Monday, June 9, 2008

Show and Tell-- Better late edition

The A students in the class have all turned in their show and tell projects like 30 hours ago. I am aiming for a C this week. But better late than never, right?

We don't have a dog (yet), but I do have an excuse-- our air conditioner broke. All dead, very bad. Of course (and this next part is all so I can vent about how right I was and how wrong he was, he-he-he), when I told JD that I thought something was amiss with it a week ago, he blaimed it on not reprogramming our programmable thermostat to summer schedule yet. And then it rained, so it was all good. And then it was Saturday, and 90+ outside, and some young ladies showing up to my house for my sister's wedding shower I was hosting, and...

It actually wasn't too bad on Saturday-- the house kept its cool for most of the day. When the shower was over and JD came back, I was starting to suspect that we were in for an unpleasant night. He thought it was just taking a while to cool the house. He finally went outside to look at the AC unit itself after 9pm, and came back looking very-very grim. The worst part? We had another party planned for Sunday-- his and a friend of ours birthday. We always celebrate these two together (and call JD and this friend, Irene, twins because their birthdays fall into that section of the horoscope).

The party was planned for 2:30, but by 11 the temperature outside was nearing 90, and in consultation with Irene we moved the party to 5. Good idea, as that allowed JD to install two window units (one ours and one a friend's), and I even got to lie down near one of the window units for about an hour before the party started.

Anyway, the party was a bit of work, but lots of fun. Winced once, when someone who didn't know about my current status before congratulated me, but mostly it was good. If very-very hot. We also played musical chairs a lot-- JD set out a bunch of chairs outside, but there were more people so someone was on the ground, and someone was standing all the time. When I was outside, I mostly sat in this one chair in the shade. It was nicely located, and I got some excellent candid shots of both adults and kids (who were doing a great job entertaining themselves, even if the end result is that most of the content of Monkey's closet is currently on the floor of her room; oh, well, at least it's contained) right from it. But then another chair freed up, and I wanted to talk to someone sitting in the chair next to the temporarily empty one, so I grabbed it. Turns out, from my previous spot I was missing a gorgeous sunset.

 

 

These pictures were taken no more than 90 seconds apart-- the light was really playing tricks, and fast.

So this is my show and tell submission this week-- a lovely and unexpected end to a very hot weekend.

As I finish up writing this, a lot of hundreds of dollars lighter, our air conditioner is repaired. The culprit was the compressor that gave out. The electrician who came out to look at it yesterday nearly got electrocuted for his troubles when he thought it might have just been the fuse, and tried to start the thing up again. But this morning he sent a couple of trainees to haul the old one away, then bring the new one, then showed up himself to connect everything and write the final bill. Which I paid, almost gladly.

11 comments:

Coggy said...

I can not imagine 90 degree heat, really I'm such a Northern European girl it's untrue. I think you'd just find me trying to sit in a fridge, covered in heat rash, quietly sobbing to myself at the heat.
I'm glad you got the aircon fixed though, the thought of 90 degrees while pregnant really makes me feel ill.

Love the pics Julia, It's amazing when the sky changes like that, so beautiful.

CLC said...

Gorgeous pix.

Our AC broke yesterday too, and last night was unbearable. $300 later, it's working again. For now.

janis said...

what's with the A/c woes? Ours completely dead, and we're having 101 today, 104 tomm. Hopefully they can come tomm and replace the whole system. it will cost a few grands. Yeah, economic stimulus.

Tash said...

that was us last summer, compressor shot, but I think in July or August? this is nuts.

Oh, and without the photo, too. Those are stellar. Better late than never.

Anonymous said...

Great shots!

I am glad your A/C is up and running again. Luckily, ours hasn't died yet, but our furnace died a couple of years ago on New Year's Day. Try and find a service man when the inside of the house is 56 degrees on New Years Day. It wasn't fun.

niobe said...

I still haven't been able to bring myself to turn the air conditioner on. I keep telling myself: it's not that hot yet.

DC said...

Glad the a/c held out for the party! Love the gorgeous pictures!! :)

Anonymous said...

great pics. I'm glad the air was only out for a few days really. The heat has been unbearable all over the country and it is way too early for that, especially for us pregnant women. I mean how am I suppose to have the regular worries that I have everyday added to worrying about mundane things like cankles and swollen toes?

The Party on Sunday sounded fun and entertaining, hope the rest of the week goes as well.

seussgirl said...

Beautiful pictures!
It is stinkin' hot here too; I am very very grateful for my AC!
Here from NCLM...

Amelie said...

Beautiful pictures. I love such lightplay.

S said...

Those are stunning photos.

It was our compressor that broke, too. Only our repairman still hasn't returned to put the new one in. Grrr. And now the heat wave's over.