Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Still Kickin'

Whew! Can't believe it's been a month since my last post. I'm still here, I promise. I get great ideas for new posts, but I just don't seem to make it downstairs to the computer to get started.

You can blame the propane company for my lack of computer time. I just spent a undisclosed but obscene sum for one month of fuel for my home. I already had the thermostat down to 65, now it's set at 63. The downstairs being the natural cold spot of my home (what with the down location, the cement outside walls, and the tile floors), it can be just a little too brisk to spend much time here in the winter. It's pretty nice in the summer, though.

Not to worry, I have plans for the future! I'm looking at woodstoves, coal stoves and pellet stoves as alternatives for supplemental heat. Should make it nice and toasty down here next winter, and the heat should rise to help out upstairs,too! And then there's the plan (OK, it's more of a hope at this point in time) to buy a laptop and go wireless.

I know, moving the computer upstairs sounds like a bright idea, too. I'd still have to go wireless to do it because of phone jack locations (since I'm stuck with Verizon DSL and Verizon phone service, and with DirecTV). Since my PC gives me occasional warnings on bootup about the status of the hard drive, it hardly seems worthwhile to invest in serious upgrades to this system.

I'd give anything to have Comcast back (I never thought I'd say those words), but they are not available here. Comcast's customer service is FAR superior to Verizon's, and, frankly, so is their product. DirecTV is the incredible shrinking product, with an ever decreasing number of stations available on my plan.

Oh well. How about all of you? How are you weathering the economic and climate conditions in the US these days?

12 comments:

mommanator said...

jeez, I was beginning to think your computer had crashed and burned! It's only cold! put on a sweater & sweats for goodness sake LOL
I know about downstairs being cool! I have one of those! We have a coal/woodburning stove. We hardly ever use. I dont like the smaells and think I am a tad bit allergic to it. It does keep the house a different kind of warm though! I bet we haven't used in three years!

Virginia Gal said...

I'm in Denmark, in the center of Copenhagen, where I'm getting lovely lovely broadband internet - yay!!! Though no tv, amazing I'm going so long without it.

How is the new dog?

Merci said...

mommanator-
The sweats and sweater thing doesn't quite hit it. You know I don't mind the cold, so it has to be bad down here!!! It's cold UPSTAIRS let alone down here!

Virginia Gal-
Daisy is wonderful! She is house trained and pretty well-behaved, if you don't count an occasional cookie or pop tart snatched off of the counter :) She likes people and other dogs. I really lucked out!

You're not missing much in terms of US TV these days. Mostly reruns, since the screen writers' strike. I mostly watch BBC reruns. They're the only ones worth repeating.

Anonymous said...

I'm glad to hear your are still alive and kicking. Or maybe alive and shivering. I have gas heat in this new house and it is outrageously expenseive to use. I'm switiching to a heat pump as soon as I can afford it.

Merci said...

citizen of the world-
Shivering, indeed!

A heat pump should be a great option in your neck of the woods. They're not well suited to our climate here in the Northeast. I could switch to oil or electric (no natural gas here), but the prices of those things could soar next year. So could coal, I suppose. I have a free supply of wood for the chopping here, however.

Anonymous said...

I heard a piece on NPR yesterday about people not being able to fill their furnace oil because the price had gone over $3/gallon and they used their winter's budget's worth. Gas is the same. It's completely nuts. Sorry to hear that the heat is down...that can make the bones stiff.

C'mon spring. And some new economic policy!

Frank

Merci said...

Frank-
I am so very fortunate. I can pay these outrageous bills without going into debt, though I still feel the pinch.

We need an administration that will address these issues, though, because there have to be many, many hardworking folks out there who are truly suffering and frightened. At least there is some hope for change in the relatively near future!

Zelda Parker said...

Wow, and I thought that fuel oil was high. I am paying installments that number about 1200. thus far. Mind you I have kept the thermostat as low as I could without more problems. I am not sure what is worse, filling the car's tank or the fuel tank in the basement? More than ready for a change.....and am tired of retoric.

Karl said...

I must admit, fortunately, my home is very comfortable in winter and summer. I made a vow to myself a long time ago that I would not freeze in my home in the winter, and I will not sweat in my home in the summer. Spoiled? Maybe, but I need to be comfortable in my "castle."

Joe Tornatore said...

wow, do anything to have Comcast back. just never thought I'd hear those words.

Random Kath said...

So glad that you are back! Mr. Random and I are doing OK and it is certainly a great time to study Economics, that's for sure. It's funny how all of the theories and models predict one thing and the real world does something totally different - that is, if you haven't take human nature in account in the first place. The interesting thing is how many people get lulled into thinking that fundamental rules don't apply and then these bizarre bubbles occur and then everyone is shocked! shocked! when things go bad. Our condo is fairly small and cheap, since we were very careful not to buy more than we could afford in case something went wrong, and while we were/are way jealous of our friends with nice houses, now we are not as freaked out as everyone else.

I hate Comcast with a passion, so my major sympathies with your current set up.

Merci said...

random kath-

I'm so glad you stopped by!

Avoiding debt is one of the most important things you can do, financially speaking. Saving is just as important. Very few things are really worth going into debt over.