August 14, 2013: Something good thing happen to you! Eventually.

My girlfriend, Akemi, is a firm believer in cosmic balance.  Basically, it holds that if you run into a spate of bad luck, then a run of good luck should be just around the corner (and vice-versa).  Maybe, but this philosophy begs two big questions: 1. How do you know when that bad luck series has run its course? and 2. How far away is that corner?

So, as many of you blog regulars know, I ran into a spot of trouble yesterday.  Actually, several spots of trouble in the form of ominous water stains that suddenly appeared on the ceilings of two floors of my home.  I assumed it was a plumbing issue but the plumber who came over to investigate informed me it was actually an air conditioner issue.  I wondered aloud what the next step should be and he effectively shrugged his shoulders and answered: “Beats me.  I’m a plumber.”

I made an appointment for an AC expert to swing by the next day and put it out of my head.  UNTIL – the water stain started to spread. Clearly, I would have to go up into the attic crawlspace and deal with the leak myself.

This is not me. This is actually a still from the movie Ju-on.

I mean, the plumber said it was the air conditioner but who knows what was actually causing the problem.  A few other possibilities for the source of the mysterious moisture instantly came to mind:

At the top of the list: Evil Spirit Urine!

Well, something had to be done – but it wouldn’t be easy.  The attic crawlspace is only accessible through a small, narrow opening in the ceiling located in a tiny closet.  In order to get up, I would have to climb up onto the top of the ladder, then step up onto the shelving unit (hoping it would support my 165 lbs…of pure muscle), then hoist myself up and in.  The bigger problem would be getting down (I could just imagine having that shelving unit collapse under my weight).  Or worse!  Getting stuck up there and waiting to be rescued…

I was preparing to make my way up the ladder when Akemi started to argue that it would be a better idea if she went up.  After all, she was significantly lighter.  We debated, decided to rock, papers, scissors for it (best two out of three, natch) and, then next thing I knew, she was heading up the ladder.

“Just look around,”I said.  ”And be careful.”

“Sure!”she said sunnily and disappeared into the shadows.  I waited.  A few seconds later, she called down: “It’s hard to see!”

“Use the flashlight!”

“I am, but the floor is covered…with THIS!”

I looked up as her hand shot out of the opening clutching a fistful of pink fiberglass.

“Don’t touch that!”I said, instantly regretting my decision to go paper over rock.  ”Come down.”

“No,”she said, defiant.  I could hear her walking around.  And then…nothing.  I waited.  ”Hello?”

“I don’t see anything!”she called.  ”Can you tap on the spot so I know I’m close.”

“Oh, you’re close!”I yelled, my certitude based on the fact that, in an instant, that pesky water stain had transformed from this:

To THIS:

“Time to come down!”I yelled.  Preferably, the way she went up and not through the ceiling.

Akemi came down and we called it a night.  ”Something good thing happen to you!”she insisted.  Presumably once we’d put this whole mess behind us.

Things should have turned around today but, alas, I’m still on the other side of the cosmic ledger.

First, the Balkan House restaurant I wanted to go to for lunch today was closed.  It’s actually closed for the entire month of August.  I found this out NOT by reading an update on the restaurant’s website (because there WAS no update on the restaurant’s website) but by driving all the way down to Burnaby, parking, walking up to the place and reading the news on the sign posted on the front door.

Then, I returned home to discover some significant damage to the sidewall of my front right tire that will require immediate attention. First thing tomorrow morning because…

This afternoon, I’ve got someone up in my roof dealing with the AC problem.  Then, on Friday, someone is going to come by to take a look at addressing this:

And once that’s done…dare I say it?….Something good thing will happen to me!