Rain dripped down on the windshield of my truck as I backed out of my parking space at my apartment. After turning on the windshield wipers, I looked down on the floor only to realize that I left my umbrella at work. Usually, I would get upset and say a few cuss words to myself, but I was not going to let that bother me this afternoon. After a week of no air conditioning, I came home today to find that my air conditioning had been repaired, as well as a few small repairs in my apartment. It looks like it will be a great day. Rain or no rain.
It is nice to be able to sit at my computer comfortably, instead of keeping a towel at my side to wipe the sweat from my brow. I have become a creature of comfort, much like everyone else has in today's society.
During the summer of 2004, three hurricanes came through the central Florida area. Two of those hurricanes knocked out power to the apartment complex which I live in. Both times, the power was out for three days. No electricity, no air conditioning, but we did have running water. At least I was able to take a shower, albeit a cold one. And my Igloo cooler became my refrigerator.
If you wanted hot water to do any dishes, you had to boil it. Any cooking had to be done on a propane grill or stove outside on the patio. Fortunately, I have a stove top coffee pot, as well as a plunger coffee pot which allows you to push the grounds to the bottom of the coffee pot after you pour the boiling water in. No matter how hot and humid it is, and no matter whether the air conditioning is running or not, I have to have coffee in the morning!
Last Monday, I posted a blog asking if it was Friday yet. The night before, I came home from work only to find that my air conditioning was not working. And as I went into work that Monday morning, I found that nothing was done since I left that previous Friday. Monday was going to be a bad day. And it was going to be a bad week.
By Friday, I came home, did a few errands, and decided to go somewhere with A/C. As I was having a beer while waiting for dinner, I was thinking about the hurricanes, and how we take things for granted. Electricity to run our appliances. Hot showers in the morning. Waking up in a air conditioned dwelling on a hot summer morning. The simplicity of putting coffee grounds into a filter and pouring water into a coffee maker. And the coffee is made while you take that shower.
As I think of it, the hurricane experience was much like camping. Cooking with camping equipment, walking around at night with flashlights, and listening to music on a battery powered stereo with enough watts to keep Bambi and Thumper up all night. And I'm not talking about the cartoon characters, but that's another story. And instead of a tent, you are still at home. No zippers, ground stakes, and frames to mess around with. Just remember to keep the screen door shut. That way, no pests will get in. I hate it when I have to spray myself with insect repellent, and I didn't even leave the apartment!
At least I don't have to worry about bears getting into the damn cooler!
And since the water is still running, no problem about the toilet not working. At some campsites, there are no such facilities.
Now where is the nearest bush?
Anyway, the A/C is on, and I have my cold drink by my side instead of a towel. I think I will stay in tonight and get on the computer. And I hope this week will be better than last week.
Now I'm starting to wonder whatever happened to Bambi and Thumper.
