A Busy Week
So far, this week has been chock full of domestic tasks. On Monday the air conditioner repairman came. Thanks Gods. He was a tiny little man, probably in his 60’s. He looked more like a professor than a A/C repairman. He wore thin glasses that he constantly pushed down to the tip of his nose. He most likely needs bi-focals or transition lenses. His nose was characteristically Greek and I was fascinated by it. He looked like one of those people who you could tell was just gorgeous in their younger days. However, most impressively, he wore a floppy fishing cap upon which the letters N’SYNC were written. I guess it takes all kinds. What he did was a bit of a mystery, but the A/C works. He also upselled me on cleaning out the refrigerator motor – which, after he broke out the vacuum, I realized I could have done myself. $88 dollars worth.
Earlier in the day, the piano tuner showed up and got my piano sounding right again. It’s funny, I’ve been playing it for months and had actually gotten used to everything being out of key. Now that it’s right, I have to get used to it again. Of course, since it’s an old piano (if 1970 is old) is needs some new parts – that will eventually fail completely – and will need to be tuned again in about 6 months. The piano tuner, the “T” in T&S Piano Tuners, was a jolly fellow that talked a lot, but knew more about pianos than any person I’d ever met. He told me some nice history about my upright – that it was one of the last Yamaha models made with entirely wooden interior parts and that despite it being made in Japan, it was a good piano. I guess that makes a difference. He worked for several hours, checked and double checked, and impressed the hell out of me. I especially love working with people who like what they do.
Backtracking a bit, while the A/C N’SYNC fan was here, we ducked into the second basement looking for a switch box. Upon opening the doors, what did I find? Big heaping piles of rat crap. Yes. Rat crap. This means I have to now find an exterminator. I called the only humane trapper in the area (well, the only one I could find) and they told me they don’t trap rats, they kill them. Sure, they’ll trap raccoons, squirrels, and other animals of that nature, but not rats. I mean, why discriminate? Rats are animals all the same. Sure some carry disease and their excrement can cause respiratory infections, but kill them? I guess the point is, what do you do with an entire colony of rats? Set them free into the Arroyo so that they can return later? Rats have a bad rap. If Ratatouille taught me anything, it’s that everyone can cook. Even a rat. Naturally, I feel riddled with guilt about the prospect of killing dozens of rats. Traps or pesticides? It’s a horrible way to die either way. Thus, if I maintain my Buddhist-like mentality that I’m a lover not a fighter, I must find a better way to get the rats out of the house. I’d prefer to get them out humanely, allow them to live their little rat lives, except not in my walls. I’ve tasked AJB with the job of cleaning up the little rat poopies. What I find odd is that even the humane trapper won’t trap rats. I suppose it’s a waste of time on their part and it’s just easier to murder them. That’s not how I play. Extermination is a last resort.
And today, we’re getting three sprinklers fixed. Is my life exciting or what?
One Response to “A Busy Week”
PEPPERMINT OIL! Guarantied to get rid of the rats or any rodents for that matter. but you have to get real peppermint oil not the peppermint flavored fake kind.
Guaranteed, really.
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