48 thoughts on “December 31, 2014: Obligatory Question”

  1. If anyone has any experience renting from renter's warehouse or any other management company in MSP I'd like to hear about it. We looked at some places in Kingsfield and around Uptown last weekend as we were driving back to DC, and are looking for any advice or experiences people may have had. If you don't want to post it you can email me at eschapp [at the] googly mail thing.

        1. I was very happy with them. But I only used them for the transaction, not the ongoing maintenance plan. My Realtor has only heard good things about them.

        2. They're the biggest ones around, so you get the advantage of their reach, and professionally run in my experience.
          They found our tenant and are managing, for now, though that mostly means rent collection. My tenant has contacted me directly with questions or, say, if the newish water heater craps out well before it ought on THANKSGIVING!
          So the arrangement is flexible.
          I don't think there's any additional cost to you as a renter by using them, unless the owner tacks on a little extra to cover their management, or they encourage a higher rent based on the market than what the owner might have otherwise anticipated. But that's not something you can really account for anyhow. Renters Warehouse gets paid a commission (i.e. 1, 1.5, 2 months rent) based on the length of the lease.
          Most of the folks I've spoken to about renting are or have been associated with them.

          1. I used a different company, something small and local.
            One advantage was that they did the work needed for passing inspection for cheap.
            I don't think I asserted myself enough with the last tenant though, but I knew I was letting them get away with stuff because I didn't want to find a new tenant when we thought we'd be selling soon (which we did).

    1. So there really isn't a lot out there to rent for Feb. I assume that probably won't change much?

      1. Also not to be that guy. But it's Kingfield. No s. If you move there Strat, Pirate and I (and others of course) will have to bring you to LowBrow or Driftwood Char Bar.

  2. My year was great. New baby born in June, which I got to deliver myself (with the help of 911). Changed roles at my job to one I've been looking forward to since I got here. Ramped up my board game collection. All in all, pretty good.

    Some unfortunate happenings: a close friend lost his baby in his 36th week. We lost another family friend to cancer.

    Looking forward to 2015!

  3. It has been probably the hardest year I've ever had. I look forward to seeing it out tonight, then slamming and locking the door behind it so that it never comes back.

      1. Heh. Not landing a job yet is certainly one of the rough spots. Leaving my previous employer is one of the bright spots, actually. So was winning survivor. There really were highlights, and overall, I'm still in a pretty happy place.

        Truth be told, part of why this year was so hard was because I've had an unbelievably blessed life. I went to almost as many funerals this year as I have in my entire existence. Just felt like all of a sudden it all hit. I'm looking forward to a better 2015, a health family, my oldest kid starting kindergarten, and landing a job I'm truly excited about with an organization I can really help. And maybe winning another anonymous game at the CdL.

    1. I know what that's like, Philos. You have my most sincere wishes that such a year never comes your way again.

  4. So, I mentioned the other day that I missed out on a promotion to a supervisory position. I found out who beat me today. She's a fantastic employee and I'm sure will be a great supervisor. But I can't help but wonder why she was chosen. I've been at the company a year longer. I am involved in policy committees. I've been in the field several more years. I have a strong work relationship already with the co-supervisor, and have experience working in the county where I'd be moving to, while the other girl doesn't. Every performance review I have had has been near perfect, and one supervisor told me she gave me the highest performance review she's ever given. And I was encouraged to keep applying because I'm eminently qualified and gave a great interview.

    The only thing I can think of is that she's had previous supervisory experience in a job before this one, where I have never been anybody's boss. Otherwise, she gave the most mind-blowing interview ever. It's not a company that seems to play politics.

    1. Okay, just ten minutes ago I learned that the people who interviewed me want to meet with me on Monday about a potential job opportunity within the agency.

      I'll stop complaining now.

  5. This year arrested a several year long plummet for us, one that began in April 2011. Mrs. Hayes' health finally seems to have recovered after a couple of bad years, to the point that she's finally been able to go back to work. Her new job is also at the university, so now we get to commute together on the bus, something that has become a quiet joy for both of us. After a lot of soul-searching and evaluating priorities I started a great job with wonderful colleagues in another unit on campus, one that I'm settling into quite comfortably. My professional life is now on a different, unanticipated trajectory, but I will get to live in a place I love. We have a stable income - and affordable, high quality health insurance - for the first time in years. The debt remains, but it no longer threatens to bury us.

  6. Hmm, let's see... All in all, I've got to say that this has been an interesting year with no obvious hardships and a lot of changes towards the better. I've achieved some things I would have never thought myself capable of, and have made positive steps towards even bigger changes. I'm hoping the new year will continue on a similar trajectory.

    One thing of note, as it's somewhat on topic, is I'll be transferring to a different position within my company. I'd been pretty unsatisfied lately as I work in a pretty dysfunctional environment, so I'd been thinking about changing jobs. I threw out a few resumes, but it was pretty half-assed. However, I somehow managed to get myself assigned to a new division, which is almost impossible in my company. The new gig starts with the new year. It's pretty much a sideways move, and I'm not sure if things will be any better, but they at least shouldn't be any worse (and there's a little more possibility for advancement). Overall, I'm currently mollified on the job front, and I suppose that's something a lot of people can't say.

    Here's to better, bigger, and brighter for everyone in 2015.

      1. mine has a grace period that runs through March or February (I forget) of the following year, with until the end of May to submit receipts. I've got a couple of hundred left to spend....

        On the bright(?) side, the Girl fainted at the end of a long hike up at the Ski Basin in Santa Fe, and chipped a couple teeth (face-planting on a deck). Luckily, no broken bones or major damage, but some small, unexpected dental work to pay for!

    1. Overall, I'm currently mollified on the job front, and I suppose that's something a lot of people can't say.

      No kidding. A lot of people don't know the word mollify.

      In all seriousness, though, congrats on the accomplishments and best wishes for the new year!

  7. Well, I was excited about the Gophers basketball team. So much for that. Hopefully, it was just that Mackey Arena is their personal House of Horrors, but you just can't win in the B1G anywhere when you allow 47 points in a half. That was really bad after allowing just 25 in the first half.

  8. Sick (100 degree temp) at home and alone for New Years. Fun! Think I'll watch Jackie Brown until I can't stay awake.

    1. I haven't bothered with a thermometer, but I'm sure I touched 3 figures at some point this afternoon. No bueno.

      My big night consisted of a Lauganitas Brown Shugga followed by a hot Mucinex Toddy. w00t! That shit better work. A 4 pack of the stuff costs as much as a Surly 4 pack. I'm about to don my jammies and hope to be asleep by 9pm.

  9. Idiot neighbors invited our daughter over for a sleepover and informed us after the fact that their daughter been fighting influenza for two weeks. Now Miss SBG has a 102 fever and is complaining of dizziness.

Comments are closed.