West African missionary apartment fraud and bird poop

So Tex and I are casually looking for an apartment when I came across a 2 bedroom apartment on Craigslist for $700 a month.

Curious, I e-mailed the poster to inquire if this was in fact legit and I get this response:

Hansen Karle hansen.karle@yahoo.com> writes:
>Hello
>Thanks for the email. I DR Hansen Karle the house and also it is situated
>at (130-140 Beaconsfield Rd., Brookline, MA, 02215 ) and also want you to
>know that it was due to my transfer that makes me and my wife to leave
>the house and also want to give it out for rent and looking for a
>responsible person that can take a very good care of it as we are not
>after the money for the rent but want it to be clean all the time and the
>possible tenant will see the house as his or her own. We are going to be
>gone for 2 years or more.

> We have left the Massachusetts and we are currently in West Africa for
>our missionary call. Before we left the Massachusetts for West Africa, we
>look for a reputable agent that will take a very good care of th e house
>while we are away but could not found any so we left with the house keys
>and document when leaving. If you will be the right tenant to our house,
>we will get the keys and documents of the house sent to you via courier
>services as soon as all terms are settled.
>
> I will be online through out to get back to you as soon as you are able
>to get back to me. I would want to know how soon you would want to move
>in as I will be taking a 1 month upfront payment for the house including
>all the utilities there. I am asking for $700 and I believe we should be
>able to help ourselves. I am accepting $700 because I want you to take a
>very good care of the house while I am away.
>
> I am looking forward to hear from you ASAP so that i can forward you an
>application to fill out and discuss on how to get the house for rent over
>to me so that I can get the keys and papers sent to you via fedex or ups
>e.t.c, also are you ready to rent it now or when? Await your reply. I
>will be willing to send the inside view of the building if you demands
>for it.The good Lord has been good to me, I am paying him back with my
>missionary call.. I could let you remain in the house till I come back if
>you are a good tenant..
>Thanks God bless you.
>You can call me Via this Number for more
>Hansen Karle
>details:+2347089063609

Again, curious and maybe slightly hopeful/skeptical, I replied that I would indeed like to see photos. What he sends are photos of a freaking mansion, I mean seriously and absolutely the most posh pad ever. He also sends a weird application for the apartment, asking the following questions:

RENT APPLICATION FORM
1)Full Name:.....
2)Your Full Address & Phone Number....
3)How old are you?....
4)Are you married?..
5)How many people will be living in the house?..
6)Do you have a pet?....
7)Do you have a car?..
8)Occupation?..
9)What is your religion?....
10)Are you born again?.................
11)When are you moving in?..............

I didn't reply to that e-mail or send my application in because I had a nagging suspicion that this was just too good to be true. Googling the phone number "Hansen" gave me, I found a series of posts on this exact same type of fraud.

I reported the scheme to the federal gov., but I bet the dude will be making some good money in the meantime from those a little less skeptical than I.

So not only is the perfect apartment a figment of some asshole's imagination, but I sat in bird poop while trying to read outside today.

All in all, not my fave.

Adorable, 'nuff said

Got a bday present from Tex:
A 10-week old mackerel tabby kitten. So freakin' awesome. Current kitty is adjusting well to the new roommate, and I hope they will be snuggling soon.

Bragging like a new mom. :)

It's raining, it's pouring, this kid is snoring

These gray days = the suck. True story.

Tex is a little under the weather this week and I'm fighting off hormonal mood swings, and despite our grumpiness there have been minimal crabbing or other types of fighting in our humble abode.

I really could get used to this domestic nonsense and have even been cooking for us most nights. Before my feminist friends get all up in arms, I'm happy to report that Tex is more than willing to help (offering repeatedly throughout the evening, but I prefer to be the only one in my kitchen, thank you control issues) or to cook (will be taking him up on this offer soon, but am curious as to what he'll produce when not grilling).

Admittedly, this drive to cook for us is taking me by surprise. My mother, without fail, no matter how sick or tired she is, will have a beautiful dinner on the table when my father gets home. I've often regarded this habit with barely concealed scorn--surely a grown man can fend for himself on an odd night or three, right?

But now I'm beginning to understand the pleasure in watching someone you love enjoy something you made with your own hands. And in my mom's case, I think it's a way she shows him her love and appreciation for those 60+ hour-work-weeks he's still pumping out even as he gradually floats closer to 60 years old. That's not to say she doesn't work hard at home while he's at the office, because I know that she definitely and without a doubt does. Seeing her in action gave me a hefty dose of respect for stay-at-home moms (seriously, how the heck does the woman do all that she does and stay sane, raise two kids, and provide dinner every night??).

Food as a gesture and a connection. I can understand that (although she freakin' spoils him some nights, but I guess that's marriage, ha).

Anyways, I'm looking for good recipes/meal ideas if any of ya'll have stuff out there you're willing to share. We're not really red meat eaters, but most anything else is welcome.

Also, any tips for how to get through all these rainy days would be great. I'm falling asleep over here for reals. Happy puddle-jumping.

Gone but not forgotten

Sorry all, this is the BUSY BUSY BUSY season at work right now. Will be back at it shortly.

Any of ya'll out there are welcome to guest blog for me (you know you wanna). Just let me know.