Musings On Amusing: I Can’t Be Creative When I Can’t Feel My Fingers
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A blogumn by Jessica Glassberg
It was September of 2003 when I moved into my current apartment. When the first “chill” of an LA winter crept into my dwelling, (read: it dropped below 70) I called the gas company to ignite my pilot light. I would have done it myself, but I continually had visions of full room combustion and memories of Erica Walters lighting her hair on fire during the candle light ceremony at her Bat Mitzvah…
A lovely gentleman came by and, with minimal chit-chat, lit my fire… not in the Jim Morrison sense, you dirty minds. Now, when I wanted to work on a spec script for this amazing new show, Arrested Development, which I was sure was going to be a hit to go on for many years to come, I wouldn’t have to wear two sweatshirts and wrap myself in multiple fleece blankets… I could just turn on my heater. I don’t like to wear jackets when I write, drive or eat… I’m too restricted. Quirky? Perhaps. But it’s how I operate.
Then, by October, like the torch Cruz Bustamante held for the Governor’s seat during the recall, so too was my pilot light inexplicably extinguished. And so came another call to the gas company, and another visit from a different kind of fireman… one who lights fires…
(Isn’t fireman a more appropriate name for an arsonist… and extinguisherman more appropo for what is currently dubbed a fireman?)
Anyhoo… my pilot light was relit for the last time…
Not because it actually began WORKING… but, because it went out after a few days and I figured there are about 6 weeks of cold here in LA… and as a New Yorker, I can handle it . In reality… since calling Los Angeles my home 7 years ago, my blood has thinned significantly and I cannot in fact handle cold. Although, I can’t really handle heat either…
I actually only have about a 5 degree spectrum of total comfort.
Anyway… so, now, nearing the end of 2008, the cold weather has again paid a visit to SoCal… and I find myself wrapped in flannel PJs, a fleece sweatshirt and down comforter nightly… I can’t operate this way! No, I’m not a medical surgeon, and will not have to perform a literal operation, but I do give life to words when I tear apart and reconstruct a script! I can’t write feeling like the brother in A Christmas Story… I cannot create when I am so confined! Sure… yes, I can call the gas company again… but isn’t it all just a charade? It’s like a bad boyfriend… We start dating, things are going great… he makes me feel good, but after a few days… he leaves me. I’m just not ready for that kind of let down.
I had to write this from my bathroom floor, warming myself by the steam of my now constantly running shower. Now I have a cold apartment and a high water bill… GREAT! Sorry environment… hope it was worth it.
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I definitely need service for my heater…
And Jeff… well, I don't know what to say… I don't know that I'd make a resolution to always keep my windows open… not just for the chill factor… probably more for the noise factor. But glad you made it through, and have realized you wouldn't do it again :)
I definitely need service for my heater…
And Jeff… well, I don't know what to say… I don't know that I'd make a resolution to always keep my windows open… not just for the chill factor… probably more for the noise factor. But glad you made it through, and have realized you wouldn't do it again :)
Word, Jess… during a heat wave last year, I smelled something burning and realized my heater was on for the first time in six years. Had it extinguished and last night was wrapped in several layers of covers/clothes watching new 90210 (don't judge). I'd relight, but I fear my Old School heater might actually kill me. Chris and AJ had the same type and learned it was poisoning them with carbon monoxide.
Word, Jess… during a heat wave last year, I smelled something burning and realized my heater was on for the first time in six years. Had it extinguished and last night was wrapped in several layers of covers/clothes watching new 90210 (don't judge). I'd relight, but I fear my Old School heater might actually kill me. Chris and AJ had the same type and learned it was poisoning them with carbon monoxide.
Well I'm glad that Carbon Monoxide didn't take you down… I can't speak for the new 90210 though ;)
Just waiting for the next heatwave… the AC is something I'm not ashamed to use :)
Well I'm glad that Carbon Monoxide didn't take you down… I can't speak for the new 90210 though ;)
Just waiting for the next heatwave… the AC is something I'm not ashamed to use :)
Ernessa made us get central air and heat last year and as the weather has turned cold I do thank her for it.
What you need is a service for your heater and your landlord should pay for it.
Reminds me of one year when I was living alone in Hollywood, going slightly mad because I'd been single for so long. I decided for my New Year's resolution that I was going to leave my windows open all year long and wasn't going to turn the heat on. Why, you ask? Hard to recreate your mad thinking when you've moved on to (relative, perhaps?) sanity. But I grew up in Michigan and pride myself on my hardiness with cold; though my blood has nevertheless definitely chilled. I think I wanted to regain the hardiness. I also had some idea about getting fresh air, partially dissolving barriers between inside and outside, some idea that it was more "natural." Anyway, I had to bundle up a lot, got cozy in blankets and sweaters. It did get cold for some of that time, too. And mad or not, I actually had fun with it. (Not that I'd do it again, mind you.)
Ernessa made us get central air and heat last year and as the weather has turned cold I do thank her for it.
What you need is a service for your heater and your landlord should pay for it.
Reminds me of one year when I was living alone in Hollywood, going slightly mad because I'd been single for so long. I decided for my New Year's resolution that I was going to leave my windows open all year long and wasn't going to turn the heat on. Why, you ask? Hard to recreate your mad thinking when you've moved on to (relative, perhaps?) sanity. But I grew up in Michigan and pride myself on my hardiness with cold; though my blood has nevertheless definitely chilled. I think I wanted to regain the hardiness. I also had some idea about getting fresh air, partially dissolving barriers between inside and outside, some idea that it was more "natural." Anyway, I had to bundle up a lot, got cozy in blankets and sweaters. It did get cold for some of that time, too. And mad or not, I actually had fun with it. (Not that I'd do it again, mind you.)