Although I was here for the 60s, I dont know what things were like here in 1970 and for the next decade when the words paranoia and suspicion were included in many peoples vocabulary and became a mind-set but for me, it wasnt paranoia; it was suspicion. Once I got to St. Olaf (private joke), better known as California, I discovered the word paranoia and learned the word suspicion. Not that I felt it as much as many of the people I hung with, but I knew what they meant. The gas men were just here ... and that ol evil suspicion surfaced. I told THEM why I felt it, lol, and added Nothing personal. Now please remember that you have a scroll wheel to pass this post, lol, b/c yep, every once in a while I write a book ... Before leaving the higher-cost-of-living state to return to PA in 1991, we lived in a place that was just outside of Palm Springs, so not out in the toolies. My electric/trash/street light all-on-one-bill total monthly never got above $80 a month. Where I live now I do well to keep my electric bill, season dependent, between $75 and $120 which I feel is pretty good, especially 25 years later. Anyhow, back to my story ... the boys and I moved into a wonderful home on Old Pittsburgh Road out past Slippery Rock Church. Having lived with people around us and right next door for so many years, I was terribly afraid and felt isolated having my closest neighbor living like from my present house to the other side of the second bridge away. Now THATS strange to most b/c in reality, thats close for country, but not close enough for me. We lived there for about a year and a half, but actually stayed with my Mom. The only things that ran electrically at the house were 2 night lights, a fridge, a (foreign to me) sump pump, and Id do ours and Moms laundry b/c we had city water AND it gave the house the appearance of being inhabited since the U-Haul of all our stuff had been deposited there. My first electric bill was almost $150 through PP. I went to their office and questioned it. They asked if my fridge was self-defrost. I said yes and they said there was the money eater. Huh?!? I said 75-80% of every week was spent somewhere else with only running the things Id mentioned above. NO microwave plugged in, no appliances plugged in but what Id said. When the second months bill came in even higher, I visited their office again and got the same response. Heck, with us all practically living at Moms which added to HER PP bill, and the AC running at her house for 2 summers, her bill was a heck of a lot less than mine. I visited LaGrottas office when the bull dozing third bill came. His office pushed PP to come out and check things and it turned out there was some problem with the meter and things came down to a normal low, dont-live-here amount. In late 92 I bought the house we live in now. It had no insulation and I was warned the gas bills were high. I had it insulated, an outside and inside basement door installed, several windows replaced, and the walls in the basement sealed ... ah yes, more affluent times. So I sucked up and paid the first gas bill that was mine and expected to see a BIG improvement on the next bill after having all the work done. The second bill was around $250 as it was winter. I was shocked. Yep, I went to Columbia Gas and asked how that could be. They said they were going on the history of the house. But wait a minute! I own it now and I should be making my own history! I paid it. When the third bill came being a little higher, I went back to the company and explained again what improvements had been done. The response was that there was something wrong with the diaphragm in my meter apparently and someone would be there to correct it. Ok! Now were cookin!! BUT I should also keep in mind the history of the house. Next day, several days into new bill, problem corrected. I could not WAIT till I got Marchs bill! Let me say I almost had to sell a right arm if I was gonna pay THAT one ... HIGHER ... SO! I called gas company again, told them what was what; a man came out and changed diaphragm again and explained to me that I had to pay the history for the house. he discovered a problem with the WHOLE meter, but he was ordered to only replace the diaphragm. Another trip to LaGrottas office and another success AND a refund of hundreds from the gas company! Finally my OWN history and a normal bill from then on! Ive FINALLY made it to today! The gas company has been doing extensive work in our little burg. I hear two male voices outside my window by the gas meter and OF COURSE I go out to see whats going on. One guy is just hooking up a gauge to check the pressure of the gas line. He said b/c of area work, they were checking all the locals lines. Ok. They ask me to turn up the thermostat to check pressure of the line while the furnace is running. I said it had just turned off but sure, gimme a minute. I turn the thermostat up and no ignition. I tell them that though it had been running several minutes before they were there, the pilot must be out, gimme another couple minutes to get it on. I hold the button, light the pilot, hold the button, good. Release the button, no flame. AW jeez! Second time, same result. Third and fourth times, very little gas coming through to BARELY make a flame. The fifth time was a success. SO I go back outside and they tell me the lack of gas had nothing to do with them. Ok, thats fine. But guess what? Theres something wrong with the meter. I was very nice of course b/c they are just doing their job but you bet I related my gas story to them. So, someone will be here to replace parts ... and that ol suspicion reared its ugly head. It got me to thinking about the smart electric meters NBC news had reported about on 1/10/2012 ... I may look like youre normal ol lady, but if you ask some of my friends theyll tell you lovingly that Im a goofball. THOSE are my friends. But I have always been extremely interested in law and researching things and government. And I do believe in conspiracies and Big Brother HAS made his presence known and many people ARE being screwed in these days. Knowing these things about me, if you alREADY know me, doesnt and shouldnt make you look at me weird or talk behind may back. We ALL have our little idiosyncrasies; all of us. All this does is explain my apparent suspicion of many things. Oh, yeah, packed away somewhere are the receipts and resolutions of those experiences. Wakey wakey! Its over, done-with. If you made it this far, thanks for reading. Im gonna tuck my suspicious mind under a sheet and take a nap. Have a good day all! :)
Posted on: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 16:34:38 +0000
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