A cold mess . . .

We've been through this once already.

The battle over apartment air temperature begins anew with the changing seasons.

My husband and I don't fight about many things.  On occasion, we disagree about things like where we're going to sit in church, the appropriate position of the dish washing sponge in the sink, which dishes are hand dried and which dishes can be air dried, the arrangement of the food in the refrigerator, and redecorating our apartment.

However, we FIGHT about temperature.  Throughout the winter, I have survived in near frigid conditions.  Our thermostat is set at 66 degrees.  He'd probably set it at 64 if I let him.  When we have parties, I make sure to turn up the heat two hours prior so that our guests don't have to borrow sweatshirts and blankets.  Our fireplace has helped but it is near the thermostat.  The rest of the house will freeze if we use the fireplace too much.  Alas, I have learned to dress in layers when going outside -- and when I'm indoors, as well.  My parents are not stingy with the heat or the air conditioning.  They were shocked when they heard that we don't keep our home temperature above 68 degrees.  (side note: this is a massive understatement.  An indoor air temperature of 66 degrees during a Chicago winter is akin to spousal abuse in their eyes . . . . just kidding-ish).  I suppose that it is easier to manage heating and cooling when you're in a more temperate environment.  Ahhhh the South . . .

So all of this temperature turmoil was precipitated by a conversation we had one morning last week when I was preparing to leave for work and he was arriving home from the night shift.

Me: It's warm outside.

Him:  Yeah! I turned the heat off. Did you notice? <smiles devilishly>

Me:  Yes. I was so comfortable that I didn't even notice.  Look, I'm not even wearing house shoes!  <teeth chattering grin/grimace of triumph>

That's when I knew that the battle was back ON.

His domination over our air temperature started last summer when we moved into this apartment.  It has very high ceilings and is a little draftier than our old apartment.  Rewind to one of the warmer summers I can remember since moving to Chicago.

Me:  It's so hot in here! You have to turn on the air -- we're having people over!

Him:  I bet that you'll complain that it's too cold in here in the winter. You are never the right temperature! (while he's right . . . )

Me:  No, I bet you money I won't complain about being cold.  I'll never be able to cool off again after being this HOT!

FF to Snomaggedon 2011 in Chicago: I came home and the temperature was set to 68.  It must be really cold for that to happen.

FF to this week:  The heat is off once again, ladies and gentlemen.

Now that spring is coming . . . I'd better prepare for battle round 2 . . .

I guess that there are worse things to fight about than temperature.