Christmas Eve Eve Day, i.e. two days to go!

 

Later in the afternoon on Thursday, I did brave the high temperature of the day (-7℉, as it turned out) to clear the small amount of snow off the sidewalks and part of the driveway.  I did this in three sessions, about ten minutes each, in the 3 p.m., 4 p.m., and 5 p.m. hours.

When my face would start to feel the effects, I would pack that session in and came back to hot tea or hot water.

Tomorrow we should get a heat wave, by comparison, and rise about the zero mark on the Fahrenheit scale.

Thursday evening, I joined Alicia's family for candle-lighting for Hanukkah's 5th night, and their gift exchange.  Her daughter had tested negative for the first time since having tested positive for Covid-19 last weekend.  That's something to celebrate.  

Unfortunately, her husband who was also feeling lousy the whole time tested positive for Covid-19 for the first time, after having tested negative all week.  He was actually feeling better, fever had broken, by the time the test came back positive!  

One step back, two steps forward, anyone?  There's that whole isolation / quarantine thing going on.  The candle lighting and gift exchange was celebrated via Zoom.  It was good to see everyone and hear voices.  The worst of all this?  My niece's sense of taste is off, making her enjoyment of holiday treats not so great. 😞

Friday morning, wouldn't you know it, something would go wrong at my own house?  I came downstairs and turned on the kitchen faucet on the "hot" side.  Drips.  Turned it to cold, works fine, but then it won't turn off!  It keeps trickling on the cold side.  I left a voice mail for the trusty plumbing/heating company. Waited for a call-back.  My budget will be... well whatever it has to be!  

Considering the weather, though?  I can live with this semi-emergency if I have to, until such time as they can schedule me a plumber.  Adventure time!  Anyone remember my adventures at "Summer camp" when the water softener broke?  I lived for a week without being able to flush a toilet!

They called back after 8 and could try to get me a certified plumber today.  But it was going to cost me an emergency call charge of $$$, plus whatever repairs the plumber had to perform.  I went back and forth for a bit about it.  After thinking about it, I am declaring a "winter camp" adventure.  This adventure will include washing dishes by hand and heating the water to do so in my trusty tea kettle.

There are people with worse problems than mine, who need that plumber more than I do.  I'll end up paying a bit more to the water company for that running water, but... folks are dripping the faucets to keep their pipes from freezing, and if they have burst pipes?  They need help!

Adventures or no, Life is Good!  Be well, and Spark on!

🔥🕯🎄✨💖