well, NYState laws are interesting, but our poster is from Maryland. Try the Maryland's Peoples Law Library and the Housing section thereof You will find stuff like this: A lease for a term of 1 year or less is valid whether it is written or oral, but any lease for more than 1 year must be in writing and signed by the person creating it if it is to be enforceable. (Md. Code, Real Property, Sections 5-101 and 5-102) From their summary: n month-to-month or week-to-week tenancies where there is no written lease and no code requirement, state or local, relating to notice from tenant to landlord, the common law requirement is that the length of notice must be equal to the base period of the tenancy, such as one week or one month. The Maryland Code is silent on this issue, and the few reported cases do not give clear guidance. If there is any question at all about the actual term of the tenancy, tenant should give notice for the longer period of time. Oh, and---she owes you money!! (Maryland Code, Real Property, Sec. 8-205) Whenever tenant makes a rent payment in person, the landlord or landlord's agent shall give tenant a receipt if the tenant makes payment in cash or requests a receipt. In addition to any other penalty, if the landlord fails to provide a receipt as required by this section, s/he is liable to the tenant for $25.00. (Maryland Code, Real Property, Sec. 8-208.3) Every landlord is required to keep records showing the dates and amounts of all rent paid to him by each tenant, and also showing that a receipt was given to tenant for each cash payment of rent. (if you're in Anne Arundel county, the receipt for cash must indicate what time period the cash covers. Also, re: the smoke detectors. How did you notify her? bcs you can point out, to her and her lawyer, that she can face civic penalties of $1,000. (Unless the place was a 1, 2, or 3-family dwelling built before 1975, in which case YOU would be responsible for the smoke detectors) (Maryland Code, Article 38A, Secs. 12A and 13) ...the landlord is responsible for installing the smoke detector and, upon notice in person or upon written notice by certified mail from the tenant, the landlord is responsible for repair or replacement of the detector. If tenant personally notifies landlord of a mechanical failure, landlord must give tenant a written receipt acknowledging the notification. ... A person who knowingly violates this law or any regulation promulgated by the State Fire Prevention Commission will be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than 10 days, or both. Each day that a violation continues after knowledge or official notice that it is a violation, is a separate offense. You might draw up a nice, formal letter detailing these events--"In a phone conversation in the two weeks after we moved in, we notified you verbally that the smoke detectors were not working. Maryland law requires you to have provided us w/ written acknowledgment of this. and says that violators of this law will face these penalties..." Then say, "All this information will be certain to come before the judge, and it seems to us that you run a real risk of paying more in penalties than you would collect from us--and it is quite possible that you would not collect from us at all. We wonder if perhaps it would be in your own best interests not to pursue this matter." Let's see--$25 per month paid to YOU for the 9 months of not giving you a receipt is $225. $1,000 for one single day of not installing smoke detectors. Plus her lawyer's fees. Go get 'em, tiger!

Thought you might like this Poem I have read at a few funerals for family and friends I have loved and lost. Many people asked me for a copy of the poem as they found it very comforting and so I would like to pass it on to all who grieve. Please feel free to pass it on. Jeanette Things Id Like To Say Some things IÂd like to say But first of all to let you know that I arrived okay. IÂm writing this from Heaven, where I dwell with God above Where thereÂs no more tears or sadness, there is just eternal love. Please do not be unhappy just because IÂm out of sight Remember that IÂm with you every morning, noon and night. That day I had to leave you when my life on Earth was through, God picked me up and hugged me and He whispered, "I welcome you". ItÂs good to have you back again, you were missed while you were gone, As for your dearest family, theyÂll be here later on. I need you here so badly as part of My big plan. ThereÂs so much that we have to do to help our mortal man. Then God gave me a list of things He wished for me to do, And foremost on that list of mine is to watch and care for you. And when youÂre sad, IÂm standing there to wipe away the tears, And when you lie in bed at night, the days chores put to flight, God and I are closest to you in the middle of the night. When you think of my life on Earth and all those loving years, Because youÂre only human they are bound to bring you tears, But do not be afraid to cry, it does relieve the pain, Remember there would be no flowers, unless there was some rain. I wish that I could tell you all that God has planned, But if I were to tell you, you wouldnÂt understand, But one thing is for certain, though my life on Earth is over I am closer to you now than I ever was before. And to my very many friends, trust God knows what is best. IÂm still not far away from you, IÂm just beyond the crest. There are rocky roads ahead of you, and many hills to climb. But together we can do it taking one day at a time. It was always my philosophy and IÂd like it for you too That as you give unto the World so the World will give to you. If you can help somebody who is in sorrow or in pain, Then you can say to God at night "my day was not in vain." And now I am contented that my life it was worthwhile, Knowing as I passed along the way I made somebody smile. So if you meet somebody who is down and feeling low, Just lend a hand to pick him up as on your way you go. When you are walking down the street and youÂve got me on your mind, IÂm walking in your footsteps only half a step behind. And when you feel the gentle breeze or the wind upon your face, ThatÂs me giving you a great big HUG or just a soft embrace. And when itÂs time for you to go from that body to be free, Remember youÂre not going, youÂre coming home to me. And I will always love you from that land way up above. Will be in touch again soon! P.S. GOD sends His Love!

Goose, thanks for posting that link. You helped me on my on post! I had received these 45 lesson in an e-mail as I had stated in OP and thought so much of them and posted them here. When I went to the link you posted here is what I found!!! Wow! Life's lessons speed up on Internet; 90 years of living in 50: Regina Brett by Regina Brett/Plain Dealer Columnist Saturday June 06, 2009, 7:56 PM "You don't look 90." I can't tell you how many times I've heard that in the last month. Every day a dozen people e\-mail me about being 90 years old: "Regina, would you please explain this 90\-year\-old person? . . . It seems you are aging rapidly. God bless you and your aged bones. "I Googled you and your picture appears to be that of a 40 \- 50\-year\-old woman. Would you please tell me how old you really are?" May 28, 2006: Regina Brett's 45 life lessons and 5 to grow on My favorite? Stephen wrote: "You sure look good for 90 years old! Assuming that the picture in the PD is a recent one. Do you have a painting of you in your attic that is getting really REALLY old looking?" No, there's no Dorian Gray picture decay going on. Beware the Internet. It can age you. I once wrote the 45 Lessons Life Taught Me, then added five more lessons when I turned 50 in 2006. Next thing I know, the lessons ended up e\-mailed everywhere. Only someone changed my age. It now reads: "Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old."

I've done something similar twice. First, at our wedding. We wrote our own vows and other statements made during the ceremony, inlcuding a stantement of gratitude to the other's parents. I don't remember exactly what I said, something about teaching him to love unconditionally and setting an example of family, his strengths in character that he learned from them and "thank you for raising the person I love." Couple years later I wrote a mother's day for MIL, back when Hallmark had the computer station to create your own card - before everyone just had the tools to do it on a home computer ;o) I spet a long time on this little poem, it was chronological, citing significant stages a mother helps a child through to him be stronger, the "firstsm," the battles. It was specific about those times in DH's life. She loved it and carried around to show off for a long time, which is not like her. I'd keep it short, less is more (this from the Queen of longwinded!). Talk about the qualities you most appreciate in your DH and how you see he learned them from his father. That planting the seed for qualities that made a good boy grew into not just a good man, but a wonderful husband. Like a legacy. I had a spontaneous conversation with my father a couple years ago. We were visting them, everyone else had gone to bed, and he was up late working on a community service project. He told me someone at work had asked him what is proudest moment as a father was, and told me how he answered that. I was breathless, it was not what I expected. I will NEVER forget it, it was a gift. Taking the time to tell a loved one how much and what we appreciate about them is so significant. Just a few words can give a person strength when they need it, sometimes even a bad day years after the words were spoken. Good luck finding the right words. It is a great idea, so don't give up. Wow. Way too many typos, but I'm too lazy to fix them.