A man called at 8AM about renting a room. He came over at 8:30AM and stayed 'til noon. He's recently divorced, has two children, twenty-three and fifteen years old, one grandchild and another one on the way. He's forty-two, has heart problems, and just generally doesn't know what to do. He has been told that he will need bypass surgery eventually, but fortunately: #1, he doesn't need immediate surgery, and #2, he has insurance. The government and our health system won't get to kill him. He works and travels extensively for the railroad. He told me that poverty is everywhere and he sees a lot of hungry people. He's now renting a one-bedroom apartment with a small deck and has been there one year. It costs him $300.00 a month, plus utilities. He seems a decent enough bloke and I need the money, but I somehow doubt if he rents it.
I still haven't been able to get Love's death certificate to be able to apply for his insurance.
A forty year old woman looked at my room for rent this afternoon. I went to school with her. She says that she's going to take the room, but I have an uneasy feeling about her. I do think that we would get along fine if she rented it. She's renting a room that costs $35.00 a week. She says her landlord goes through all of her things, complains because she takes one-half hour baths, doesn't want her to take any food or drinks into her room, because she might spill them, and complains she spends too much time in the kitchen. Ironically I know the landlady and I couldn't live with her two hours. The woman likes the middle bedroom, so I would be able to afford to finish painting the back bedroom ceiling tile before I rent that room too. She is on Social Security and gets food stamps. If I'm able to rent out the back bedroom too, then I can afford to survive the summer here, I think. My expenses are $475.00 a month minimum. With two roommates I'll only bring in $475.00, unless I get at least a part-time job after my unemployment runs out.
