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laSurfGirl's Profile

Display Name: laSurfGirl
Member Since: 4/18/07
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Latest Comments...

Thank you. Thank you - for not including those disposable dining wares made from corn. That is just SO wrong, and so not green. They use them here at my work. I wish they would bring out the old silverware and ceramic plates, and bring back the dishwasher. :-(


Wash Your Outdoor Dinnerware? No, Compost It!
Roundup
8/25/10 8:41 PM

And that's where the photo tells you to go! Ha ha!


What's The Greenest US City I Can Live In?
Good Question
8/24/10 1:53 PM

Portland, IMHO, is the greenest city.


What's The Greenest US City I Can Live In?
Good Question
8/24/10 1:53 PM

@aychihuahua I find it really amusing that someone with the word "chihuahua" in her username would not like pets.

But anyway...

I've actually been looking for a year, so perhaps the issue is that I have too many dealbreakers! Mostly the issue has been #1.

1. PETS OK. I have a dog. Holy crap. The sacrifice one makes to live in Los Angeles with a pet! I've seen some really nice places that totally fit the bill, but the owners are adamantly opposed to pets *at all*. A lot of the rentals that do allow them are either charging well above the market rate or are dumps. And before people get started on pets...I know...I'm a really tidy person. I'm tired of hearing about the stereotype!

2. HARD FLOORS. Wood, linoleum, pergot - anything but carpet. It is such a dirt sponge. And not just because I have a dog, but also because in LA things get dirty from the air, and carpet is difficult to clean. Though a lot of places have hard floors in the main areas, but carpet in the bedrooms, and that's pretty manageable.

3. WALKABLE AREA. If you can't walk to fun stuff from where you live, enjoy spending hours in the car.

4. BATHTUB.

5. NOT NEAR a dumpster, a prison, a unit facing a loud street or the fire engine's path.

6. NO SHACKS. I'm willing to put a bit of money into an apartment. Sometimes you gotta do that in LA to get the right place, but it cannot be a total wreck. If it requires heavy cosmetic investment, forget it.

7. A CLASSIC LOOK. If it has some weird "upgrades," I usually pass. Some things that landlords have actually touted as features: brown carpet, astro-turfed patio and fluorescent office lighting.

8. PLENTY OF LIGHT.


Our Top 5 Deal Breakers For New Spaces
8/4/10 8:50 PM

By the way, to the commenter who mentioned that doggie doors ruins house-breaking, well, making your dog "hold it" is all fine and dandy until one day he/she gets diarhea.

This has happened to me (there has been a bad flu going around LA), and my dog would go outside or on the pee pad. If this happens to a dog who's been taught to just "hold it," then the poop could be all over the floor, and you just have to cross your fingers that it's not on your favorite rug or white carpet.

Just something to think about...


Apartment Therapy Los Angeles | Pros and Cons of Doggy Doors?
2/28/08 9:34 AM

Wow! All this negative commentary regarding doggie doors. My experiences have been pretty positive overall.

I first got one of those sliding-door doggie doors when I lived in a house, and though it worked out great at first, I think some neighborhood kids did some shenanigans over the fence of our yard, making my dog paranoid about going outside.

However, after that, I moved into a few different apartments and as long as no one could climb into the patio/balcony area, the situation was pretty sweet and convenient, and I didn't have to worry about hurrying home to let my dog out to do her business. I'd just lay a pee pad out on the patio/balcony and she would do her thing.

I currently live in an apartment with no patio/balcony right now, and I had to paper train my dog because when she gets stressed out she can't hold her bladder too well. I miss having a doggie door. :-(


Apartment Therapy Los Angeles | Pros and Cons of Doggy Doors?
2/28/08 9:30 AM

I don't think Descanso is an example of xeriscaping.


Color Chips: The Huntington Botanical Gardens
6/26/07 10:07 AM

Looks like my comments did eventually get added...eventually. Sorry for the redundance, folks. :-(


Should I Stay or Should I Go Now?
5/7/07 4:20 PM

NoHo's nice, but do you really want to move away from the beach to rent? Just for the up-and-coming attribute, I'd say look to BUY over in that area, if it's possible for you. Who knows, maybe you can even afford a small house - there are plenty older homes still left with great character, and the prices are still somewhat reasonable over there. A good spot to be is actually closer to Magnolia and Lankershim. It's got restaurants, coffee shops, vintage clothing shops, and you can jog or walk in this great park off Vineland.

However, there are some issues with moving to a new, large complex that you might want to consider...

There would be little rent control on a new complex. I don't know what the rate each year is that your rent would be raised, but you can be sure it's not going to be what you saw in Santa Monica. Plus the same rent stabilization rules don't apply to new apartment buildings in LA County.

How many units are in that building? If it's a huge complex, you might be in store for more noise than you have now. Plus, a large building means there's likely to be less attention from the management when you have a leaky sink or other problem in your unit. Also, you might want to see what existing or past residents think of living there. I've use apartmentratings.com in the past, but you gotta be careful as there are some fake reviews. ;-)

I live in Sherman Oaks, and I think the Valley has a lot to offer. If you are willing to give up being close to the beach, you can find there are a lot of great trade-offs. Good luck!


Should I Stay or Should I Go Now?
5/7/07 3:31 PM

I joined Freecycle a while back, and while the concept is really good, there are lots of rules, and it's heavily moderated (you need permission to join, to post, etc). One of the policies is that you can't publish your phone number, so if you give away something popular, you will have to sift through like a hundred emails, calling each person until you find someone ('cause a lot of people can be flakes) who can meet you to pick up the item.

The "Free stuff" section on CraigsList is pretty good. Anyone can post anything, so it's got some crazy ads, but it has a great selection.


Freecycle
4/18/07 1:10 PM