Datebook: Monday, March 26th ~ 2007

Editor's note: My apologies for not posting this on Monday.

My daughter is now looking for another place to live as her room mate is moving closer to another training facility. In the long run I try to console myself that it will be cheaper since I will only have to buy handbags for one now.

The search for a new apartment has not been easy.

My daughter has decided she cannot live with anyone else if it can’t be her now box-packing best friend.

My husband, as usual is not much help. “She has a great bedroom upstairs, let her come home and drive to the rink a few times a week.”

So, I convinced my daughter to make an attempt at looking for a place with new people. “It will be an adventure” I told her. “It’s an opportunity to find new friends who are not involved in skating, so you can find other things to talk about.”

She just looked at me.

“It’s a chance to find someone who won’t wear your shoes,” I added.

We looked on Craig’s List and found several promising listings.

“Female wanted to share large modern house. Low rent for “cool” room mate.” Great. We answered the ad and got the following response:

FROM: JAGUARBOB

Subject: House to share

Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2007

Hi! Yes the house is still available. You would be sharing with just one person. I own the house and it has three bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 fireplaces, wood floors, C/A, a stainless steel kitchen and a huge room I converted into a Jacuzzi room. It is not far from the ice rink. You have an interesting name. It sounds sexy and exotic—where are you from? Call my cell so we can get to know each better. Thanks, Robert

Since this was not the type of adventure I had envisioned we continued the search.

The next ad sounded simple and sweet. “1 bedroom in prime location, hardwood floors, corner apartment with bay window. Modern kitchen, spacious bedroom with walk-in closets. Includes heat and utilities.”

Awesome. They had me after bay window. The problem was, after reading the ad, you saw some color photos peeking up at the bottom of the page. Nice, I thought, color photos of the apartment.

Wrong. The scroll arrows disclosed there were actually four color posters of Arnold Swartenegger in various aspects of his career. In order to answer the ad you had to include the term used in all four of the photos ( “Govenator” ) in the subject line of the email.

“Maybe this is a hoax” I told my husband who was watching a college basketball game with his bracket card in front of him, “maybe this is a fake ad put on by a psychology student who is trying to see how far people will go to find the right apartment.”

“Humppf” he grunted, which according to Dr. Phil is at least making an effort at direct communication, so I went back to the computer screen.

I hesitated a bit, but let’s face it, bay windows and walk-in closets in the plural do not come around very often.

I emailed back because my daughter would not put up with the Terminator role-playing very easily.

“Subject: Governator

Hi,

I am interested in the great apartment you listed. I would like to see it tomorrow if possible. Please call me, if I don’t answer leave a message and I’ll get baaack to you as soon as possible.”

My husband made a noise in the family room that sounded a bit like our cat when he eats flowers or too much deli ham.

“I hope this is legit and not a relative of Jaguar Bob’s,” I called to him.

“We’re out of this thing if UCLA drops the ball and can’t stay in the court,” he says shaking his head.

“Sweetie, that will never happen. Their Governor protects basketball teams and bay windows…”

He looked at me for a moment and then asked, “Is there any wine left?”

Mombo