Friday, February 22, 2008

The Birthday Furnace

Since Friday is my birthday, Eric is taking the day off work, and we were planning to have a fun birthday extravaganza. He was coming home from work early today, so I was very excited about starting the celebration, when at exactly 4:45 p.m., our furnace went out.

First, I started smelling a burning plastic smell, so I walked around the house sniffing and realized it was coming from the vents. Well, that’s not good.

About that time, Eric got home. He went down stairs and checked the furnace. It wasn’t working. He noticed the thermostat was slowly going down and asked, “Didn’t you notice it was getting colder?” Well, I’m always freaking cold!

I then called the furnace people and tried to explain the problem to the guy. Then I tried to give him directions to my house, to which he flat out said, “Those directions don’t make any sense.”

Okay, when I’m already in a pissy mood, don’t question my ability to give directions.

He finally showed up, and it turned out that the circuit board in our furnace was fried. Great. Happy freaking birthday to me! A new circuit board, plus labor, plus tax, plus whatever the hell they charge for, came to about $650. That is not cool.

After we paid, I poured myself a very large glass of wine. I figured that while the house was heating back up, I could at least try to warm myself up from the inside out. Eric began wondering if it would be cheaper to turn the thermostat down the rest of the winter and just keep me liquored up.

I’m willing to give it a shot.

In the meantime, if anyone wants to celebrate my birthday, we plan to sit around the furnace and have a drink.

22 comments:

Ladybug Crossing said...

Well, it's the gift that will keep on giving... at least until spring when you turn it off for the season!
Happy Birthday!
xo
LBC

Desert Songbird said...

That reminds me of the summer when our air conditioner crapped out. In July. When it was 110 degrees outside.

Nice.

That was the same week the air conditioner in hubby's car died.

And so did the washing machine.

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthdaaaaay tooooo yoooou,
Happy Biiiiirthdaaaay, dear Neila,
Happy Birthday to you!

Donna. W said...

$650? Good grief!

Well, try and have a happy birthday anyhow. Maybe you have some more wine for today?

Toni said...

Happy Birthday.

Sorry about the furnace. That kind of stuff is so crappy!

Enjoy your wine!!

Desert Songbird said...

BTW...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Hope it's a good one anyway. Have a coffee, Neila. That'll make you feel better.

Deb said...

Oh no! Well, I hope you had a happy birthday anyway... :)

Mo and The Purries said...

Happy Birthday!!!

There's a blogger birthday shout-out up for you over @ It's A Blog Eat Blog World!
Love ya bunches!

mo

Hot(M)BC said...

Bummer about the furnace, but Happy Birthday anyway, Neila. And yeah, Mo sent me. hehe
Robyn

Ivanhoe said...

Wow! What a b-day present! Things like that always happen when you least expect it. Have yourself another glass of wine and Happy Birthday!

Durward Discussion said...

Having to deal with service (?) people, cold weather, and dead furnace is about all the excuse anyone needs for a warm man and a glass of wine.

Happy Birthday

Even if it's fixed, keep snuggling and drinking. You've earned it.

Unknown said...

Hubby bday! I love your blog, cant you tell? I always read on Manic Monday! Im a regular!

Sandee said...

Sorry about the cost to fix the furnace, but you had me cracking up over the wine thing. You are a hoot. Just have a great Birthday. :)


Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear Neila,
Happy Birthday to you. :)

maryt/theteach said...

I'm singing with Sandee! And I'm joining you around the furnace with a glass of wine... not a bad way to celebrate your B-day, right? HB, Neila! :D

Linda said...

I came over from Morgen's blog to wish you a very happy birthday! There are worse places to be than around a furnace having a drink for one's birthday! I think Mo can attest to that one!

Best wishes for a fantastic year!

Amazing Gracie said...

Shoot! That's really a dud for you guys. Morgen sent all of his readers over to wish you a Happy B-Day, and I'm really sorry you had to contend with a furnace on top of your new faucet!!!
Hope the rest of the year is 100% better...
~~~Blessings~~~

withthanksgiving said...

Happy Birthday a day late and a dollar short. Hope the night got better and you guys ended out having fun.

maggie at Coffeeshopmafia.com

Travis Cody said...

Happy Birthday!

Cafe Mommy - said...

Happy Birthday...
It sucks, I know..how quickly plans change and you, always you get the raw deal...but hey, at least you'll be warm all winter long...and you...OK..I empathize with you. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Cincy Diva said...

Just scooted by in the diva mobile to wish you a Bery Vappy Hirthday!
a day late but the feeling is still there! Hope you had a great one!

Sunrunner said...

That sucks!!! We had to get our furnace fixed back in November, and we just got our water filter/softener fixed this week. The drawbacks of ownership...


Happy Birthday!!! I hope you have a good weekend!

Anonymous said...

Oh the joys of home ownership and adulthood. This year for my birthday I get to pay for stepchild's wedding! I'd much rather have a gift! LOL!