... but I think the Akron/Canton airport is absolutely adorable. Clean, tiny, polite staff, incredibly easy to park and move around.

1. Get a cat. Even if your cat can't figure out how to catch mice, the smell of your cat will help keep the mice at bay.

2. Put all food in plastic containers. Clean your kitchen. Get the crumbs out of the toaster oven. Don't give them anything to eat.

3. Snap traps with peanut butter.

4. Steel wool in every crevice. They can squeeze through a hole the size of a pencil eraser.

5. Disinfect everything. Mice feces is nasty!

Good luck!

I have had experience with hoarders as part of my job. Usually it involves them calling me when Adult Protective Services and the Fire Department are literally at their door to forcibly clean the apartment. They are a danger to themselves and others. The potential for a hoarder's apartment to catch fire and kill other people in the building is very real. This is after months or even years of social workers trying to convince them that they need clean up. They always 'yes' you and say they will, but then they come up with excuses - arguing that something has value (it's all garbage) or that it's too sentimental to part with. At the point when I talk with them, they are usually screaming, crying and utterly traumatized, but it has to happen. From my experiences, there is no way in hell she is just going to let you into her house to start clearing things out. The dig in pretty fiercely.

Call Adult Protective Services in her area and work with them. They have dealt with this before and will appreciate the familial concern. She and your father are in physical danger. This business about waiting for the phone call to hear someone has been crushed to death is morbid. And if you were joking, you shouldn't be. It does happen. It's not her fault she's sick, but she can't take care of this herself, and someone needs to intercede - soon.

I feel for you and wish you the best of luck.

The daughter brought her mom to live in the apartment. They slept in the same bed. Weird, weird people. They turned out to be a nightmare for him - he had to padlock his bedroom door as well. If you absolutely have to go out of town this weekend, put everything of value in your room and lock it up tight. That should send a clear message to them, and protect your possessions.

Definitely get them out, but do not go tossing their things onto the curb and change the locks. In certain states you can be arrested for an illegal lockout. Check with an attorney - go to this website and talk to your local bar association to find out the applicable laws:

http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/lris/directory/

Best of luck!

I commute from Brooklyn to midtown Manhattan. I'm far enough out on the F line that I usually get a seat in the morning,- often the coveted seat next to the door. As the train fills up, people occasionally lean up against the barrier between the seat and the door, essentially putting their back or ass (depending on their height)a fraction of an inch from the side of my face. It's happened enough times now where someone has farted or their ass has actually touched my face that I feel emboldened to loudly and tersely state "Please get your ass out of my face. That's disgusting." And then I poke them in the back for good measure.

Now, I'm not advocating assaulting anyone, but they usually clear out real quick to the other end of the car. Maybe it's just from living in NYC for 13 years, but my patience for that sort of behavior is nil. I've got no time for someone's ass in my face, and I'm not afraid to embarrass someone that thinks that behavior is acceptable.

Thinking back now, I guess it really isn't such a coveted seat after all... :)

(PS - I never call out the crazy looking people though. Then I just get up and move. I don't want to get shanked on the subway.)

(PPS - this letter reminds me of the speech that kid gives in class in "The Ice Storm.")

I can afford to live in Manhattan, I simply choose not to.

The fact that this article made Gawker cracks me up! :)

LW, I just want to give you a hug. I know - I've been there. Don't make yourself crazy about how long it's taking for you to feel better, it'll happen when it happens. For me it took a 1.5 years after something sort of similar, and my life is pretty great now.

Other people are hard enough on us as it is, you have to take particular care to treat yourself gently. You'll find your way.

LW, I just want to give you a hug. I know - I've been there. Don't make yourself crazy about how long it's taking for you to feel better, it'll happen when it happens. For me it took a 1.5 years after something sort of similar, and my life is pretty great now.

Other people are hard enough on us as it is. You have to take particular care to treat yourself gently. You'll find your way.