Most people believe that I am an intelligent and capable human… but I have my own doubts.
There are times when I wonder if my brain really works, at all.
This is especially true when I find myself making the same mortal mistake on repeat, as though I’m incapable of learning my lesson the first ten times around. For the past 30 years or so I have had the same wild enthusiasm every year when we get a few breaths of warm air during the spring transition. After a long, difficult winter there will inevitably be a week or two when the outdoor air temperature becomes unseasonably warm… and I lose my mind. Out of nowhere, the outdoor climate will take a turn for warmer days. This fresh, humid air that comes blowing through the region and immediately causes me to think that a seasonal change is on its way. Finally, our cold days are over for good! That’s right about when I power down the boiler system and call my heating, cooling, and ventilation technician for a routine professional heating, cooling, and ventilation inspection on the heating device. While he’s out, I have him check the large traditional fireplace, too. He’s good at cleaning out the chimney and telling me if there are any fireplace repairs to watch out for. It makes sense; I’m trying to be proactive for the looming air temperature change, however, there’s always a problem. Inevitably I wind up immensely letdown within a day or two when we return to the cold and bitter characteristics of winter. Then, the fireplace is suddenly back in use, and I have to call my HVAC tech a few weeks later to redo all his work.