Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Ice to Be Here...
It appears Mother Nature finally figured out what month it is because the first snow flurries of the season have arrived. Right now, my little digital thermometer says that it's slightly above freezing, which outside of Siberia (and possibly Minnesota) should still be considered cold enough to turn on the furnace in the basement here at the Invisible Commune. Unfortunately, such is not the case, which is part of the reason that yours truly is typing so many blog posts these past few days...it helps keep the circulation moving in my fingers.
Now in a normal situation, one would think that turning on the heat would be a simple matter. One would proceed into the basement, turn up the thermostat and (bingo) be done! Easy as falling off a log. Fair enough, I hear you say, so what's the problem?
Q. Is the landlord still away doing research and therefore incapable of helping with the problem?
A. Nope. He's home until the end of the month or so.
Q. Have the other people in the house not brought the matter up with him?
A. Nope. They did indeed discuss the matter and took steps to remedy the situation.
Q. Did those steps work?
A. Obviously not.
Q. Are you saying the landlord doesn't know how the heating system in his own house works?
A. Pretty much.
Q. Is this insane?
A. I'm afraid so.
The cause of all this trouble, it seems, was my landlord's wife, who before departing decided to fiddle with all the baffle valves leading heat from the furnace through the ventilation shafts and up to the various rooms. Since the majority of these valves are unlabelled, and none of the labels correspond to the floor where boarders like myself live, the end result is a combination of frustration and frigidity, with the notable exception of the third floor bathroom, which is the only place in the house with a reasonable temperature. Generally, it's not terrible when I'm working or doing something that lets me keep my mind occupied like reading or watching television, but it's downright annoying in the mornings when it is entirely too cold for anyone's good.
For now however, all that any of us can do is fiddle with the valves and hope that the heat eventually reaches our rooms. But frankly, unless something more tangible is done soon, such attempts are, you'll pardon the expression, cold comfort to my mind...not to mention the rest of me.
It appears Mother Nature finally figured out what month it is because the first snow flurries of the season have arrived. Right now, my little digital thermometer says that it's slightly above freezing, which outside of Siberia (and possibly Minnesota) should still be considered cold enough to turn on the furnace in the basement here at the Invisible Commune. Unfortunately, such is not the case, which is part of the reason that yours truly is typing so many blog posts these past few days...it helps keep the circulation moving in my fingers.
Now in a normal situation, one would think that turning on the heat would be a simple matter. One would proceed into the basement, turn up the thermostat and (bingo) be done! Easy as falling off a log. Fair enough, I hear you say, so what's the problem?
Q. Is the landlord still away doing research and therefore incapable of helping with the problem?
A. Nope. He's home until the end of the month or so.
Q. Have the other people in the house not brought the matter up with him?
A. Nope. They did indeed discuss the matter and took steps to remedy the situation.
Q. Did those steps work?
A. Obviously not.
Q. Are you saying the landlord doesn't know how the heating system in his own house works?
A. Pretty much.
Q. Is this insane?
A. I'm afraid so.
The cause of all this trouble, it seems, was my landlord's wife, who before departing decided to fiddle with all the baffle valves leading heat from the furnace through the ventilation shafts and up to the various rooms. Since the majority of these valves are unlabelled, and none of the labels correspond to the floor where boarders like myself live, the end result is a combination of frustration and frigidity, with the notable exception of the third floor bathroom, which is the only place in the house with a reasonable temperature. Generally, it's not terrible when I'm working or doing something that lets me keep my mind occupied like reading or watching television, but it's downright annoying in the mornings when it is entirely too cold for anyone's good.
For now however, all that any of us can do is fiddle with the valves and hope that the heat eventually reaches our rooms. But frankly, unless something more tangible is done soon, such attempts are, you'll pardon the expression, cold comfort to my mind...not to mention the rest of me.
