1500 Termon is on a street where the speed limit is 25 and drivers regularly do 40-50. I once had to pick some stuff up from a neighbor on that street and backing out of their driveway was one of the most terrifying driving maneuvers I’ve ever had to do in my life. It’s like backing out into McKnight Rd. Also the next door neighbors have the loudest dogs I’ve ever heard in my life and let them outside most of the day when the weather is nice.

1825 Kleber has been off-and-on the market since early 2020 when we bought our house. It was full of outdated finishes and carpet from the 1970s that was probably harboring its own ecosystem. They eventually pulled it off the market and spent over a year doing minor cosmetic improvements, basically putting lipstick on a pig, and then relisted it asking probably $50k more than it was worth (at the time; prices have since fallen). As a matter of fact the house next door, of similar size, sold for $15k more last summer in a matter of days. Because it’s actually worth it.

The reason these houses are still sitting is because they’re asking way too much money for what they are.

I enjoy watching the market and I’ve noticed a few trends among the houses that sit on the market for a long time.

Much of the time they’re overpriced. Usually it’s a flip that someone is asking the moon for (many of these have been lingering since the summer when you could feasibly get that kind of money- right now you sure as hell can’t).

Other times it’s a house that’s otherwise nice and theoretically is worth the money, but has other things making it less desirable. For example this one is on a street with tons of traffic and people frequently flying past at 40+ (25 zone), plus the next door neighbors have a pair of beagles that are outside much of the day and are the loudest damn dogs I’ve ever heard (I can hear them half a mile away): https://redf.in/B5u4QF

Most of the rest are just crappy. They’re in that state where they need more work than most buyers are willing to put in but the asking price is too high for the flippers, and often on a rough looking street.

The falling-apart houses sitting on half-abandoned streets and selling for a 5-figure sum? Nobody has any trouble moving those. Even if the area sucks the house flippers are still interested.

A nice house at the right price still sells very fast here. Examples:

https://redf.in/I3ojnd

https://redf.in/1G3vaB

Report to 311, but I'd start with only reporting the sections that are actually in danger of puncturing tires (broken and sticking out). Reporting every inch of steel curb edging would give the impression of crying wolf.

They take your estimated usage based on the previous year history for the property and divide it by 12, and that’s what you pay every month. At the end of the year billing cycle you pay the difference if the usage was more than expected, and they give you a credit if it was less.

Example: your most expensive month of the year is $250 and your cheapest is $20, but the total for the whole year altogether is $1200. You just pay them $100 a month regardless of how much you actually used that month.

Poorly insulated 100 year old house FTW.

$181, same as it is every month.

Get yourself on the budget plan, it evens out the spikes in the bill. We also do it for electric to balance out the surge in the summer from running the air conditioner.

Per this source, he’s a little unconventional but reliable: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid05ozrNxYkzH4bN3j5CiJyZy6cNmSCNdMqvsmsFhm6JWCkAVz4hFueLr6ZanN81Zf5l&id=100063358636675&mibextid=qC1gEa

> Pittsburgh Police Called To Disturbing Scene This Morning In Downtown & Fort Pitt Bridge.

> Police units responded Around 9 this morning to find several dozen deceased animals. The police discovered the scene around 1st & 2nd avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh Animal Control was called to the scene.

> After recovering the bodies police where then called to the Fort Pitt Bridge for additional bodies of deceased animals. Per soruces the animals were headed for cremation when a vehicle carrying the dead animals lost its load at several locations. The bodies were claimed by the mortuary the company has been contacted for comment as of right now it appears that this was an accident.

Jack’s is open

If you've got house plants, no lower than 60. I usually do 62 just in case one of them is in a drafty area.

Other than that, as low as you can with a comfortable margin above freezing. I don't think most thermostats go below the 50s.

No diggity?

Tom Friday’s sells Land O’Lakes American cheese for $5.99/lb.

The same cheese at Giant Eagle is $8.49/lb.

The only explanation I can think of for that is price gouging. The official inflation figure for groceries is around 10% IIRC but much of the stuff I buy at GE is at least 50% more than it was a year ago if not double.

Thrift store. Usually can find plenty of things there, in decent condition.

If you don't mind having hoodies/pullovers with random company logos on them you can find lots of things that are basically new.

Sitting on my porch drinking beer and saying hi to the neighbors, with a giant bowl of candy on my front step.

Flying to Boston is super convenient. I do it a few times a year. We have a couple airlines with direct flights. Not only is that faster, but also cuts down on the potential for things to get messed up with missed connections and lost luggage and whatnot.

As for where to stay in Boston… really anywhere that’s close to a subway line will be good. The Blue and Silver Lines take you to the airport. The Green and Orange Lines connect to the Blue Line, and the Red Line connects to the Silver Line. Blue Line is faster and easier but if it meant saving $50 I’d take the Red/Silver without giving it a second thought.