It’s a winter battle that’s as predictable as another tweet from you-know-who. And it has nothing whatever to do with politics. And thank goodness for that.
It involves PG&E. It’s a struggle over the thermostat. How warm will our house be kept during these long, cold days and nights? It’s a problem.
With the utility company greatly stressed by huge financial challenges and on course to raise its rates on a regular basis, the question of electricity and natural gas costs becomes more relevant.
The marital discord caused by this situation is an annual event that shows no signs of easing off. In fact, it’s getting worse.
One side (mine) prefers to trim back electrical usage and heat if possible. The other side (hers) isn’t quite as particular.
The thermostat, located on a wall in the living room, is ground zero for trouble. Confrontations are routine.
She will tip-toe up to the thermostat and goose the temperature up a notch or two. Once the result becomes obvious, yours truly will sidle up to the device and casually reverse her effort. It’s a delicate dance.
Nothing goes unnoticed. An extra light here, a pointless murmuring radio there, an unused but glowing computer — all get the same treatment: Off.
Maneuvering through this domestic minefield can be tricky, if not downright dangerous. You can’t allow a power dispute to get out of control.
So compromises are necessary; an extra degree of heat, perhaps, or a reduction in holiday lighting can make a difference when it comes to marital harmony.
But household activity tends to come to a halt when the monthly PG&E bill arrives. Opening the envelope is typically painful from November through March. Howls of pain and anguish can be heard throughout the neighborhood.
Usually, it’s that wintertime natural gas tab that really hits home with a vengeance.
But there is always hope for better times. Until then, it’s a question of “Watt the heck is going on?”
Addendum: Our average monthly electricity bill does not justify a move to a solar energy setup; such a decision, at least so far, does not make financial sense. But it remains a consideration if PG&E continues to jack up rates as it is predicted to do.
Nuts for Candy
As the consumer sales environment increasingly relies on online business and local land values escalate, it’s no wonder long-time Peninsula establishments are disappearing.
So it’s a true tonic to point out the 25th anniversary of Nuts for Candy, a sweets shop located on Broadway in Burlingame, that town’s smaller, secondary retail district.
The outlet observed its quarter-century milestone late last month. Kudos all around.
Dust to dust
On a more depressing note, does anyone else wonder why cremation operations tend to send out their rather morbid advertising blurbs during the holiday season?
Somehow, the idea of sitting down to a free pre-Christmas lunch to listen to a pitch for their services is less than a jolly ho-ho-ho. But, hey, that’s just me.
If you cotton to the notion of soup, salad and salmon served up with a heaping helping of details about attractive urn options, go for it.
John Horgan’s column appears weekly in the Mercury News. You can contact him by email at johnhorganmedia@gmail.com or by regular mail at P.O. Box 117083, Burlingame, CA 94011.