3 not-so-blind mice, Mr. Connections and remotely dealing with an a-hole landlord

(this was written pre-EVERYONE must stay home and colleges are closing, but it has more info on Lad's apartment and Coach's inability to see well, which is quite humors, I think anyway - you let me know if you find the humor in it).

While I was in St. Louis (FOREVER AGO for volleyball) I got an email from a man who is an alum from the school Lad attends.  This guy, Mr. Connections, met Lad after giving a talk at the school a few years ago.  Realizing Lad was an ND fan, he told Lad, "Oh, you need to meet Rudy."  -as in the original Rudy the ND football movie was based on.  Lad had a conversation with Rudy over the phone and Rudy flew Lad and his buddies out to ND for a game.  

Mr. Connections had Lad come and stay with his family for Thanksgiving of '18.  He and his family love Laddie, and they have really taken him under their wing.  

Mr. Connections emailed me to say that he wanted to get involved, with my permission, to deal with Lad's landlord issues.  In short, Lad and his two roomies are living in a building infested with mice.  His fridge didn't work for months.  His oven wasn't working.  The front door to his apartment (that opens to the hallway) does not lock.  In a word:  frustrating.  

Have I mentioned that we pay $700/month for this pit?  Initially Lad thought it was a step up from the joint he lived in last year.  That's not saying much.  I couldn't send packages there for fear they would be stolen.  Instead, I mailed them to his friends' places.  

I called the landlord a few weeks ago.  She did not call me back.  Two days later I called again.  I left an irate message.  She called me back.  She tried to tell me that the guys had not set up a con ed account and that is why the fridge didn't work.  I was like, then why does the freezer work?  The lights?  

This is a photo of Lad's shower.  Total
rent is $2100/month divided by
 three students.  Outrageous.

She claimed the super had never been in the unit to service the appliances.  My initial complaint was 'Get these kids a fridge that works so they can stop eating out exclusively!'  I told the woman her thinking the super hadn't been there was a lie.  Lad later said that they begged the super to look at stuff but he hid from them.

The longer we spoke, the angrier I got.  This chick told me that I should not take that tone with her.  She was calling me back as a courtesy but that my name was not on the lease as a secondary.  I told her I signed the lease and she damn well better talk to me.  I told her I would let the college know about these issues so they would discourage students from renting there again.  

Oh, and she told me she hadn't called me back after the first message because she was sick that day.  I told her I really didn't give a shit, when you are out sick and someone calls with an urgent matter you have someone call them back.  Like, what the actual EF?  

Then the mice.  She explained that a letter had gone out to the entire building instructing them to choose a day when they would be around for the exterminator to come in.  She said the guys had yet to respond.  All I needed to hear was 'whole building'  - so the place is infested?!  Lad said all he did was clean and the mice just kept coming.  There were mouse poops everywhere.  

The super arrived soon after and cleaned the vent or something so that the fridge could start to cool again.  They fixed the oven.  Apparently over the weekend Lad found mouse poops on top of the laundry in his laundry basket.  

I am fuzzy on when he saw or spoke to Mr. Connections, but this guy is the bomb.  He talks the talk, sounds New York-ish.  I think people listen when he talks.  He asked me to call him.  I took a break from my Tank-tongue lashing on my drive home from St. Louis and we chatted.

Before I called him, I touched base with Lad.  Lad was not interested in moving in with Mr. and family (which Mr. offered) because they live on Long Island and he didn't want to be 40 minutes from school.  He was kinda back-pedaling.  His roommates didn't want to move out.  It was only four more months.  He could stick it out.  

Info on roomies:  They are both from Serbia.  Play b-ball at the school.  Full scholarship - their rent is paid for.  Their families are in Serbia.  One of them lost his father over the summer.  Remember when we bought all the gear Lad needed to furnish his kitchen?  They were overjoyed to have a microwave.  At one point they bought a cat (did I write about that here?  How I found this out because Lad spent some moola at Pet Smart - admitted it was a cage for the cat.  Found out yesterday they gave the cat away).  

Phone conversation with Mr. Connections:

Mr.:    I forget how young Lad is sometimes.  You know Lad, he changes his mind every 5 minutes.  This is nonsense.  I know people.  I say we get him out of there.  This lawyer is a friend, he works here for us.  This is what he does.  Lad's like, buy my roommates don't want to move out.  I'm like Lad - mice carry diseases!

Me:  I think Lad is worried he will lose his security deposit.

Mr.:  He's losing nothin.  He's getting it ALL back.  They can't be charging him to live like that.  No way.  Listen, you talk to your husband.  Talk to Lad.  Let me know what you want to do next.

Me:  OK, thanks.

Tank was in the car and he was covering his mouth trying to stifle a laugh while Mr. was spouting off about who he knows at the college.  His best friend from high school's dad is the major funding body for the newest expansion at the business building, etc.  

I called residence life at the college.  Dorm rooms?  Sure, there are some available for the rest of the year, but they have kids living in them.  It would look like this:  here's a double with a kid in it.  Here comes Lad, a senior.  

I told her that would be a hard sell and would never happen.  She also mentioned that there are apartments that can be rented month to month, but tend to be a bit pricier.  If we are getting money back from this place like Mr. says we are, then who cares?  

Lad was still hesitant.  He was out buying more traps yesterday.  Um, this kid needs to study.  Not sure if I have updated you, but a few weeks ago Lad called to say that he WILL be graduating on time in May.  There was one class they were going to make him take on campus this summer, but he met with them and convinced them to reconsider.  Maybe he is the next Mr. Connections?

This morning while I was eating my breakfast, Lad texted me a photo of a mouse trap with two mice in it.  And, yes I kept right on eating.  I roll that way.  (just don't ask me to give blood - then I pass out).

Coach was so confused.  He couldn't see both mice.  People, I am hesitant to share because I want us to stay friends (it is not gory at all, promise), but still.  Two little bodies are sticking out from opposite directions.  Reggie and I were howling to Coach, "How can you NOT see two bodies?"  It was on my phone so I magnified it big time.  Yum, oatmeal.   

OK, I wasn't going to share, but I colored in the part of the peanut butter palace that showed their heads.  There was no blood or anything.  But I must ask, HOW IN GOD'S NAME DID COACH NOT SEE TWO MICE HERE?  I was like, Do you think one is dead and the other one is just coming over to be a callous friend and lick the rest of the peanut butter out of the trap?  I'm telling you every morning should start out with this kind of entertainment.  OK, no - rethinking that -not really.  But it was funny!

It did not look like they were dead, it looked as if they had just met up at this new peanut butter bar and were enjoying a feast while their heads were inside the little white building ie the trap.  Reg and I exchanged a glance that screamed, "Wait, is Daddy experiencing early onset dementia that he cannot recognize this as what it is?"  I think it was a new fancier trap than what we have ever seen.  

After his morning class, Lad came back and had caught another mouse in the same re-set trap.  These three mice (are you humming 3 Blind Mice yet?)- all caught in his bedroom.  Not the kitchen.  

Lad is starting to embrace finding a new living arrangement.  Wish me luck as that has become today's mission.  But Tuesdays are for bathroom cleaning.  Guess I will be working double time here.  

This upcoming weekend is one of two weekends inside of 6 weekends that I am meant to be in town (b-ball, dancing, volleyball, college Mom's weekend, etc).  I am now wondering if a last minute flight out to New York might be necessary.