The Potus, Natural Gas and Indoor Plumbing...

This Tuesday, November 24, I was sipping a cup of coffee at the kitchen table of "our condo in the city" when I heard the FM radio newscaster mention that President Obama would be making a trip to Chicago to speak in Jefferson Park. *Gulp*

"Hey, Hon, were you aware that Obama is coming to Jefferson Park this afternoon?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I just heard Whip say that the President will be speaking at the Copernicus Center, this very afternoon, right here in Jefferson Park."

I knew this photo, a block from "our condo" wasn't good, but I was worried that my phone would be confiscated if I kept taking photos. ;)

The Copernicus Center is about 2 city blocks from "our condo." Jefferson Park is a large (if you count square miles) city neighborhood. And the little part of that area, where we sometimes stay is undergoing a bit of infrastructure rebuilding. I'm not exactly sure, but I think the city is widening the sewer capacity here. All I know is they've been working on it for months, tearing up the roadways, replacing underground pipes, repaving, etc. Eastbound traffic on Lawrence Avenue, an exit on the Kennedy Expressway, is and has been closed the entire time. Vehicles that are unaware of this and make the mistake of exiting, wind up driving in circles on the neighborhood side streets trying to find a way out of the narrow one-way streets that sometimes abruptly stop because of the Metra and Canadian Pacific train tracks that bisect certain areas.

The city has, with owners consent, sent videographers to record the interior and exterior of the homes and businesses in the area, because when the work is finally complete, they, (whoever the city has contracted to re-do the sewers) will be dynamiting the area. If you have consented, you will have proof, via video, that your property was damaged as a result of the explosion.

Anyway, it's currently a mess and into this mess here comes the President! If you haven't experienced a Presidential visit to your quiet little neighborhood- well, holy smokes it's quite an event. Hours before he arrives security in the area beefs up, news helicopters sweep in to show an aerial view of where the President will be speaking, secret service vehicles station themselves about (like right in front of our "condo"), barricades block the building where he'll be speaking, local police officers take stations at various corners nearby and throngs of people begin to line the sidewalk outside the building (in this case on a frigid 19 degree fahrenheit evening) hoping to get a glimpse of the Potus. A visit from the Potus is like a visit from royalty. That's what the First Family is like, they're like our own royalty here in the USA. Whether you like them or not they are a big deal.

Now I happen to like President Obama. I think he's doing the best he can with every single Republican politician doing their best to thwart and undermine his every move. But, no matter, I am grateful, I am ever thankful to be an American. We don't always treat each other well, like in Ferguson, Missouri right now, but I still love the U.S. Wasn't I lucky to be born in my favorite country? ;)

***

The next day, on Wednesday, we were at our country home which is in a private community in the middle of nowhere. When the community was being built they were fortunate enough to get ComEd, a major electricity supplier, to agree to outfit the place with underground service. It's so nice, no wires hanging strung from poles all over the place. But, while we had first rate electricity, but were saddled with propane gas, which is stored in tanks outside of each residence. The community's A&E (I think it stands for "architecture and esthetics" or maybe it's "… and environment") committee dictates that we must cover the unsightly tanks with lattice or else we must have them buried in the ground.

A couple of years ago a resident genius of our community (his name is Mike) came up with the idea of checking the viability of having natural gas supplied to our community. It took many a meeting and negotiation, the approval of the Illinois Commerce Commission, approval from the local gas purveyor- Jo-Carroll Energy- who decided they weren't interested in us, finding a company- Nicor Gas- who was interested, more meetings, more negotiations, and finally our association's Board putting a vote to the community before it looked like it was actually going to happen. Just about one year ago today, Nicor broke ground. This Wednesday I turn on my stove to prepare for Thanksgiving to see a lovely blue flame of natural gas. And when I turn the burner or oven off I don't hear the "propane pop." And as far as the cooktop, I love cooking with natural gas. Electric cooktops and propane cooktops just don't equal the control one has with natural gas. I find electric ovens do fine, but propane ovens are not as accurate, overall natural gas is the way to go.

My husband is happy because he no longer has to endure "propane delivery" anxiety, which comes in the winter when the country roads can be snow laden to the point that travel is compromised, we don't get mail, we don't get deliveries. If your tank is empty, the furnace, stove and hot water heater are down. With natural gas we now have a constant supply.

My husband and I are both absolutely delighted to be rid of our unsightly propane tank. We found someone who picked it up, took it away and was willing to pay us $500 for it, to which I sang like Iggy Azalea: 

…understand my life is easy when I ain't around you, 

…and the best thing now is probably for you to exit... 

There's a million you's, baby boy, so don't be dumb
I got 99 problems, but you won't be one- like what? 

I got one less problem without ya,
I got one less, one less problem

I am thankful today for my Nicor-supplied natural gas.

Anxiety induced winter propane fuel check.

***

I know I've mentioned before that while I don't watch much daytime or primetime television, in the middle of the night, when sleep escapes me, I will turn on the TV and seek asylum. One show I watch is "Buying Alaska"- the last frontier...

There’s no place on earth like Alaska, and there’s nothing like trying to live there… From the bare necessities, to actual bears, to breathtaking frontier vistas that make it all worthwhile, living in Alaska is a challenge unlike any other.

Well, apparently they don't know that you can find such challenges out here in the country or right in the heart of the city, without hardly trying...

The thing I take away from repeatedly watching this program is that the number one benefit of being born when I was is: INDOOR PLUMBING.

Yes, there is no doubt, I am thankful for indoor plumbing.

Here is a photo of our new "night-light" toilet seat from Kohler (Kohler is in my home state of Wisconsin). The seat features charcoal filtration, LED lighting, a soft-close lid and automatic air freshener. Much better than an outhouse in bear country, right?

***

Of course, my priorities always lie with good family time, the gift for which I am most grateful this Thanksgiving and any other day of the year, for that matter.

But, if I were to think beyond my husband, my children, my children-in-law, and my grandchildren... I guess today I’m thankful for a country that lets me have a say in my government, my access to natural gas after a couple of years without, and always, always for a lifetime with indoor plumbing.

Happy Thanksgiving!