The Summer of Learning

Before you get all excited about my possible continuing ed, let me put your mind at ease.  It wasn't any kind of formal classes I signed up for (although that wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, would it?!)  No, the learning that took place happened right here at home.  But that's not to say it wasn't challenging!

Having to replace a riding lawn mower, a heating and air conditioning system, and pulling the trigger on a new hot tub, I was up to my neck in manuals this summer.   So much reading...

First up was the hot tub.  (And why is it when you spend money on a "luxury", so many of the "necessities" decide to conk out on you?). We had a hot tub years ago...seemed simple enough.  You fill it with water, plug it in, it heats up and in no time, you're feeling the warm, pulsating jets, relieving your stressed and sore body.  Not so fast!  The new, improved models now have all kinds of filtration cycles that one has to become familiar with.  I know that now because I'm on a first name basis with the hot tub guy.  (His name is Dan.). Seems my lack of knowing these cycles is the reason the hot tub water reached a skin-searing 109 degrees!  Ouch!

Onto the riding mower.  It took us two tries at purchasing a replacement for our old one but we finally ended up with a dandy.  She's not the old one, whose temperament and nuances I knew so well, but it'll do.  Took a summer reading program to get there though!

The air conditioning unit is purring, as I write.  But it, too, came with a re-training process.  A "programmable thermostat" makes sense if everyone's on the same body clock, but what's comfortably cool for someone who's sleeping, sure seems warm to an insomniac!  I better read up on that manual a bit more.  And I need to mention....the heating part of the system is untested.  So I'm not out of the manual "woods" there yet!

 I guess the lesson here for me is that I like old, broken-in things...like husbands....and kids...and family...and friends... And especially lawn mowers and hot tubs.    But the summer of learning is nearing the end and I welcome the break.  I'm almost looking forward to fall and winter.  (I said "almost"!)   I mean, how hard is it to operate a rake?  Or a snow shovel?  And who's to say 109 degree water won't feel pretty good in the winter?  I just hope I was paying attention to the heating guy when he was explaining the new furnace, because this school is closed!