Everything Needs Oxygen
February 2, 2011
Dear Louie,
A note from the north, way up north!! This a.m. arose at 6 a.m., the temp was 62 degrees fahrenheit, and the wind continued to blow. Four foot drifts were present in the front, the wind continued to blow! There was no ice in the toilet bowl, but the bathroom, the hall, and the kitchen were cold. No noise from the basement. Checked the thermostat, 62 on thermometer, setting on the stat was 72. Intermittent clicking from the basement.
Checked the fuses - the breakers were intact. Opened the furnace cowling, looked good, the sign for the annual checkup was still in the inside cabinet. Turned it on and off, click, click, what the hell. No response. Looked out the kitchen window and found a drift 6 feet in the corner of the garage, house angle, just over the intake of air for the high efficiency furnace. Called the furnace man and after ten minutes on hold, listening to the "Wm.Tell Overture" a voice of the responder questioned "why the call?” He only took orders for service, gave no advice, so I asked to be called at eight this morning.
During the wait, I thought through the problem and came to the conclusion that the snow bank in the corner of the garage, house was probably caused "anoxia" to the intake and all I had to do was shovel off the drift. This proved to be true. I shoved out the plastic "breather tube" opened the intake and outflow pipes, went back into the house, activated the system and "what do you know - the furnace kicked in and heat commenced." I turned in a bill: House call $85; Clearing obstruction $50; Shoveling $15 = total of $150. Submitted it to the land holder/occupant's wife and listened "Well how was I to know"--don't you think she should have shoveled last night? After all, older gentlemen should not shovel snow, and her Pacer is working well. Sometimes we, men, are not shown Respect.
Anyhow it is now getting warm.
Yesterday, a friend, a large man; 6'4", 275 pounds, with a history of two stents, shoveled his drive, came in the house, collapsed and arrested. He was defibrillated, but had brain damage and was transferred to the new hospital of Aurora in Germantown, for brain salvage with temperature reduction, steroid infusion, prayer and bedside candles. Oh yes, ongoing sedation and chill cooling. I will watch and hope for recovery, but have great doubt. The mechanism of sudden death is ventricular fibrillation, and no cranial flow for over three minutes, so the treatment is recognition, 911 call and rapid constant chest compressions. I thought of all those features while clearing the intake furnace tubes, coughed a few times-- this should increase coronary flow during exertion, and because you are getting this message, I guess it worked.
And so that is how it is in the City of pure whiteness, blowing snow, and obstructed air intakes, this morning.
Keep warm and keep the Faith, no one knows when we will join George of the recent coronary club fellowship.
Jim