Yesterday I felt so relieved and self-satisfied when my simple repair of the furnace fan worked. The temperatures and winds are brutally harsh so I really need the furnace to function and keep us safely warm. This evening with the thermometer reading 25 degrees F. (and falling) the bearings seized on the squirrel cage fan. At 6:30 pm the local auto parts store is closed and I'm beginning to feel very vulnerable.

I rounded up some lubrication, gloves, rags and the big flashlight to see if I could work some magic. The fairy dust seems to be missing from my magic wand.

I slid the whole unit out and it drops off the tracks onto the floor. Oh oh. I figured I'll worry about how I was going to lift it back up into place after I'd given it a good cleaning and lubing. This is when I realized that the bearings are shot (they were so hot I heard sizzling noises when I sprayed them with oil) and the belt is broken. Thankfully it has Napa stamped on it because I have no idea where I'm going to find bearings.

I went upstairs to the kitchen and stood pondering at the sink as I let hot water run over my hands. The temperature outdoors was now 17 degrees F. The dogs were both quietly staring at me. I think I might have been talking out loud to myself. I reassured them (and myself) that we were going to be fine.

I rounded up a couple of space heaters, filled a hot water bottle, closed doors to unused rooms and gathered the three of us into my bedroom for the evening. Now the dogs are snoring and I've made myself a list for tomorrow's parts run (fairy dust included). I'm going to deserve a big reward tomorrow evening when I have this furnace repaired and the house warming. Maybe ice cream with Kahlua.

It's 10 degrees F. I'm going to bed.