I own my house, and I have a pretty informal relationship with my Roommate. I’ve mentioned them a few times before, but they preferred to stay anonymous. Well, they are moving out soon, and I need to get all my ducks in a row- I have licenses to apply for, inspections to have, and a whole load of stuff I don’t actually know about… so I better get on that.
Problem is, I’m looking up all the law and stuff and… it turns out it’s pretty complicated? And the laws keep changing, so the resources I’m finding are from different dates, and thus giving different information, so…
I spot a facebook post about a “Landlord 101” training. Sounds good! It was yesterday, actually, from 6-8. I sit down, and I wind up waiting there for a long long time because I got there at like 5:30. Attendees trickled in slowly, but it was okay!
The sandwiches were free.
A nervous-looking presenter took to a janky-looking laptop hooked up to a projector. This was a real low-budget operation, even by the standards of someone who regularly sees presentations made at a public library. No shame though- I later learned that the whole talk was at least partially sponsored by this place called HAPCO– They never called themselves a “union” but the representatives in the room sure talked and acted like the union reps I’m familiar with in my time with the City of Philadelphia. Free sandwiches are more important than a fancy projector.
So they start giving this presentation and, it’s clearly their first time. Again- no judgment. I know what it’s like to stand up in front of a group of strangers as not-a-middle-schooler, and those first few times are always super stressful.
No, the part that got me was:
Presenter: So, I don’t really wanna bore you guys…
Me, internally: You already gave me free food, so I promise you have my full attention.
Presenter: So I wanna get through as much information as quickly as possible! That’s why I’ve created this PowerPoint that is both educational and entertaining!
Me, internally: No, god, please… don’t say edu-
Presenter: We call that “edu-tainment”!
Room: Groan
What kind of free food?
Sandwiches mostly! They had these really cute little buns with turkey, roast beef, or a big ol’ hunk of mozzarella on them. For being so little they were very filling, which I liked a lot because I also skipped lunch that day.
Yummy!
The talk sounds good, too.
And edu-tainment, GROAN.