Gremlins

Have you ever wondered if they really exist?  I'm back in the Land of La.  Upon my return I've discovered the internet cable modem was screwed up and my tiny gas heater wouldn't work. Spent hours on the phone trying to resolve the internet issue, certain that the upgrade to Lion had caused the problem. I was wrong. It was the modem and it took the repair guy 35 minutes to resolve the issue.  Seems something in the basement had "frozen?"  Really?  Frozen? What the hell does that mean?  Great guy actually and I'm pleased it got repaired but how and why did it happen?  The next issue was the heater. Pilot light is always lit. When I returned the temps dropped enough that I wanted some heat.  Turned the knob. Nothing. Tried lighting the pilot light, always a fearful adventure. Nada!  Waited 4 days for a repair person.  Nothing wrong with the unit. He informed me that when the pilot goes out there's a failsafe shut down. Nice. 10 minutes of examining the unit, running down to his truck, coming back up and then he lit the pilot light. Gremlins, I swear, gremlins.

Tis A Puzzlement

One of the dumbest things about the Y house is the fact that the heating oil furnace is in the living room. Great furnace. Blasts hot air like crazy BUT it only heats the living and dining rooms. There are no other heating elements in the home. Not in the bedrooms or baths.  Thus when it cold outside they become contained boxes of frigid cold air. Again I ask "what were Mom and Dad thinking," when the bought this place. Why did they move from a small two bedroom home they had built in Lake Shastina to this four bedroom, two bath 1960's ranch in Yreka? I still ponder this. My only rationalization boils down to two options. 1.) Lake Shastina is MILES away from a hospital which worried them OR 2.) the dementia that afflicted them both had already taken hold and buying the Yreka house was a result.  It's in the 20's outside at the moment. Frost on the ground. Furnace is blasting in hopes some of the heat will be retained. Did I mention the house has no insulation? Did I?  At present, Ramona is happily ensconced in front of the heat source becoming a "toasty mosty." girl. A high of 54 is predicted for today. I'm already in 3 layers of clothing. Rapture.