Dumpster Diving
I'm a big believer in the idea that people should suffer a little bit along the way to success so they know what it's like to have to live in a crappy apartment, to not be able to afford dinner out every night or to drive a beater car for a while. It builds character and can inspire a person to appreciate what it takes to provide a nice living space, a cool car and an ability to enjoy life a bit. That said, when we thought Alison's summer sublease might have come with a side of bed bugs, I was ready to put her up in a hotel until we could get her better accommodation for her 10-week-internship. She protested, said she thought the problem was take care of and stopped me six or times from dragging her mattress out to the dumpster. We instead spend the equivalent of a college student's semester budget for booze on a zippered pouch and bed-bug killing pillow cases, environmentally hazardous bug spray and electronic gadgets that claim to deter all kinds of creepy-crawlies.