Saturday, July 7, 2012

Survival

We have nine days left until our move and we have officially entered into "survival mode."

We work ourselves to the bone every day and collapse into bed, exhausted.

But it's that great kind of exhausted, the one where you know there is light at the end of the tunnel and that good changes are about to happen!

Our window unit AC started dripping about a week ago. Drip, Drip, Drip, all night long.

So we put a towel under it and hoped for the best. But that dripping sound continued, even with it dripping onto a towel.

So we got inventive and stuck a sheet in the corner of the AC unit so that the water would move down the sheet and just be absorbed by the towel.

It worked for a couple of days and then the humidity happened. Living in the desert, we aren't much used to any humidity, and our has been 70-85% lately! Shocking, really, since we've lived here for 2 years and haven't seen that happen. Well, the humidity made the drip turn into a constant gush of water.

Gush, Gush, Gush.

And wouldn't you know it? I had already packed and moved all of my extra linens and towels. So we used the few that we still had here to absorb that gushing flow. And I still didn't want to call a repairman. Because we only had 2 weeks left, and I didn't want to pay for a repair that we'd only be able to use for 2 weeks.

Even if an AC repairman here only costs 12 dollars. I'm so serious.

So we lose sleep, and mop up lots of water on the floor, and change buckets out periodically so that we aren't under water.

Oh, and Ian and I have to use Grace's baby towels when we shower. I use the Winnie-the-Pooh hooded towel and Ian has a nice pink butterfly hooded towel.

It's a really special time in our lives.

I finally broke down today and asked to get the repairman here. Less than 8 hours later and our AC is fixed, blowing cold air again, with no water features.

Another happening around our household is our insect issue. Remember when I said I found a termite tunnel in a door frame? Remember how nonchalant I was about it?

Remember how no one bothered to mention that termites SWARM at night and can FLY?!

Yeah.

I remember.

So one night last week, I was sitting at my computer when a bug hit me in the face and fell on the floor. I asked Ian to clean it up (really, it was more like "GET HIM! Kill HIM!") and went back to my computer. Something caught my eye and I noticed another bug on the wall. I pointed it out to Ian and he dutifully went about taking care of it.

While he was cleaning up the bugs, my eyes got bigger as I noticed four more bugs on the other wall. I surveyed the room and I saw that they were multiplying, and quickly.

All of this took place in less than a minute.

We had about 30 flying bugs in the room and I was in a pregnancy/woman induced hysterical breakdown over the bugs and we had the presence of mind to realize they were
1.) attracted to the light
2.) coming from the front room

So we quickly shut the door to that room and cleaned up the mess.

And by "we," I totally mean Ian, because I was the one sobbing at the computer, googling "termite swarm."

Luckily, no more got through to us, and in the morning there was a pile of about 500 dead bugs right by there tunnel.

I was traumatized, to say the least.

Apparently the termites that have wings swarm for several nights, trying to find their mate. They only have 5-15 minutes to mate and get back into their tunnel before their wings fall off and they die. They can't bite or eat anything, so they are harmless (physically, though I may be emotionally scarred for awhile.)

So every night we close up the front room and every morning, Ian goes in an vacuums up the mess. The first night was the worse and there haven't been as many since then.

I should probably call someone or let the landlord know, but, again. 9 days left in this house guys. And the house is entirely cinder block, except for the door frames.

(anyone seeing a pattern about me not wanting to address issues because we only have so many days left here? Because I am.)

And the cherry on top of my "I'm moving, I don't have to take care of it," denial has to do with our kitchen. Our oven/stove is gas powered, and every 6 months or so we have to replace the gas tank. It costs less than 6 dollars, but is a pain in the butt to replace.

The last time we replaced ours was in February.

Do you see where I'm going with this?

Yes. Our gas tank is running out/ already out.

And yes. I have so much on my plate that I really don't want to mess with getting it replaced. SO, what does any sane person do?

Say "No more cooking until after we move!" That's what!

Plus, that gives me a chance to pack up the kitchen even earlier!

We're having to get a little creative with our meals (cereal, meals that can be made with hot water, microwaved things,) but we are cleaning out our cabinets, so that's nice!

Like I said, we've entered into "survival mode." but it's a good thing, because in less than two weeks we will be on our way to our new home! We figure, we might as well have a few laughs along the way. Even if it means laughing at ourselves :)

7 comments:

Sonya said...

I believe I'd be the same way. The washer started doing funny things in the last apartment we were in just before we moved. Luckily I was able to do laundry at my parents to get us through. I called the apt office to let them know but because they knew we were moving it wasn't at the top of their list. I called a 2nd time when it began to smell because there was most likely water still in it. Wasn't my problem if they didn't take care of it. I especially didn't feel bad when the AC was leaking into the lower apt & they came in to fix it and moved all of the stuff that we'd already packed out of that area but didn't bother to tell us that some of those boxes were wet on the bottom. I wasn't happy when I found those after we moved.

Rachel and John said...

I love it! I would totally be the same way. And the bugs? would scare the living daylight out of me too.

Rachel and John said...

I love it! I would totally be the same way. And the bugs? would scare the living daylight out of me too.

Emily Powell said...

ok, I would have flipped out about the bugs too!

Jessica said...

Oh my goodness! When it rains, it pours. I would have freaked out about the termites! And they can fly?! I seriously did not know that, and it makes them all the more terrifying. Even though, like you said,they're harmless...they're just so gross looking! I hope things start to go a little more smoothly for you guys, but I bet you're just so excited to be moving so soon!

Unknown said...

Termites can fly?!?!

Still I'm so glad you see humour at the end of it.

Natalie and Lee said...

AHHH! That is hilarious! Stumbled across your blog and enjoying catching up! :)