Surprise! Winter is Here

I planned to update my blog weekly, or thereabouts. Sometimes, life has other plans. Since writing is cathartic, which is a nice way of saying that it keeps me from going fully insane, I thought I'd share a bit of my January 3, 2012, as it has progressed thus far.

Throughout Mr. Vagabond's vacation at home, I've made terrific progress with my resolution to stay up as late as I want and sleep as late as I want. My mother isn't thrilled, since I no longer answer my phone at 7:30 a.m., but that's the pretty much the only downside. 

Today I woke at approximately noon to learn that the living room was 36 degrees. Fahrenheit! Gypsy and Sinner were curled together in a big blonde and black, furry ball on the sofa. If you know anything about my dogs, you know that this was a rare scene, indeed. Sinner may despise Gypsy, but she ain't stupid. Gypsy is big. And warm. As I opened the foyer doors, they both glared at me as if to say, "Look who has arrived from her cozy warm bed to mingle with the commoners." Ok, maybe Sinner's glare said that. Gypsy's expression was more like, "Huh?" *adjust, stretch, yawn, ZZzzzzzzzz*

Although I had yet to make coffee, I was clear-headed enough to know that seeing my own breath in the living room was not a good sign. I soon discovered that someone had flipped the wrong button on the radiator last night. I'm not one to point fingers, but she was wearing two pairs of socks, fuzzy pajama pants, a pink and white baseball jersey and her favorite Finding Forrester cardigan. Ok, fine; it was me. I put it on a timer instead of upping the thermostat. Because I am smart like that.

I see a lot of hats in my immediate future. 

Unfortunately, a living room that was comparable to Antarctica wasn't the pinnacle of what I learned this morning… er, afternoon. 

When I reached the usual first destination that one visits upon waking each day, I noticed an extension cord -not- plugged into the outlet above the vanity. This was not a good sign. There is one reason, and only one reason, why that particular extension cord is ever plugged in. It powers the heated water pipe wrap under the house. When it's not plugged in . . . well, you get the idea.

Long story short, too late:  Today, we have no water. Well, I suppose we do have water, but in its solid state, it's of no use for things like showers, cooking and generally going about the day. 

Wait.  No water means no coffee. 

Quick-like, I ran out to the little Mom & Pop grocery store and returned triumphantly with two gallons of water. If you ever want to gain a full understanding of how much water you use in an average day, pour it from gallon jugs. After filling the coffee pot, the dogs' water bowls and the pot to make chicken and dumplings, there was nary a drop left. I brushed my teeth with Listerine. Mmmmm. Spicy!

So January 2012 has started off with a bang. I foresee $600 electric bills, skyrocketing water bills (we have to let it drip to prevent another freezing episode) and lots of warm hats. I suppose it's a good time to start my annual Spring Countdown.