Thursday, January 5, 2012

I Wondered

Why I didn't have a copy of my natural gas bill when I went to pay the bills last week.  I had to call and ask for a statement.  The copy arrived yesterday and showed that I had apparently used 917 ccf of gas from their estimate on November 20 to their actual reading on December 20.  This gave me a bill of more than $500.  I looked at their numbers and realized that the estimated reading was for the former meter in the basement and the actual reading was for the meter on the outside of the house. 

I was informed that I didn't have a new meter, they had no record of it.  Was I sure? Was I there when they moved it? 

I pointed out that as the old meter was in the basement and they had no access to read it and since they had managed to get an actual reading, that they had to have read the new meter outside.  The new meter that had started out at zero on November 19. 

How did I know what date it was? 

Gee, they had managed to literally take out half the root system of my oak tree and I had pictures and the date in my cell phone.  Yes I knew what date it was. 

Long session on hold.  They had no record of it. Could I go read the meter and tell them what it said?

Sorry, I'm at work and can't go read the meter. But the usage was about nine times what I used the past two years, and that I had the bills in front of me documenting that.  Didn't that throw up any red flags?  Really the house would literally have to be on fire and fueled by natural gas to use that much. 

Well yes it was odd.  Let me check.  Another long session on hold.  The verdict.  Well, we'll have forward this to a couple of departments and we're going to put your account on hold for the next two months.  After we figure this out, we'll probably be adjusting your bill.

Idiots, the gas company is staffed by idiots.  And they have no clue about customer service.

I'm not holding my breath

Almost Finished

Pasta and meatballs casserole for dinner tonight. It took an hour to bake and in all honesty it was really longer than I wanted to wait. I did find a recipe for country style ribs in the slow cooker in a magazine at work.  Silly me I forgot to write it down. So that may be Friday night's dinner. 

I did get the book finished.  Robin's sweater has all the pieces attached together.  Two long seams up the sides and she can try it on.  Most likely by this time next week it should be done.  Yes!!!   And I really need to take pictures.

Time to think about something for me.


Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Brrr....

Chilly morning, chilly day.  At least I didn't sleep through the alarms this morning like I did yesterday.  And I can tell that the days are getting longer because the sun is still above the horizon when I leave work a little after five.  Hurray spring is coming it just doesn't feel like it.

Right now I'm torn between wanting to finish a book and needing to finish a sweater.  Unfortunately the sweater is at the point where I have to watch my hands so reading at the same time is out.  sigh...

I really feel like cooking something warm and hearty this week, but nothing I want to eat will cook up quickly.  Who wants to wait until 8 pm to eat dinner after working all day.  I have country style ribs thawing in the fridge.  I also have the fixings for Moors and Christians on the counter.  Something tells me I should be looking for slow cooker recipes.  But not tonight.

Monday, January 2, 2012

Sweet

These are blooming in my bedroom and they perfume the entire second floor.  I've been having a lot of success with paperwhites this year.  These stand less than 24" tall and are not at all floppy like forced bulbs can be in the winter.  According to the experts this is because I managed to find a sunny but cooler location to grow them.  I had another pot that I planted in October and grew in the dining room.  They got more than 36" tall and fell over.  There's about a 2 - 3 degree difference in temperature between the two floors.  The first floor is warmer.
I'm betting this one opens completely tomorrow.  Gotta love forced bulbs, they bring spring into the house and make the grey skies less annoying.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Happy New Year

New sign for the studio door.  That says is all.  Ha.

Hope you had a wonderful celebration, and that your favorite teams won.

Happy New Year.

Day 365 - 11 for 11

Well we made our year of 11 for 11.  I spent this last day trying to finish both the NZ sweater and the kimono.  Right now the kimono needs the completed pieces assembled and possibly tried on before I decide how to complete the neckband.  I'm putting it together on the machine and didn't remember that it would be easier to do if I centered the sleeve on the bed first and then the body.  Working on that again.

The NZ sweater is through the shaping on the back yoke.  About another twelve rows and it will be ready for assembly.  I'm concerned that there is enough yarn to knit the edging, but again once it is tried on some decisions can be made.

Looking back at the year what do I have for my 11 minutes a day.  Two Dale of Norway ski sweaters, Nagano and Whistler.  Whistler still needs assembled and some hand work.  Three scarves, five hats, one cowl, two pairs of mittens and two pairs of fingerless mitts, two shawls, a Lopi cardigan, Shaun the Sheep and a ring bearer pillow.  Two NZ sweaters were started but are unfinished, as are a beret, the kimono and a pair of mittens.  Several UFO's were completed, a coat, at least one pair of socks and my oldest UFO, a silk sweater.  So I have a lot to show for the time.

How did you do?