Ask Annie for Feb. 11, 2004 Annie,
I have a question about how to deal with roommates that find it acceptable to leave a heaping (30+) pile of dishes in the sink for approximately 9 days consecutively. I am a very tidy person by nature and have expressed my concern that it upsets me that they are remaining in the sink for so long.... what should I do?
Neatness at its WORST
Dear Neatness,
This is a story I've heard before. The same thing happening to my niece over in Ellensburg. She and the other housemates asked the offender to move out, and they've lived happily ever after. My daughter's college professor said that happened to her back when she was in college, and she and her other roommate put all of the offender's dirty dishes in between the sheets of his bed! He came home late and laid down, clanking around on spaghetti plates and glasses ringed with milk, and erupted from the room in an explosion! But when he calmed down, he never left days and days of dishes in the sink again. They lived together for another year after that. Since confrontation didn't work for you, how about offering to do the dishes yourself but pay less rent? You could set an hourly rate and take that off your share of the monthly expenses. I'd think at least $10. an hour. You don't see people advertising to clean houses for any less than that these days.
Annie
To Sharon R,
I got your letter but since there's not really enough detail for me to give you proper advice, all I can say is that if you know you've been the finest friend you can be to this person, you've done the best you can do. I hope this situation is someday resolved to your satisfaction.
Annie
Please write to: Annie, P.O. Box 1084, Eatonville,WA 98328
E-mail: letters_annie@hotmail.com
Past Ask Annies:
Jan. 28, 2004 Bad Phone Manners
Jan. 21, 2004 Avoid Church Because of Flu?
Jan. 14, 2004 Boyfriend Breakup But Gift, Also Relative Tells Private Life
Dec. 24, 2003 Memories of Good Parents
Dec. 17, 2003 Christmas Gift for Wife?
Dec. 10, 2003 Thanks to Food Bank Helpers
Dec. 3, 2003 Child's Names on Belongings & Appreciating Family at Holidays
Nov. 26, 2003 Big Family Thanksgiving with Paper Plates
Nov. 12, 2003 Husband Driven Nuts To Do Crafts By Wife
Nov. 5, 2003 Dreading Husband's Retirement
Oct. 29, 2003 Move back home from boyfriend's house?
Oct. 22, 2003 Did I raise my daughter to do these things?
Oct. 15, 2003 Misunderstanding about School Workers' Kindness
Oct. 8, 2003 Prayer for Brown Sisters Killed and Change Schoolyear to Oct.1 to June 30
Oct. 1, 2003 Response About Non-tipping Lotto Winner
Sept. 24, 2003 Church-goers Inattentive
Sept. 17, 2003 Friend Sells My Stuff on Ebay
Sept. 10, 2003 Lottery Winner Didn't Tip Clerk
Sept. 3, 2003 Business Insults to Consumers
Aug. 27, 2003 Divison of Wedding Expense
Aug. 20, 2003 School Workers' Kindness & Men's Attractiveness
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