I hate being a wuss.

[[deleted user]]

I just talked on the phone to my landlord about how inefficient my house is to heat. It's a problem that has been going on for years. I totally cried! I hate that. It's embarrassing. I'm 32. It's just so depressing. He's telling me about a thermometer on a timer and I'm like WHAT THE FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and I have to explain that our oil guy says our tank should last two months and it's only lasting one month and he's like, "Hmmm. Interesting." He said he would come by tomorrow and see what he can figure out and I said, "Well, we don't have any oil," and he said that I should never let the oil run out because it's bad for the system. WELL FUCK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

But why can't I get irritated and snap at him or something? Why do I cry?!!! I hate it!

Now I feel like punching someone in the face. As long as it won't make them cry, because I made my sister cry today and that's enough.

[Reads with Scotch]

It really isn't good to let a heating oil system run dry, air in the lines condensation, freezing... yeah not good. But in your defense his attitude about the whole thing seems really poor. When he comes over tomorrow, I would kick him in the junk. Perhaps twice.

[Amanda]

Poor Sarah. This sucks!

[[deleted user]]

Nick, I know. The thing is, last year I didn't even get oil. I tried to tough it out with space heaters. I'm still paying for the gigantic electric bill that got divided up and tacked on to each month's bill. And with the space heaters, it's never warm except for right around the space heaters.

[Jackie "the Librarian"]

I have the same problem, too, Sarah. Whenever I'm feeling upset and passionate about something, I tend to cry instead of yell. I cried during my last job interview.
It drives me crazy! I don't WANT to be a wuss, but it seems to be the way I'm wired.

[[deleted user]]

I think I just need some nutrition and sleep. I just remembered that I haven't eaten since breakfast. Then I can kick someone's ass because I'll be strong.

I'm glad I'm not the only one, Jackie. I also get heat rashes when I'm stressed out.

[Natasha]

crying can be a good release. other times you just need to suck it up, shift into bitch mode, and let these fools know what the deal is and what their punk asses need to do about it!

according to your reaction, you do have some anger in you! now you just gotta let it out a little sooner. a suckerpunch feels way better than tears. not that i'm a proponent of violence...well, excessive violence.

remember: if you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything. a bit melodramatic but you get my point.
g'luck :)

[Amanda]

Natasha, that was so nice!
I'd like to see Sarah suckerpunch somebody!!!

[Reads with Scotch]

so did you kick him in the junk....?

[Tracy]

can you email your landlord? my place lets us send maintenance requests and/or angry messages via email, thus negating the risk of breaking down in tears when there's an especially annoying/infuriating issue to be tackled (like the recent 4 days of no hot water, for instance).

[Reads with Scotch]

don't they have slum lord laws on the west coast?

[[deleted user]]

Well, he came and did some stuff. I have to buy oil to see if it worked. Crossing my fingers!

[Reads with Scotch]

well, just be happy you don't live in Alaska, last time I was home heating oil was still 4.75/gl There are people up here that pay two mortgage payment during the winter. A friend of mine spend 1,100/mo on heating oil last winter.

[Reads with Scotch]

yes, I have been looking into supplementing my heating with an exterior wood burning furnace. I don't expect the wife to go out and stoke it all the time, I would do it when home. We put in a wood burning stove the year before last and that reduced out heating cost by about 19% SO I figure a wood burning furnace should cut that down considerably (when I am home)

[Reads with Scotch]

The kick in the ass is, I have a 5 star house and we still spend 400 something a month in heating oil. But we don't have options up here, no natural gas or anything like that. I find that really upsetting, being that we supply he west coast with natural gas...

[Reads with Scotch]

any word on them?
People happy with them
work well
efficiant
all that jaz?

[Reads with Scotch]

A wood burning stove would be perfect for your arrangement. I also suggest hot on demand water heaters. That is something that also saves a lot of cash. it is expensive to keep water hot.

[Reads with Scotch]

:( have you looked into edenpure(SP) IR heating? no heating elements, it sends out "waves" that heat objects in the room. No heating element means cheap operation. I don't think they would get your place into the 80's but it would reduce the load on your current heating.

[[deleted user]]

Or here's another plan...

Look man, you just grab a couple of those stray cats in your neighborhood...I'm not suggesting anything but let's just say you might be surprised by:

The fuel conversion capacity of the average american housecat, how long it will take before the neighbors begin to suspect, and the looks of admiration and respect that you will garner when you inform passerby of your new nickname "firepussy". (<---imagine bold glaming typeface here)