26/365 It's C-c-c-cold IN here!

Apparently, thanks to rolling power outages in Western Texas, our gas lines went out. (Yeah, I don't really get it either).  So, starting Thursday, February 4th, we had no gas and therefore, no heat.  I have a wonderful friend with an electric fireplace (we use to think that was silly.  not so much now.) who let me and the kids stay at their house over night.  Friday came and still no gas for us (my friends house got gas back).  So we stayed another night.

All this time, Jason is staying at our house with Benny and Sugar (another dog we were caring for).  The gas company had made it quite clear that, if you weren't home when they came, they couldn't turn your gas back on.  We didn't want to take any chances so Jason never left.

Saturday came along and still no visit from the gas company.  Friend after friend would announce that their heat was back, but not us.  Finally, Saturday evening Jason turned the gas back on himself.  "Wahoo" you say?  Not so much.

The furnace won't turn on.

Since we were able to use our fireplace, the kids and I decided to tough it out at home.

Friends came over Saturday night to look at the furnace.  Friends came over Sunday afternoon to look at it. (We at least had use of our fireplace by this time).  Finally, Monday I called a local contractor to come look at it.  He checks over everything and concludes that a part needs to be replaced.  Just our luck, no one in all of Alamogordo has the part that is needed.  So, Monday ends with no working furnace.  Tuesday comes and goes with no call from the contractor.  Wednesday, I decided I had given him enough time and called.  HVAC guy arrives at 4:30 (20 minutes before I'm about to leave the house), with the needed part and promptly fixes our furnace.

2 nights with no heat at all.  6 nights with no furnace.  Night 7, our heat is back on and what happens?  Jackson wakes up at 4am complaining that he's cold. :/

We did see it get down to 51, but I wasn't really thinking about taking photos at that time,