h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

We're dumb.

No, really. We're really dumb.

After a week of calling and haranguing the landlord about the air conditioning, the fact that the front door's frame has fallen off since Carrie locked herself out, chatted with the naked neighbor, and had to kick it in (long story), the buzzer downstairs doesn't work, and we only get our mail about once a month since the Post Office doesn't seem to have the key to the front door, a friend came over and casually mentioned we might want to check the circuit breakers.

Now, being the only person of the guy persuasion in the house, it's obviously my fault that it wasn't checked. To be honest, it hadn't occurred to me, since when I first got here, the AC wasn't working, and that was the first thing I looked at, so, naturally, I figured that wasn't the problem. And the fan was still blowing, so, well....

Anyway, we're dumb. So we kicked the circuit breaker back on and tried the AC again. Magically, it worked. Not spectacularly, but we experienced the phenomenon of cold air for the first time in weeks.

Naturally, the heat wave was more or less over with by the next day, so the air conditioning wasn't really necessary, which is when the air conditioner repairman showed up.

He did a really, really good job with it. Before, it would get down to about 80 degrees (235982346592.234596° C, or something. YOU do the conversion if you don't get it. It's warm, but not hot) and stay there, which was an improvement over the 90°+ outside. But once this guy was done, it was a cool, soothing York Peppermint Patty kind of thing going on, and it was good.

It's been 70° (comfortable, slightly cool) in there since then, and we've been sleeping a great deal more. 'S nice.

Oh, and I started working, but I'm hoping not to be there long. We just really needed the paycheck. Mom's been talking about her friend's son and his company, and they'd be willing to let me telecommute, so that'd be nice. Problem is, she said she sent me an e-mail about it a week ago, and I haven't seen anything. I should probably e-mail her about that or something.

Oh I just cannot WAIT to have a certain guy around so I have someone to blame on a regular basis. And the rule in life is that the AC must always be fixed right before the heat wave breaks. The weather in Chicago is stunning. Cool, breezy and sunny, perfect beach weather during the day and sweater weather at night which makes for good sleepin.

I'm glad you're working, even if it's not what you wanted to do. I think I'm about ready for the two of you to come and visit, so we'll talk about it later this week.

All my love to Amanda and Carrie and you, ya' big lummox.

Hee hee, I get blamed for everything anyway. They gang up on me, they do. 'S a tragedy, it is.

The weather here has been really, really nice since--well, since the air conditioning was fixed, really. It helps, but it's really no longer necessary, we're just silly and keep the place at 70 degrees around the clock. It's almost but not quite sweater weather at night here--just cool enough to make you think you need one when you're out walking around in a T-shirt. It's good. They keep telling me, though, that the worst is yet to come--I think I'm afraid of August.

Yeah, work is okay. I've got my designs on moving up quickly, since a trained chimp could do my job and I work mostly with a bunch of brain-damaged ex-cons, so I'd really like to get away from them if possible. I mean, getting another job (and I'm hearing rumblings in the pipeline about a few different ideas, but I'm gonna stick with this until we're more or less financially solvent again) is the first priority, but not until we can afford to skip a few weeks' worth of paychecks while that whole starting-a-new-job-no-we-won't-pay-you-for-the-first-month thing is over with. Things could be better, but I can't really complain.

Oh, and we are SO about ready to come and visit, too. We may be able to in 3 or 4 weeks, I think. I hope.

As far as talking later in the week, my, er phone is sorta shut off at the moment, as I kind of went 154 minutes over last month, and she doesn't get paid until Thursday, and then rent's due, and then, etc., etc. I'll call ya when it gets back on, or e-mail me at any address you fancy--I'm checking them all whenever I get the chance--and we'll work all that out.

And I will give all your love to the hacked-up bodies in burlap sacks that I threw in the closets a few weeks back.

Yep. Chicago's been blissfully stuck in this perfect weather front from Canada for about a full month now and come August when it lifts and the heat moves in it's going to suck suck SUCK. *knocks on wood on Spartus' head*

You guys and PHONES!! Crimenintly! Now a body can't call you at ALL. sheesh. I'll write to you and we'll work it all out. Perhaps I'll have you come and visit some time when it's ESPECIALLY hot because I don't have air conditioning. hee hee.

Around our house I get blamed for everything. Last night I got blamed because Andy had gotten no sleep and everything had gone wrong. Apparently it was all my fault. He was very VERY cute. I love it when he's like he's 4 years old and he whines at me. Makes me feel needed and all. I'm just weird like that.

Maybe I WILL write to your email and maybe I WON'T. We'll just have to wait and see now, won't we?

At least he let you know they had a phone. He didn't tell me. Even if i don't use the thing, he could have at least mentioned.

He could also get the group together and visit here.

Bum.

Allright, what's your beef with his bum?

They live too far away.

We all live too far away. That's the thing, really.

When do we start the compound then?

We've tried. Someone put beetle in charge. I don't know what he's been up to since then.

I s'pose we could take over Twin Oaks...

Phone's still off, by the way, and she's SUPPOSED to be off, but they did a hoochiecoo on her schedule today, so she's working today and has Saturday off in exchange.

So, of course, today's my off day, I work tomorrow AND Saturday, and, and...grrr...

Stupid stupid. I just want to win the lottery or something.

'Course I'll have to start playing it first, but those are small details.

so, what do you do for work then?

*waggles hands mystically*

I have reached back through the oceans of time to send you an e-mail over an hour ago. Read, read dear evil stupid beetle and all will become clear....

*tries to vanish dramatically*

Glad things are looking up, or at least peering intently at something twinkling just above the horizon.

Chin up, stiff upper lip, tally ho and wotnot. Always works for me. Ahem.

Now I understand why beetle has changed his name to evil stupid. *smacks Spartus on the hand* For shame! He's a FRIEND!!

Only call him sweet and lovely beetle.

all is clear, or at least slightly less fuzzy. Have fun working, J.

Hip Hip Hooray to J for doing what needs to be done.

I sort of did what needed to be done two months LATER than I really should've, but everything's still cool. We, like, even can afford to eat out sometimes, and stuff. And I got new shoes.

I did try to convince her last night to drive straight from work to the airport and try to take a plane anywhere we could go, but she didn't go for it. Of course, we wouldn't have been able to afford it, but I thought it was a nice idea...

Sounds like you two are in the same boat Chuck and I are in. Why, when you're young and in luv, do you have to put up with the stuff that only sour old people should have to put up with?

*gets off soap box*

Hi Spartus! Say hi to Amanda for me!

Well, you know what they say... "If it doesn't kill you it'll make you stronger", right?

*waves from inside the little burlap bag full of chopped up bits of self and irony*

Hi.