My garage door opener is acting up. As is my coffee machine. As is my bathroom light. I wonder if they are on the same circuit? Unlikely.
Yesterday I couldn’t get my garage door to open. My front door has a deadbolt lock and an extra security bolt that is always, always engaged. For security. But when the garage door won’t open, and one needs to enter the house, what can one do? There is the third bay for which I actually have a key, but Gadget’s got it so jam packed full of crap that there is absolutely no way to enter. Hopefully he’ll clear that out soon enough, but for now, it’s of no help. I might also mention that the electrical panel is on the far wall of that bay, so there will be no repairing of faulty light switches for the time being.
We have a fenced back with locked access gates. Luckily, the lock was not engaged, so I was able to make it to the back yard and begin scoping the windows in hopes that I’d left one unlocked and unbarred. We have wood blocks in the window tracks as an added security measure. All this security. The stars must have been in alignment, because there was, in fact, an unlocked and unblocked window. Granted, I destroyed the window screen in my zeal. Okay, two window screens. I was thrilled to get in, but also felt vulnerable, wondering how long that window had been left in that state. I immediately locked it, then went to investigate the garage door situation. The main controller worked perfectly (opened the door), so what did I do? I went outside and tried the outside controller again. It worked! Yes, it closed the door. But would it open again? No. NO! Did I mention that I had just locked myself out? IDIOT.
I scoped the house again, to no avail. I kept trying the controller, to no avail. I tried the outside wall controller. I tried the remote. I tried the built in car remote. Nothing. I kept pushing buttons, and finally, FINALLY, the door opened. By the grace of God. I immediately unbolted the front door’s security bolt, so that I could let myself in WITH MY KEY, if I should lock myself out again. And commenced troubleshooting the garage door system. Again. I couldn’t get the remotes to work again, after that.
The antenna is clearly visible. The main controller works fine. The sensors are aligned. One might think perhaps the remote is in need of a new battery, but all three? The car remote is integrated with the car itself, and would not be low on power. They should be independent of each other, so that a low battery in one shouldn’t affect them all. What then? I’m at a loss.
And today? So far, it seems to be working normally.
I’m keeping the upper bolt open, though. Just in case.
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Meanwhile. I’m on vacation. I have a week off. Before the week began, the prospect of a week seemed like wealth untold. Now, I have four days left and I feel like it’s over before it began. I’ve been watching TV on DVD, late at night, after the kids are asleep. Mad Men, seasons 1 and 2. Drama. It caught my attention and I enjoyed it. Arrested Development. I’m working on season 2. That one makes me laugh out loud now and then. I can use that!
I took BB to see Avatar at the IMAX, in 3D last week. It was amazing. It was the first time I’d taken him to the thee-AY-doe (theater), and my heart just swelled when I’d see him reaching his hand out into space to try to touch the 3D images. It was such a special treat, to go to the big screen. At least, I wanted it to be a magical thing for him. I know that I would have loved to have had such a treat in my own youth. I actually almost want to go back and see it again, alone, so I can immerse myself in it more, rather than watch my boy watching it. It was amazing, what I did see, but I was distracted, watching him. He did great for a nearly 5 year old. He was fidgety after the first hour, but he behaved himself. I’m proud of him.
This morning I saw Sherlock Holmes with Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law. It was fun. I enjoyed it. I love RDJ, anyway. He’s fun to watch.
I’m thinking about going to see New Moon, before my week is up. I’m feeling a bit movied out, yet may not have a window of opportunity again for quite some time. I’m planning to visit the art museum on Wednesday, and have to take LB in for his second half of his H1N1 shot on Thursday. Friday is New Year’s day, and that’s the end of the week. Over, just like that. I had grand plans of movies, books, window shopping and coffee shops. Maybe I can squeeze something in on Thursday, after the doctor visit.
I’m not very good at relaxing.
