GAH! What a way to start the weekend!

[badseed1980]

EDIT: the gas company sent someone out, and he just turned my gas back on and flushed the lines, and everything is working again! Yay! Good, quick service. That's always nice.

So. Last night, before I went to bed, I went to wash my hands and face. The water coming out of the tap was no more than lukewarm. I can't actually remember whether I tried using hot water or not before that in the evening, and what the result was. Anyway, it was a bit warmer than the water coming out of the cold tap, so I thought, "Maybe some idiot on the third floor used up ALL the hot water for some reason, and it's only just starting to heat up again. I'll see how it is in the morning."

This morning? No hot water. Fuck. I went down to the basement and sure enough, the pilot light was out on the water heater. I've never re-lit a pilot light before, but, well, shit. I'm a smart girl. I can follow directions. Directions are right on the heater. OK, I turn knobs, push and hold buttons, and stick the Magic Fire Wand of Art into where the pilot light should go on. Um. Wait. Not only is it not staying lit, but it's not lighting at ALL. Nothing. I don't hear or smell any gas coming out to BE lit, either.

Now, construction's been going on, here on my street. I went and peered outside to see if I saw any National Grid trucks doing work. Not seeing any, I called to report the outage. OK. They'll be here sometime--the guy couldn't give me a time estimate because it's Saturday. So. I have no hot water, but need to wash my face and other bits, at least, even if I can't yet have the full shower I really need. I think about getting a pot and heating some water on the stove. On the gas stove.

Well, there goes that idea.

I can't even go to someone else's place to borrow their shower or anything, because I need to be here for the damned gas company. GAH. This means that my day will be spent sitting here at home, having had nothing more than a cold water wash, being able to eat only those foods that can be cooked in the microwave or toaster oven. The toaster oven, incidentally, is looking like it's on its last legs. The button doesn't like to stay down. Time to do some toaster oven research.

At least the coffee maker still works. This means I can have coffee (thank the gods), and that if I get REALLY desperate for hot water, I can get a coffee pot's worth by running it with no beans.

All this, after not feeling all that hot last night after my dinner. I didn't actually get sick, but I was feeling ooky enough to worry that it might get that bad. Glad it didn't, though. Still. Hell of a way to start the weekend.

Comments

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry honey. Push comes to shove, use the propane burner.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Yeah. That's true. I forgot about that. That'll be a last resort, I think. Now, if I had a Coleman camp stove...

Ah well, off to make microwaved Eggbeaters (it works) and toast!

[cos]

You can microwave water too. It's actually a much more energy efficient way of heating water than a gas stove. It's what I almost always do for tea: fill the mug, put it in the microwave (it took a couple of times to learn how much time it needs), then put the tea bag in.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Yeah, for a mug of tea it works well enough, but getting enough hot water to wash an un-showered body that way is not easy!

[cos]

For a full shower - well, if you have a bag usable as a solar shower you don't actually need that much. But for what you were contemplating doing with the gas stove, this should be just as good if not better. Also remember you don't actually want to wash in boiling water; however much you heat in the microwave, you can dilute it with about 2-3 times that much cool water to get "hot" washing water.

[tigira.livejournal.com]

If the gas company comes and you decide you'd like to come to the "big social event of the season," I can come get you - or pick you up at Oak Grove, or whatever.

*hugs* Feel better.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Thanks, hon, but I think I want to do some errand-running and household task type stuff today. :)

[leenah.livejournal.com]

yay hot water!! sorry you're not feeling well. it was good to see you. :)

got home around 8 and called a friend and talked her out of a blue funk to the point where we were both laughing at conversation's end. it was a good evening, though damn, the service did suck.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

I'm feeling fine now, actually. It was just last night that my stomach was saying, "I'm not so sure I'm going to be OK with that dinner." But I told it it had better behave, and it did.

Yeah, the service did suck. Good time otherwise, though! But with the service and the ookiness, I don't think I'll be going back anytime soon.

[leenah.livejournal.com]

CBC!!! can definitely do CBC. there's a reason why tommy doyle's is so quiet in the dining area on a friday night. my dinner was tasty, but i am not keen on the service.

[roaming.livejournal.com]

oh, noes, don't ever try to relight the pilot yourself. It can go BOOM! Last time my pilot light went out, the fire dept came by and even THEY would not relight it: I had to get the gas company guy. (Fire Dept did turn off the gas at the source, though. For fear of The BOOM!)

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

I believe the fire department isn't allowed to do it, but I've never really heard anyone say it HAD to be done by a professional before. I know my father did it at the parental abode on a few occasions. I checked for the smell and sound of gas (even down right by the floor), and followed instructions to the letter.