Neat freak roommate
 

I live in a two bedroom apartment with two roommates, "Erica" and my 'big sis' "Katie." Erica and I share a room and Katie has a room to herself. Katie is a "neat freak." She cleans the apartment VERY thoroughly a few times a week. She constantly whines about the fact that Erica and I don't. I consider myself to be a neat, clean person. I always clean up after personal messes (cooking, etc.) but I (and Erica) don't see any need to vaccuum or clean the toilet when Katie has already done it several times in the past couple of weeks. If I leave a couple of pens or papers on the counter for an hour while I am in class, I will come back and Katie will have very neatly organized them. She will then get mad at me for leaving them out. Twice in the past week she has come home drunk and yelling at us about it. She stormed out with a friend after one of these episodes and then she got made at us for not checking on her. When Erica is alone, Katie talks behind my back and when I am alone, she tries to talk about Erica with me. I try to explain to Katie that not everyone has the same cleaning standards as she does, but she maintains that she "just doesn't understand" us. She already has the better end of the apartment deal (the private bedroom), even though we all pay the same rent. Also, Erica and I both have jobs while Katie does not work, so she has more free time than we do. Erica and I are both tired of being treated this way in our own apartment. We live on-campus so we aren't allowed to move until the end of the year. Any thoughts on how to deal with Katie???

You have a whole slew of options:

-MAKE A LIST OF ALL NECESSARY CLEANING SHIT AND THEN ROTATE JESUS NOT THAT HARD (plus then you can decide what, and how often, denotes "necessary")

-Punch her in the ovary

-Have a "sit-down/cry-out" as you crazy folk are wont to do, and explain each of your expectations about the room

-Get the nastiest douche in Chi Banga Whore to rail her while she's wasted and leave something gross in a common area, then inform her that she's no longer ever able to complain, thus regaining the upper hand

-Call her mom. Just to chat, maybe a couple times a week, then work up to "holy crap, how about that neat freak daughter, huh?" Then bake her a delicious cake.

-Move.

-Continue the way it is, since you get a free cleaning lady and all you have to put up with is a little whining, you baby.

Really, ball's in your court.

You forgot:

- Download a really gross pornographic picture to her computer background, then tell her that she can't yell at other people about being clean when she's being so open about her pornographic fetishes.

- Do the same as above, take lots of digital pictures and send them to her mom with the following note: "Your raised such a little neat freak but OH MY GOD SHE'S ADDICTED TO PORNOGRAPHY!!!!"

TRUE STORY! Last time I was at a fake alumni event (in NYC - december ____ disaster, I'm sure you're familiar), Shap sent me home with porno all over my work laptop. Opened it in O'Hare, got laughed at by the dudes sitting next to me. That's embarrassing.

So yeah, that's what you should do, OP - sack up, you dork.

Thanks for all the great advice... By the way we do not get a cleaning lady (or man). Sorry, I know this sounds kind of "petty" but it is really difficult to live with someone who is constantly pissed at you.

maybe have a sit down session with ur roomies and ur RA as a mediator?

You're kidding, right?

This situation has several aspects, most of which you can do nothing about. Katie seems to have anxiety issues which are manifested by her need to control both her environment and your behavior.
I just experienced this when staying at a friend's for the weekend and it can be very wearing. You may be able to discuss this behavior with the housing office and get a reprieve ( being able to move) due to her extreme behavior and abusiveness.
Good Luck!

She has a private bedroom, but you all 3 pay equal rent?
That's a rip-off!

I think our advice was tremendous.

And yes, I heard about your laptop misadventures. That's one of the main reasons I didn't leave my Blackberry out of sight last weekend.

Dear K Sigs:

This oughta be in a book, or at least a weekly column.