A word of caution: Never rent from a friend. Trust me, it will end badly.

I’m currently renting a house from someone I thought was a good friend, but after five months, it’s become clear that this “friend” has really taken advantage of me. Here’s how it all started:

I was offered the house for $500 a month, which seemed like a great deal at the time. I was told that an account would be set up for easy rent payments and that select furniture would be distributed around the house. The rest was to be stored in the attic, the landlord’s bedroom, and the basement. The neighbors’ landscaper was supposed to mow the yard, but that idea was scrapped by the landlord’s father just before I moved in. Unfortunately, none of these things were ever done.

While the house itself has potential—good basement, lots of storage space, and a generally warm feel—it was completely cluttered with what my landlord claims are antiques. Maybe they once were, but now they’re just broken-down, filthy items that should’ve been tossed. The so-called silver collection he’s so proud of? Tarnished, silver-plated junk that no one would pay more than $40 for.

When I moved in, the house was filthy. There was mold everywhere, rotten food dating back to 2000 in the fridge and pantry, and it took me days to clean it all up. The bathroom floor in the spare bathroom had dried cat litter, and the whole house smelled stale, like old lady perfume. I had to air the place out for three days and use a ton of air freshener to get rid of the smell.

Now that I’ve finally cleaned up the house, my so-called landlord/friend has decided to complain about it. I was told tonight that I’m not a renter, but a “house sitter,” and I’m only allowed to use my room, the guest room, and the kitchen. I’m not supposed to decorate anything except my room.

A few weeks ago, I had some friends over after redecorating the house (which I was told I could do) to show it off. Everyone was amazed by how great it looked and how nice the house smelled. It actually felt like my home—which, by the way, is what a rental property should feel like for the renter.

But now, my landlord wants it to look exactly as it did when he left it, cluttered and messy. So, I’ll be putting everything back as it was and won’t be cleaning any more. Let him come back to his pigsty of a house.

I understand now why no one knew who he was or where he lived—no one wants to deal with his crazy behavior. I’ll stick to my designated areas in the house until I’m done with my "house sitting" duties. Once that’s over, I’m cutting ties with everyone involved. Good riddance to filth and trash.

October Peace, Love, & Life

October is a month full of great things, like Halloween parties, festivals, pumpkin carving, and trick-or-treating. But it's also a time to reflect on important causes, and I want to take a moment to acknowledge some that I’ve participated in this month.

So far, we’ve had the Gathering on the Mound at the University of Alabama, Spirit Day, and today, the "It Gets Better" video shoot on the steps of Gorgas Hall—all events I’m proud to have taken part in.

The Gathering on the Mound was organized by the Spectrum group at UA and provided members of the GLBT community a chance to share their coming-out stories. It was a powerful reminder that it’s okay to be who you are, and that things truly do get better. I’m grateful for the strength I gained by sharing my own story as an openly out member of the GLBT community.

Spirit Day was a nationwide event where participants wore purple to raise awareness about the teen suicide epidemic caused by bullying. It was also a day to remember young gay teens who lost their lives far too soon. It was amazing to see so many people come together in support of this cause.

That same night, Spectrum hosted the Are You Gay/Straight Panel, which aimed to break down stereotypes. A diverse panel of gay, bi, and straight people answered questions from the audience, and at the end, the audience guessed the sexual orientations of the panelists. I had the opportunity to surprise the crowd by sharing that I am bisexual, with a preference for men but also enjoying time with women.

Today, I’m excited to take part in the "It Gets Better" video shoot at Gorgas Hall. This video will be added to the Trevor Project’s "It Gets Better" website, offering hope to teens and young adults struggling with their identities. We want them to know that no matter what they’re going through, it does get better—and there is always someone willing to lend a helping hand.

Lastly, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to remember the friends, family, and loved ones we’ve lost to this disease. I encourage everyone to support the fight for a cure. On October 29th, join the Pinking Out Movement by wearing pink to show your support. If you don't have pink, you can still help raise awareness—change your profile picture, spread the word, or do whatever you can to show that we’re in this fight together.

Let’s make this October a wonderful pink and purple month! God bless you all.

Watch the "It Gets Better" video here

Crush

I don’t know why I do this to myself. I always end up crushing on people who are either out of my league or simply wouldn’t work in the long run. Don’t get me wrong—I love the thrill of a crush, the chase, and the potential for a fun, new connection. But it’s funny how every time I get that excited, googly-eyed feeling, it’s for one of two types:

1. The confident, sexy partier who always leads to trouble and can’t be tamed.
2. The clean-cut, sweet, country type who’s perfect for introducing to mom, but too much of a goody-goody to handle my wild side.

I guess it doesn’t matter, though, since I’m too shy to approach either of the two people I’m crushing on right now. I can’t believe I’m admitting I’m shy—maybe it’s more that I’m scared. I really hate rejection.