Jamie Lauren Sutton

Dear Ms. Demeanor,

We bought a beach house in Massachusetts over the winter and we are taking the bold step of spending the ENTIRE summer there.  A college student who is the niece of a friend will be taking care of our apartment, plants, and fish while we are away. 

What is usual long-term housesitter protocol?  The student is staying at our apartment rent-free.  Do I give her a list of rules?  Does she bring her own sheets?  Does she pay the cable bill?  

Dear Ms. Demeanor,

Love, love, love my co-op downtown and love, love, love my neighbors...most of the time.  However, little things come up every now and then that are very annoying and/or very inconsiderate.  

Dear Ms. Demeanor,

I have written to you before about my neighbor who has ridiculously loud and poorly-timed sex.  But my latest issue with her tops even that. 

I live in a mid-sized building with no doorman in Yorkville; if I am not home to receive packages, they are usually left inside the vestibule by the delivery service (this area is accessible only to building residents). 

Dear Ms. Demeanor,

I just moved into a small building on the Upper East Side. We have a doorman, but sometimes he has to take a short break and locks the inner door to the elevator hall, so that only residents will be able to access it.

I arrived home last night to find that he was on break and there was a woman standing in the lobby attempting to call an apartment. It didn't seem as though anyone picked up.

Dear Ms. Demeanor,

We live across the street from the infamous East Side Madam.  She is apparently in jail but there are film crews outside her building day and night.  I seriously don't know how much footage they need of a building vestibule but it is apparently a lot. 

Are they expecting tall woman in stilletos and tight pants to come rushing in and out?  The jig is up!  

Dear Ms. Demeanor,

I just got the longest, nastiest email from my roommate.  She is livid that I asked her to pick up some extra toilet paper because she says she keeps her own stash. (That is a short summary of a 500 word email.)  Who knew?  It was a totally innocent, casual request.

What's the deal and how do I deal?

Signed,

Papered and Pissed

Dear Papered,