Category Archives: true life 2007

Bellatrix Lestrange

People tell me I look like Helena Bonham Carter.

That would be well and fine, I suppose, but then they clarify that they mean Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange. So what they really seem to be saying is that I remind them of an insane serial killer, which makes me want to lean forward and hiss at them, “Well then maybe you shouldn’t be annoying me,” possibly while waving a pen as a wand and hissing curses.

Nodding and smiling is a more practical plan.

One of the women in the locker room yesterday was leaning more towards “Fight Club Helena,” as she kept calling her, but the others out-voted her. Fight Club Helena?

At least no one was voting for “Planet of the Apes Helena,” right? Then they clarified that I’m “the small version.” I didn’t know what that meant ’til I looked it up. Helena Bonham Carter appears to be carrying Rosemary’s baby. She is hugely pregnant. Makes much more sense now.

On a related note, I finally saw my doppleganger in the neighborhood. I’ve met all kinds of people lately who walk up and start yapping at me only to realize I’m not who I thought. I could actually see enough of a resemblance to make it vaguely odd but nothing spooky or that would be fun at parties. I do have an identical cousin living in San Francisco (though neither of us has any special feelings for hot dogs.)

Mr. Toilet

(link fixed)

SUWON, South Korea — Sim Jae-duck has made his political career as South Korea’s Mr. Toilet by beautifying public restrooms. Now he’s got a home befitting his title: a toilet-shaped domicile complete with the latest in lavatory luxury.

[read the whole article – you simply must see the picture]

This reminded me that long ago at my old job, Dr. Noodles and I ended up on the mailing list of the [tag]American Restroom Association[/tag] and the [tag]World Toilet Organization[/tag]. Very important organizations, without question, but we were never really certain what we were supposed to do with this information, not being Toilet Professionals and all. The best catalog we got was Restroom World, who I notice have merged with a matting supply company to become “Ojserkis Janitor Supply – Matting World / Rest Room World” of Pleasantville, New Jersey. That’s nice, but it just doesn’t have the same ring to it.

fun with historic districts

Houses right next door to each other can be governed by very different preservation rules, leading to a sad refrain of “why didn’t anyone tell us” from many of our new neighbors over the last few years. In a crazy market where people put down twenty percent and forgo structural inspections, checking out the arcana of what you can and cannot do to a structure or how big (hint: they aren’t) those tax breaks for preservation often are.

Today’s Real Estate section has a brief but useful cautionary article about this subject. “Harsh Realities for those Who Buy Historic.” It even mentions our latest new surprise, that the new roofing rules in Old Town may allegedly soon be applied to our area as well:

Asphalt shingles, even if they are on the house now, are not acceptable anymore. Instead, homeowners have to install wood shingles, standing-seam metal or slate. He has a client who is replacing the roof on one of his properties, a former single-family house now divided into five one-bedroom apartments. The estimated cost: $50,000 to $70,000.

We’re just going to play chicken on this one, since our roof (knock on wood, or at least wood shingles) is in good shape and I hope we can sell this house before it needs a new roof/the rules go into effect. I also have my doubts about the rule covered our street, since none of the houses have wood shingles anymore – I took a trip around the whole enclave and it’s all asphalt tiles except the one house with ceramic tiles. (A story for another day, to be sure).

Other neighbors are planning to shell out the 25 grand to replace a perfectly good roof now, instead of having to spend double that in a couple of years.

Ah, the joys of home ownership.

(Husband and I both have minors in Anthropology from a Department renowned for it’s Historical Archaeology program, and I have a history degree. We love historic preservation. Just for the record).