Infestation averted
By jerfunfin 16 Nov 2001
I have been waiting for about a month now for my landlord to have a replacement gas range delivered to my flat. The thermostat was busted and the oven just kept climbing = Major Fire Hazard. I wasn’t going to pay for a replacement out of my own pocket but I may just do that after this evenings events.
<p><br />
<p>I came home from the office at around 8:30 with some Thai take out. About half way through my meal, my landlord knocks on my door and tells me that the delivery guys are here. I didn’t think delivery guys worked after 5pm but, hey, what the hell. <br />
<p>So these two guys take away the old unit and bring in a “refurbished” unit. I guess the landlord wants to save a few sheckles. This is fair enough as long as the thing functions correctly, right? <span class="caps">BIG</span> <span class="caps">THUMBS</span> <span class="caps">DOWN</span> ON <span class="caps">THAT</span> <span class="caps">IDEA</span>.</p>
<p><br />Approximately ten minutes after the delivery guys disappear into the night, the biggest roach motel I have ever seen in a kitchen kicks into high gear. I must have killed a dozen of these critters of varying sizes in a five-minute battle.<br />
<p>So, with bug spray in one hand and the phone in the other, I called my landlord down from her apartment (thank god she lives in the building) She apologies profusely while killing a few of the evil buggers herself. I call Anders for a hand but he’s in East Harlem checking out a friend?s new pad (lucky him). So, I get one of my neighbors to help me carry the aluminum bughouse out to the curb. I now have lines of Boric acid and roach traps where a stove used to be.<br />
<p>There is a one very positive side to this story, though. I <span class="caps">WAS</span> home at the time of delivery. Can you imagine what the situation would be in my flat if the stove were delivered at, say, 4:00pm? My kitchen… no, my entire flat would have been invaded by these unwelcome guests! In <span class="caps">NYC</span> during especially during the winter, roaches are impossible to conquer. My fingers and toes are crossed. I pray one of those mini monsters didn’t move in during their brief stay. It only takes one pregnant cucaracha to create an army! And on that note, I am pretty sure that roaches mate once and then are pregnant for life. Ouch! </p>
<p></b></b></b></b></b></br></br></br></br></br></p>