Training on Hold "Going Green"

Well here I am three weeks till the Tri event, Yet my training has stopped in its tracks.

For Good reason though. First We had to undergo an energy audit for the solar project to proceed forward. This was a good thing because it forced me to clean out the attic crawl space of the 20 years of boxes that found their way up there.

So naturally with the help of Steve and the kids we clear out the mess moving boxes to the basement and studio upstairs.

Ah, But who could have known that the insurance company we are listed with has property inspection? The ruling after every nook and cranny was inspected was that we have too many combustibles in the basement. Well of course we do, Steve is a wood worker with a wood shop, the man saves every piece of wood he touches. I am a basket maker and have tons of dried reed and basketry materials. Then there are the boxes for saving all the children's toys, books, legos, Brio,American Doll collection......

You get it, I never throw anything out.

So now we have the task of clearing out the basement... the local church thrift stores are excited with my loads of loot and the "Hope Chest" is happy to turn my treasures into cash.

No sooner had we cleared our basement when we noticed bellowing smoke coming from our chimney last Sunday morning.

"Fire in the basement" I yelled to Steve as my keen eye spotted the large plumes smoke. I ran into the house, flicking the oil burner switch "Off" expecting smoke to envelope me as I opened up the basement door. No smoke at the door.

Ok, this is a good sign. As I run downstairs I now have a vision of flames shooting out of the Oil burner. No flames, phew, but wait, What is all this rusty oil on my basement floor? My heart sinks as the gulf crude oil slick has found it's way into my house, "No way" I yell this sucks. Steven, who is right at my heals says"No it's water" It actually is rusty water leaking form the furnace.

Relief, calmness slowly coming back, heart rate lowering. Thank goodness it was not oil spewing it's disgusting ooze and stench into my house.

Now is the question can this be fixed or do we need a new oil burner system???