The problem with living alone

[gerisullivan]

When you live alone, there's really no one to blame when the fireplace matches go missing. I didn't use the last of them -- they're here somewhere. But not in any of the obvious places.

Fortunately, I managed to light the fire with regular, short matches. Burn-free, even. Well, burn-free to me -- the fire's burning quite nicely, thank you very much. And that's a good thing, indeed, given that apparently the pipe feeding heat to the first floor of the Zeppelin Hanger is, um, somewhat frozen and has been for most of two days now. Joy. Now I'm hoping it doesn't split or burst before it thaws. Fun, fun, fun.

The frozen pipe is unfortunately indicative of how my life's been going of late, which has a lot to do with why it's been so long since I updated this journal. Fortunately, I've also had several dollops of good luck along the way, and I'm hoping for another over the next day or two. The space heaters could warm the pipe enough to thaw the frozen spot. (This would be an easier, faster process if I knew where the frozen bit is. That may well be frozen bits by now, given how much pipe has been sitting with cold water in it rather than hot water circulating through it since Tuesday night. I really should have figured out yesterday that it wasn't just taking the first floor a long time to warm up because of the bitter cold outside, but rather that it wasn't warming up at all.)

Other trials, travails, adventures, and more can wait for other posts. For now, I'm going to go make another cup of hot cocoa with cinnamon in it.

Current temperatures:
Geri's office (where I'm not): 54 F.
Living room (where I am): 62 F. (after about 30 minutes with the fire burning)
Nearer the fireplace: warmer. Maybe I should move to the other end of the sofa.
Upstairs: 70 F, or whatever I set the thermostat to. Thank ghu for zone heating!

Comments

[webbob.livejournal.com]

If you can rig a hair dryer close to and pointing at the coldest part of the pipe you can find and leave it running for a while, you might be able to get it thawed. (This tip brought to you by courtesy of the City of Malden Water and Sewer Department, a couple of years ago.) Next year you could get antifreeze in your heating system's working fluid, which I guess you know.

Your office would be a little warmer than most of my apartment during our last couple of cold snaps. Maybe next year I'll get central heating installed.

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

Totoro! I just watched that again!

[gerisullivan.livejournal.com]

Years ago (well, decades ago, actually), a friend of mine deliberately kept his home around 52-53 degrees. I'd wear my ski overalls when visiting, and would sit under a heat lamp he kept in his office. Yesterday's chill reminded me of those days, as did your comment about life without central heating.

The pipe I can reach feels uniformly chilled and the portion that seems most likely to be the problem spot is not directly accessible. I gave some thought to spending hours and hours on a ladder, blow dryer in hand, moving along all of the accessible pipe, but am taking my chances with the approach my Boiler Guys advised. Fingers crossed!

Ouch

[lsanderson.livejournal.com]

There's warm weather on the way, but it might take a day or two to get there.

Re: Ouch

[kip-w.livejournal.com]

Cathy says it'll be 50 this weekend.

Re: Ouch

[gerisullivan.livejournal.com]

Yay! That should help.

[wouldyoueva.livejournal.com]

Uncooked spaghetti can not only be boiled to make something tasty, but also set on fire to act as a BBQ/fireplace match. (I lived with 3 guys, stuff went missing all the time here...)

[kip-w.livejournal.com]

You can sacrifice a broom straw for the purpose as well. Not the tasty one.

[gerisullivan.livejournal.com]

Thanks. That's useful to know.

That is kind of scary

[dragonet2.livejournal.com]

our main problem with freezing pipes is that they walled in an entry porch and turned it into a laundry room--we have an electric tape around the input pipes for the washing machine.

I've got circulated water all around and I think we're going to need a new pump and boiler next fall, which is going to be be $$$. But I so do not want to think about any of it freezing. Yikes.

[davidschroth.livejournal.com]

When you live alone, there's really no one to blame when the fireplace matches go missing.

I'd blame The Doctor, were I you.

As mizzlaurajean will attest, cocoa juice is good.

Here's hoping the thaw arrives quickly.

[debgeisler.livejournal.com]

Why do furnaces always (always) develop glitches when the temps are measured in single digits F...and work famously at 54°?

(Just sing out if you need your room. :-) Sheets and towels are clean, of course.)

[gerisullivan.livejournal.com]

"Just sing out if you need your room."

Thank you so very much; that means the world to me.

For now, I'm camped out here, moving space heaters around, mopping and cleaning up from Friday's flood, and trying not to think too much about everything else that could go wrong.

Hmmm. Water. Space heaters. Pipes at risk of bursting. I'll be right over, just as soon as the electrical system fries and the house burns down.

Yes, I'm knocking wood. But I have my insurance agent's phone number in my cell phone, Just In Case.

[huladavid.livejournal.com]

The joys of living single: You only buy toilet paper a roll at a time, and every six months; whether you need it or not.

The problem with me living alone: I still forget to buy the toilet paper anyway.

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

Erm, I'm single and I have 24-roll packs of TP delivered every month.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

Cinnamon junkie!

[gerisullivan.livejournal.com]

Guilty, guilty, guilty.

Odder Things Have Happened

[cogitationitis.livejournal.com]

There's some long Duraflame matches on the shelves opposite the bathrooms at the NESFA clubhouse.

Maybe we just needed them to light the birthday cakes...

Re: Odder Things Have Happened

[gerisullivan.livejournal.com]

BINGO!

Thanks, Lisa! That's most likely where my matches went. I brought them in to light the star and squiggle candles on the Smofcon cupcakes in January, and that's right next to where the candle-lighting took place.

I'm so glad I gave up searching here after not finding them in the most likely spots!