melting pot

Every time I replace the filter in the AC, it shuts off for one day. The day after that, it runs fine until I replace the filter again. This week – I didn’t replace it. The AC works fine! So yesterday, the AC in the truck died.

I spent ten hours straight at work yesterday because of the various emergencies that HAD to be done in priority of all the other emergencies that HAD to be done in priority to them. Finally, I solved world hunger, nuclear proliferation and an annoying email problem with the server (that took a little longer), and I was able to go out and get the milk and frozen foods we needed from Sam’s Club.

Sam’s is about a twenty or twenty-five minute drive each way (traffic). About a third of the way there, I finally figured out that the AC in the truck, which had been blowing ice crystals that morning, was now warmer than the outside air. I had kept hoping it was just me. Yesterday, by the by, was 107, hotter than it’s been since last month (when the house AC died). I spent twenty minutes with frozen food melting all over my upholstery trying to be patient at stop lights and old folks. I sort of succeeded. Kinda.

The good new news is that I made it back with no loss of frozen foods, as I was the only thing that melted. After 30 years of this you learn to wrap food in the reflective sunshade, though forgetting to put the shade up while I was in the store was foolish. Especially for a black truck with a black interior. This, by the way, is even more foolish.

I know of a thousand ways to stay warm in freezing climbs, but there’s only two ways to actually stay cool in the heat: one involves electricity and working mechanisms. I have electricity. The other involves moving vans and buying a house in Antarctica, and I’m not so far from going to that extreme right now.

I replaced the compressor in the truck about two months ago, so it’s still under warranty; this assures me that whatever the problem is, it ISN’T the compressor. I take it in on Friday, and in the meantime, I’m driving my wife’s van.

Someone save me some snow, would you?

A day of rest (or rust?)

Yesterday, Monday, the AC started working again. It's been running fine for two days, it just decided to take Sunday off.

I'm afraid to get near it now.

Out of my mind, please leave a message

MY A/C is broke again.

I’m gonna go off and mumble to myself while I rock back and forth hugging my knees and checking the floor for alternate universes.