Mindless Chatter, Thurzday

sharismom

Was out yesterday, had to go to Ann Arbor for a meeting with my son and his counselor.  Things went well.  I didn't get caught in too much construction on the trip, weather was nice, we did a little shopping (I hit some incredible clearances at Kohls - got $200 worth of stuff for $52.00.  Can anybody say SCORE?), and then we had lunch/dinner at BDs Mongolian Barbecue (my first time).

The mountain of mail I came back to isn't as bad as I thought it would be.

Hope Sassy's doing even better today.

I like Amanda's new avatar pic.  Bevo is so handsome!

Wow you must have been lucky getting around Ann Arbor and not too much construction!!! Too bad I didn't know you were around. I drove right past Kohl's to go to ride my horse! 

Most of the construction I hit was on 127 South, then on 96 East right by MSU -Trowbridge Rd (there it was down to one lane).  I got off 96 at 23 South and the construction on 96 was further east, so I turned at just the right place.

If I'd had more time, I'd have gotten in touch, but because I had to come to work today, I only had a set amount of time, esp. by the time you add in 4 hours + in travel.  I took my son into Kohls because we can usually find stuff he likes that's not terribly expensive, but I made out better in there than he did.  I love that store!

sharismom

(I hit some incredible clearances at Kohls - got $200 worth of stuff for $52.00.  Can anybody say SCORE?),

Hec yeah, I'll say it... SCORE!

Was so nice and cool this morning outside, must have been in the mid-sixties.  I don't know, didn't check...but it felt good.  Now, not so much, its probably in the low nineties.

I am so excited about our electric bill.  This month, our bill was $80.00.  Sweet!  This time last year and the year before that it was running between $300 and 500.00 through the summer.  I think I hit the jackpot plan with Reliant.  DH has been so worried that we are going to get hit with some kind of surprise, but I double checked...no surprises to be expected.  We've just been doing well on watching the energy consumption.

I have the a/c people coming today (Jackie, is that you?  LOL)  to do the seasonal service on the units...yes, we have 2.  We bought a couple of those programmable thermostats last weekend, I'm going to ask the service person to install them for me.  Hope he will.

I too hope that Sassy is doing better; and yep....love the new avatar of Bevo!

 It's freaking HOT!! It's like.. Hold on.. Checking the weather network...It's 19 degrees C.. Which is.. Ummm.. Like 66 degrees F. So yeah.. Yesterday it was 25 degrees C. *dies*

And Sandy is under a blanket WTH!? 

I'm hungry and my foot's asleep.. Not a good combo.. And all my burns have turned in to tans! WHOOT!!  

Today we're working in the backyard again but we're waiting for the shade to spread back there. I'm supposed to go to Agility Drill Team tonight to start working with Bender *see post in General for story* but Alex threw a fit and so I'm staying home tonight. But I'm going next week no matter what he says! 

CoBuHe

I am so excited about our electric bill.  This month, our bill was $80.00.  Sweet!

Wow!!  I wish we could shop our electric bill but our supplier is a public utility and we can't. :(   

CoBuHe

I have the a/c people coming today (Jackie, is that you?  LOL) 

 I had to call 3 different companies to get an AC man out here.  For a while, I thought I might have to find a man to call for me...lol!  Well, he put in a new capacitor to the tune of $224.  Later my son went online and found the thing for $40 (plus the $55 service call).  Methinks I won't be calling that company again!!!

We have the A/C people coming on Monday.  Ours froze this week.  We defrosted it over night and this morning it was working beautifully but the A/C people said there is probably something wrong that is causing that.  It is supposed to be a HOT weekend so we will run the fans on high and the A/C sparingly.  We changed all the filters and the ones on the intake vents were caked in cat hair just since last month.  One of my cats has been shedding a complete cat each day so it doesn't suprise me.  Hopefully that is why it froze and there isn't something expensive to fix.  Thankfully though we have American Home Shield to help out if it is.

I think I am going home to do a little photo shoot in the front yard with Devin with my new camera today.  Just 2 hours left!

Yeah, that's outrageous for a capacitor replacement.  The best advice I can give people on your a/c is to ask your friends and neighbors who they use and if they are satisfied.  Find a company you like and that treats you fairly and use them exclusively.  You should have it checked once a year, at least. 

bonnyjean, the dirty filter could have caused it to freeze up.  Not enough air flow, low on Freon can cause that too, among other reasons.  BTW, most of those home insurance plans exclude any repairs to the a/c if the coils are dirty.  They will exclude things for the most ridiculous reasons but this is number one.  Read the fine print on your plan.  Dirty coils can cause the compressor to fail.   OK, sorry I got carried away with the unasked for advice. 

 I'm tired and feeling like a cold is coming on. yikes

 My latest gas bill was only $28!!! wohooo! I also redid my cable options and got my bill reduced to $44 per month for preferred digital with hbo for 1 year. awesome.

This leaves me money to put away from the yellowstone trip we are planning in July. Did I mention I am going to yellowstone? I've never been and it's on my list of places I have to go before I die. yay

 Well Jackie, I did ask my son who he used, but they are one of the ones who couldn't come out today.  I'm going away for the weekend tomorrow, so this was for the dogs..lol!  I just picked another company which I know has been in business around here for years and years. 

About 10 years ago, we replaced the compresser, and used a fellow recommended by a neighbor...this guy worked for the school system, but I can't remember his name or if he is even around anymore.  Yeah, I really should have it checked yearly...I know that...my Dad and brother are in the heating business up North.  

marty_ga

Yeah, I really should have it checked yearly...I know that...my Dad and brother are in the heating business up North.  

LOL, like the cobbler with holes in his shoes.  I hear ya' and I never check mine but then I can usually get pretty good service when I need it.  I really didn't mean to sound like such a "know it all".  Sorry if it came out that way.

JackieG

bonnyjean, the dirty filter could have caused it to freeze up.  Not enough air flow, low on Freon can cause that too, among other reasons.  BTW, most of those home insurance plans exclude any repairs to the a/c if the coils are dirty.  They will exclude things for the most ridiculous reasons but this is number one.  Read the fine print on your plan.  Dirty coils can cause the compressor to fail.   OK, sorry I got carried away with the unasked for advice

I am grateful for the advice.  I really think the filter did it.  It wasn't the main filter in the machine, but the ones in the walls on the floor.  So there are two filters the air goes through before it goes to the A/C.  It was the outside ones that had cat hair on them.  We just had them out last month b/c we had a bad storm and then our compressor wouldn't come on.  We have a 3 phase unit and by the time they got there, it was working again.  Apparently it was a voltage problem in the neighborhood.  He went ahead and checked everything for me while he was there and said my freon looked pretty good but added a little.  Both units are under 3 years old.  I just need to start changing the outside filters every two weeks this summer while my cat is shedding so much.  She has long hair and drops huge clumps of hair everywhere!  It drives me nuts!

Are the coils something I should have them come clean each year or can that be prevented my monthly filter changes? 

JackieG

Is that the foot with the nail they quicked at the Vet? 

No, it's a front foot and the other was the back. It doesn't take much to get Sassy off track and flared up allergy-wise, so I'm fairly certain it's related to the surgery and all, but not sure exactly what it is. They have all documentation that she's on a restricted diet, tons of meds, etc., yet they sent home a bag of dog treats made out of who knows what. I'll give them Buffy but it still makes me shake my head.

Meeting is over - yay!!!!!!! It actually went much better than I thought and I don't have to worry about another one until the end of Sept - whew!!

Jewlieee

Did I mention I am going to yellowstone? I've never been and it's on my list of places I have to go before I die. yay

I don't believe you'd mentioned it by yay for you. I'd love to go there too. Who will watch all the puppers though?

 You didn't come off that way at all, Jackie.  I was glad for the confirmation that it was an outrageous price. 

I may have to do some serious shopping for this stuff...my heating system has been faithful for 25 years, but I keep expecting that to change at any time!