Losing My Cool

I awoke at 2:30am the other day and realized there was an unusual sound going on that was what woke me. I quickly realized it was coming from the a/c vent and thought maybe the fan motor had burned out. I shut the system off and found a dusty filter was slightly bowed, indicating the system was struggling to pull air. The blower assembly is fairly new and I was afraid of how much it would cost to repair it.

I tried to go back to sleep, but quit fighting and went to Walmart. I only saw one other person in the store as I walked to the back and got my new filter. I wanted to show the repairman that I had changed it, even if a little late. 3am appears to be the optimal time to go to Walmart. Lots of parking spaces and no lines at the only checkout that was open.

I was quite relieved when I got home, replaced the filter and restarted the a/c and felt the cool air flowing again. We have had some triple digit temperatures lately. I just wish that was the end of the story.

For some time now the air conditioner has had less effect late in the day. I attributed that to poor insulation in our house, no storm windows and lots of sun. Last night the cool stopped totally. We shut off the system again and opened the doors and windows and soon the temperature matched the outside at about 86 degrees. We put in a work order for someone to come look at it Monday, but after starting it up again a couple of hours later it has worked all night. I'm hoping the repairman will say, "Oh, this was plugged. We fixed it easily." That's what I'm hoping he'll say anyway.

I'd have made a hot, sweaty pioneer.

Twist

PS

The a/c repairman came, put freon in the system and was done in less than 5 minutes. $60 later the air is cooler, but it was too late in the day and the house is already hot. I guess we'll know tomorrow if that worked.

Twist

Humble Retraction

Ok, I apologize to all the drug dealers in my area. I extend my sorrow for accusing the low life, petty thieves that frequent the alleys at night. I beg forgiveness of the impoverished pot heads that need a little something that's not theirs to sell for their next fix.

It turns out that my mother-in-law's RV was not broken into, ransacked and robbed. It turns out that my mother-in-law is one of those messies whose cup not only runneth over, but covereth her goodies she doth seek. Her digital camera, camcorder, jewelry tin and tin full of colored pencils and crayons merely got avalanched to the bottom of the stack. It was hidden naturally so well not even she could find them for several days.

On the plus side, it appears that we are being sufficiently aware of securing the doors on our vehicles, house and the RV...for now.

I guess I'll have to stop the surveillance on the guy riding his bike past our house and delete the pictures of the kids walking down the street.

Paranoia may be a psychotic condition, but it does pass the time.

Twist

The Grinch Came

It turns out that my nephew, Jaromy, was not the only person to come and visit on Sunday. Probably sometime during the evening before we all went to bed, someone got into my in-laws' RV and stole some valuables. They missed the laptop, but got a couple of cameras, a tin container full of jewelry and of all things, another container full of crayons and pens. The latter were in another tin and they probably thought it was another can of jewelry.

This is not the first time someone has gone through our vehicles and we try to always keep them locked. My in-laws know this and tried to keep the RV locked, but apparently missed getting it secured that day. I'm sure there's no chance of getting things back, but if we give a description to the police, maybe they will come across the stuff somewhere.

This group or individual has been hitting a number of homes around this area and probably live nearby. Someone had broken into the outdoor learning center at the elementary school and stolen the birdhouse and the bird feeder my son had put in as part of an eagle scout project. That was on mothers' day. I'm sure their mother was proud of them as they gave her the stolen items. How touching.

Oh, well. Life goes on,

Twist

Sunday Visitor

We had a nice visit today from Jaromy, our nephew. He recently left Canada and is now working in Amarillo. We had quite the welcoming party for him. Our two dogs were here, along with Jenni's yorkie, Laura's two shorkies, my mother/father in-law's shih tzu and shih tzu/pekenese mix, Chris' two wolves and sheltie. About half of the dogs didn't really know each other yet and the barking was non-stop for about 30 minutes, even though the big dogs were outside.

Jaromy let leak the news that his dad will be getting the internet at home next week and will be joining the rest of the family on chat. Welcome, brother.

Speaking of chat, it's about time to join everyone online.

8 ^ )

Twist

Bittersweet Victory

A month or so ago, the hot tub plug shorted out. As I researched parts available on the internet, I found that the manufacturer replacement part was $60, just for the plug. We went to a number of local electrical supply companies, but did not find an appropriate replacement. Amazingly enough, I did not check ebay till this week. Sure enough, there was a new plug for about $25. It came in the mail faster than my inlaws could travel from Kentucky. It should be up to operating temperature by the time they arrive. Unfortunately, the temperature outside has set record highs at 106 yesterday and similar today.

Wait, it hasn't heated all the way yet and is still pretty cool. Maybe the heat of summer won't be so bad for a few hours after all.

I've got to find my swim trunks.

Twist

Happy Birthday, Joyce

Happy birthday tomorrow, Sis.

We Are Seven
A simple child...
That lightly draws its breath
And feels its life in every limb,
What should it know of death?

I met a little cottage girl-
She was eight years old, she said;
Her hair was thick with many a curl
That clustered 'round her head.

She had a rustic, woodland air
And she was wildly clad;
Her eyes were fair, and very fair;
Her beauty made me glad.

"Sisters and brothers, little maid,
How many may you be?"
"How many? Seven in all," she said
And wondering looked at me.

"And where are they? I pray you tell."
She answered, "Seven are we;
And two of us at Conway dwell
And two are gone to sea."

"Two of us in the churchyard lie,
My sister and my brother
And in the churchyard cottage, I
Dwell near them with my mother."

"You say that two at Conway dwell
And two are gone to sea,
Yet, ye are seven! I pray you tell,
Sweet maid, how this may be."

Then did the little maid reply,
"Seven boys and girls are we;
Two of us in the churchyard lie,
Beneath the churchyard tree."

"You run about, my little maid,
Your limbs they are alive;
If two are in the churchyard laid
Then ye are only five."

"Their graves are green, they may be seen,"
The little maid replied,
"Twelve steps or more from my mother's door
And they are side by side."

"My stockings there I often knit,
My kerchief there I hem;
And there upon the ground I sit
And sing a song to them."

"And often after sunset, sir,
When it is light and fair
I take my little porringer
And eat my supper there."

"The first that died was sister Jane;
In bed she moaning lay,
Till God released her of her pain
And then she went away."

"So in the churchyard she was laid
And, when the grass was dry
Together round her grave we played,
My brother John and I."

"And when the ground was white with snow
And I could run and slide,
My brother John was forced to go
And he lies by her side."

"How many are you, then," said I,
"If they two are in heaven?"
Quick was the little maid's reply,
"O master! We are seven."

"But they are dead; those two are dead!
Their spirits are in heaven!"
'T was throwing words away; for still
The little maid would have her will
And said... "Nay, we are seven!"

by William Wordsworth