Every winter thus far since I have moved to Alaska has consisted of at least one random, mid-winter breakup.
The warm weather is always welcomed. The slush, and mud, and mess and inevitable ice when temperatures return to normal however – I could do without.
Before I went home for Thanksgiving, temperatures around Anchorage were damn near frigid. Dipping below zero far more often than I would choose, and kicking up winds that made the whole thing unbearable.
Upon my return however, temps had made a complete 180. Hanging out in the 30’s and 40’s as though this was normal. As if seeing grass in December is something we should all expect.
I’m here to tell you people – weather is weird.
After 3 prior winters in Alaska though, none of this would have seemed all that weird to me had it not been for the rain that occurred over the weekend. Or rather, what that rain brought with it.
Namely – leaks. Into my beloved condo. By way of my bedroom window.
I’m telling you, that thing was dripping like a sieve. Spilling water across the glass like a river.
My initial reaction was to think that the window was somehow open. Even just a crack. But nope – that wasn’t the case at all. For some reason however, after not incurring a single leak during any of the many summer rainstorms that have occurred during my tenure in this home, this winter storm lead to some for real interior dampness.
It was well after midnight on Saturday when I first heard the tell tale drip-drip. A drip-drip which quickly turned into a drippity-drip-drip-drop. Upon careful examination of the window, I could see it coming in from several locations in the seal. And I panicked. Because it’s winter, and eventually temperatures are going to drop – what would happen to my then very wet window seal when that happened?
Could the freezing destroy the wood?
Shatter the glass?
Further inhibit the windows ability to do its job and keep the elements out?
I still don’t know the answers to these questions. All I really knew then was that I had to keep this water off of my still fairly new carpets.
After a lot of trial and error, I wound up with towels duct taped all around the seal.
It was classy to the nth degree.
But, it got the job done.
Yesterday morning I called my condo association on a whim. I still can’t figure out what would cause the window to start leaking suddenly, but in talking to friends it was postulated that it could have something to do with an ice damn or gutter issues on the roof.
So, I called. And I was informed that several other units had called to report the same issue. They said they would get back to me shortly.
I got a call back this afternoon, and while they are no more sure of what caused the leak than I am (or who will be responsible for repairing whatever damage there may be), they are going to send over the contracting firm they use to look into the situation and repair the seal on my window.
Which is when it hit me.
Would this be the same contracting firm they sent to replace my kitchen when I had that leak last year?
Why yes, yes it would be.
The same one that employs Mr. Fix It, the boy who quite unceremoniously dumped me in bed?
Yep, that would be the place.
Again, panic set in. I haven’t seen him since that whole situation went down, almost a year now this month. On the plus side, I’ve lost almost 15 pounds since then and am feeling pretty good in general about the person looking back at me in the mirror, so that’s always a bonus. On the negative side however, the guy dumped me. In bed. And then turned all inexplicably cold and weird and I kind of made an ass of myself trying to be his friend.
So, that’s awkward.
I still haven’t heard from the contractors at all. I’m assuming they will call wanting to meet me at the unit sometime tomorrow. I can only hope that even if he is asked to be the lead on the call out, he will look at the order and see my name or address and hand it off to someone else.
That’s the most likely scenario here, right?
Still, I have this feeling of impending dread as I wait to see who shows up to fix my window. This voice in the back of my head telling me I really need to be more discriminatory about the guys I date and the circles they run in.
Lest I ever have to see them again for some reason or another.
Note to self: Don’t hook up with a handy man whose services you very well may need to rely upon at some point in the future.
And no, I’m not talking about those services. He can go ahead and keep those to himself thankyouverymuch.
The guy dumped me. In bed. And I haven’t heard from him since.
I have to believe he will not be the one showing up on my doorstep to fix my window.
But if he does, I’m pretending I’m not home and taking this whole window repair situation upon myself.
It can’t be that hard.
Right?
ADSPACE
