So, this has how the past week has gone. T got a cold Saturday past. Sunday she was feeling pretty crappy. Monday, we're just chilling watching a little TV. The lights are doing a little flickering, but no big deal. Then, we hear a "cheep cheep." Sounds like the smoke detector, so I go upstairs just to check.

I smell something funny, so I start sniffing around. I head back to the bedroom, and the smell is a lot worse, and I see white smoke in the bedroom. I yell down to T that she needs to get upstairs. The smoke is getting thicker, and I think it's coming from one of the outlets. I pull the clock cord out, which disintegrates in my hand.

At that point I decide 911 needs to be called. I call them and inform them that we may have an electrical fire at the house. T is trying to find the cats to get them out of the house. we can't find two of them, and one is hiding under the bed in the smoke filled room. We finally get her out from under the bed and into a carrier. The other two are nowhere to be found. So, we get out of the house.

Next thing we know 4 firetrucks, 2 response vehicles, and 3 police cars are in front of the house.Wow! Everyone got there in like less than 3 minutes. --Don't begrudge a penny I've donated to the police and firefighters over the years -- They go in to see what's up.

After a few minutes, they come out and say they've found the source. Turns out that an older surge protector had failed and began melting down. No damage in the outlet, so doesn't appear to be any electrical damage. The floor was stained where the surge protector was. Luckily that cleaned up with some Windex and elbow grease.

Tuesday morn T turns on the AC, and the lights are flickering every few minutes. So, we turn it off. We call an electrician to come check things out, just in case. They sent someone over, and the outlet where the surge protector was plugged in seems fine. He double checks a few other things, and all looks good. He doesn't do AC, but he says that proper voltage is going there. He also swaps out a few outlets for grounded plugs (we had an adapter on the surge protector). So now we're comfortable that all of the wiring is good.

Wed, someone comes to look at the AC. Turns out the compressor is frozen. To replace the compressor --> @ $3600. UGH!!! So, if we need to layout that kind of money, we might as well get the whole system replaced. The outside unit is about 10 years old, and the air handler is about 25.

Also on Wed, I get a sore throat - thanks T - NOT!

Thursday, my head is killing me, throat is sore, and my head is pounding due to all of the congestion. We get the last bid finally. So, we then need to balance how long to wait before work can be done, cost, and ratings from Angie's List and BBB.

So, it's going to be $5800 to have the AC replaced and the work is going to be done this coming Thursday. Luckily a cold front has pushed through. On Thursday it was 86 in the house. Wed it's supposed to be that hot again - blah. Most of us did alright, but poor Willow does NOT do well in the heat. once the house got up above 80, she got really lethargic. She didn't want to eat, and she wouldn't play or purr at all

We now have windows open trying to keep the house cool, and we have sheets and blankets over the windows to block out as much sun as possible. Seems to be helping, but Tues and Wed will be the real test - 80+

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