I spent all day on the phone training to be a group leader. I learned all about Weight Loss Surgery, Nutritional Requirments and Group Dynamics. It really was interesting. My group, The Virtual Bike Club probably won't discuss any of it, we just encourage each other to ride our bikes.
Then I got a lead on a company that is hiring people to work from home-I'd like a little part time something something just to add structure and variety whilst I figure out my life's purpose. I don't think my life's purpose will end up being a customer service rep, but it would provide a little cash, a little structure and maybe quiet the speculation about what it is I DO all day...
I have turned a corner of sorts. I bought a ventless natural gas heater, and once it is installed I will not be a refugee from my own home. It is being delivered next week, so I went down tonight to have a conversation with my parents. I said "I bought a gas heater and I'd like your opinion on where to have it installed" I let them talk for a bit about generators and carbon monoxide. Strangely, it was Mom that was frantic, trying to imagine what it would look like and where it would go. (It's cute, it looks like a cast iron stove).
She fell into her standard "you don't need it" diatribe, stating "I have lived here all my life and I've NEVER been without electricity, and if I was, I'd just GO somewhere..." and I turned that corner. I say turned the corner because before I would have gotten frutrasted and snapped. Instead I looked her right in the eye and said very quietly, "Well, I've been here 6 months and I've had to leave my house twice. I've lost thousands of dollars in snakes, and easily spent another thousand in kennel bills. You are welcome to come down to my house if you ever need to, but I'm getting a heater and I wish I had bought one back in the summer when I was thinking about it."
And that was that. The world did not end, I was invited to lunch tomorrow.
Sometimes people can't live beyond their own experience. I am a person who lives on other's experiences to some degree, but I'm learning to fall back on my own experience for certain things. Like back up heat. And I'm learning not to apologize for it.
3 comments:
I'm glad you did what you needed to do.
We have a ventless gas fireplace and I love it. The downside is that if the electricity goes off, the blower on it won't work. I'm not sure about it turning on either as it has like a spark or something like that. I was thinking about installing a pellet heater in the basement but don't have enough room, and our grand plan to to install a propane driven generator (a big one installed by real plumber and electrician types) that would run things like the heat and water (well=pump) and the fridge.
I looked at the fireplaces too, but the little stove had plenty of BTU's for my house and at 895 SQFT, space was an option. The stove has an iron top, so I can put a kettle on it, and I liked that part.
I've got emergency lights (a hand crank flashlight I love) and I'm trying to decide whether to get a small generator for TV purposes. I really don't like the idea of one of those portable ones-too much can go wrong, and there are always books to read, crochet to crochet, etc.
What's interesting and a little sad is my Mom was going on about how the tree is down, what's the worry? But this is an old 1950's neighborhood and there are lots of unkempt trees around, mine was definitely not the only hazard along our power grid.
Daddy will probably get bored and go buy a heater backup system or something-which is what Mom is really worried about, but maybe the thought of having to stay with me will make it easier for her to take. By the way, they can afford it, it's just that Mom doesn't understand it or the need, so she doesn't like spending money on those things....She really is a product of another space and time.
So many struggles for control ... so little time. I just blogged about this tonight because I spent the weekend with my MIL. Scream! Serinty now!
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