no hay insulation

There are moments when I believe that I am sane. These brief instances of a level road and even temper are always vanquished when my mania reinforces itself. The latest: my predisposition for selecting apartments without air conditioning and/or insulation.

I adore older buildings. Really! This particular structure at present is thankfully without aesbestos. No artificial fillers can be found in the walls or floors, which should be great! Well... it also means that there is no insulation. End result= an icey winter indoors. The floors, people! Around 4PM, when the sun begins to hide a bit in the surrounding hills, the apartment begins its descent into the polar zone. Last night, for example, my bare feet made contact with the rug beside my bed and went numb. My girlfriend mel cannot afford heat, so this winter she and her roommate are sleeping under five blankets apiece and wearing hats indoors. Well, just call me Laura Ingalls because I now sleep in a cap. One could see this action as at once humorous and ridiculous. But I love older buildings! Honestly.

My place in A'ville had one radiator on the opposite side of the room (read: a one-room efficiency), which during Christmas 2001 I placed my sister within a foot of to sleep when the temperature plunged to 10 degrees. Nevermind that she could have reached out and probably opened the refrigerator from where she was resting. It was... an adventure... that my visiting parents rode out in a nearby hotel.

The first singles apartment was half an old bungalow, containing two unfunctional fireplaces and a handful of tinkling radiators. I love a radiator. They hiss and purr through the cold nights. The linen closet where I placed my bed had its own window and radiator. During the blizzards and ice storms I nestled in there, wearing the best ensemble you never want people to see you in. The old flannel robe. The threadbare flannel pants. Bright pink socks over purple socks. Two aged shirts that should've been rags to clean the windows with. Another girlfriend stayed in this particular apartment over Christmas and swears that she lost 5 pounds from the battle to stay warm.

You would think that I would learn. Or get a space heater, which would blow the fuses and send every cold, grumpy person in my building to my door with a heavy fisted knock.