I still want this?"

We started today, going through files and paperwork. I must have cleared at least thirty pounds of old paper from my file cabinets. Old bank statements, bills and receipts. And it's just the beginning. Oh, yeah, it feels real good. This time I made a promise; I will be brutal, I will be unrepentant in my purging, and I will take no prisoners.

Going to the beach day!

Work. Work. Work. All I do is work. Fuck that, I'm going to the beach today with my beautiful wife who looks so hot in a bikini.

The rest can wait. Job? Who needs a job. Money? Who needs money.

Ring, ring. The bank is calling honey, they want your ass in a sling. Let 'em wait. The beach is calling.

Gotta give to me for one day.

Can I see your crapper, please?

We are currently looking for a new apartment and will be moving in about six weeks. How fun.

I spend a lot of time on Craig's List looking at what is available for rent now, and I am always surprised by how bad the pictures are that people post, to entice me to come look at their rental units.

For example, if there is a window in the kitchen; and you would be amazed at how many apartments they built in Los Angeles with galley kitchens that have no window, but if there is a window, they leave the blinds closed.

Then there are the people who post pictures of the bathroom. Really, the apartment comes with a crapper and indoor plumbing? Wow, I'll take it. Do you really think that showing me your plain jane sink and toilet will jazz me up enought to run out and see it? Ah, at least turn the light on?

Why don't you save the space CL gives you for four photos for something interesting, like built in cabinets, the fire place, a view from the balcony? Oh, because your crappy apartment doesn't have anything like that to offer.

As a former location scout, I know how hard it is to photograph a small bedroom. It's impossible. You see a small sliver of a room that only looks smaller because there is such a narrow angle. At least open the closet door and give it a little depth?

hey land lords, call me, for $100 bucks I'll come shoot your apartment and make it look interesting. Till then, what's the next crapper look like?