Just about the time that we get some extra funds and I am ready to get a life insurance quote something else breaks. Last night I got home and the house was warm, the A/C just wasn’t creating any cool air. So I shut the A/C off and kept the fan running to let the unit rest for a few, after about 10 minutes I turned the HVAC unit back on. A few minutes later I could smell freon and a hot/burning smell. I went down to check on the unit and discovered that the unit had frozen up solid and there was a lot of water on the floor and all over the unit - I also found that the hot surface igniter was glowing bright orange. Seeing as the heat wasn’t on that wasn’t a good thing. So I shut down the whole system and let it cool down a bit. I tried to power it back one twice last night to see if I could at least get the fan running… no luck.
This morning I went down to check on it again and turned the unit back on - the igniter came back on again and the lower part of the unit was sparking. So now in addition to needed a new inner coil, I also need a new circuit board. I called two HVAC service companies - only one called back and was up front enough to ask a few questions and determined that there was no advantage to come out today as they won’t have the parts until Monday. But on the bright side - at least we have (or as of Monday had) the mini emergency fund.
After taking our dog to the vet for the puppy prevention procedure we found out from the vet that we have a “high needs” dog. Just what we were hoping for…
I guess we just aren’t pet people to the extent that we thought we were. We did enjoy the cats but our bodies didn’t. The dog is getting better but has oily skin and when bathed needs to be soaped up and left for 15 minutes before being rinsed. The dog is also a nervous poopper and we also found out that dogs enjoy pooping on concrete floors (like a basement). Also because of the oily skin the dog needs her ears cleaned out weekly - can you say ear wax. So we are trying to figure out if the dog will stick around but given the last of help from the 4 short(er) people in the house I donno if it will work out.
I am all for having pets and the responsibility that they bring but you have to know your own limits - while it would be nice to have a horse to keep the lawn short. I think having to have the extra large pooper scooper and dealing with horse supplements would also be a turn off.
Maybe we will just stick with the fish.
It seems like every area of culture has a couple of food items that are unique to that area that those from the outside don’t understand. Last week we had a coworker from the UK come across the pond to meet the rest of the team and get to enjoy the good ‘ol USA. While here we made sure to take him to try some Cincinnati Style chili. A few weeks before he was to come over I asked if he could throw a jar of Marmite in with his travel supplies. Marmite is similar to Vegemite in that they are both yeast extracts and to the first timer and especially the US pallete, they are quite overwhelming and just plain nasty. My coworker did suggest trying marmite with mustard on toast and it turned out to be a tolerable suggestion - however I don’t think I will be partaking in it on any sort of regular basis - if ever again.
I think we are just about due for our semi-annual major heating/cooling expense. The first couple years we were buying hot surface igniters, then we had to replace the ac compressor and now we are looking at having to replace the ac coil.
Ah the joys of home ownership. I did mow the lawn today so I should be free of harassment from the city for at least a couple of days again.