How Many . . .

. . . professionals does it take to fix a not functioning air conditioner?

A: Apparently 3. Or, if you look at it another way, just one, if you know who to call the first time.

Last week (2 Shabbosos ago), our AC stopped working. This was a bad week for it to happen, 'cuz we had 90 degree weather just about every day. On Sun., Yosef checked outside and saw that the AC fan was not going at all. So he called our HVAC ppl. They made us an appt for Wed. B"H, Yosef was able to borrow a window unit, so we had a little bit of cool air circulating (in the dining room, anyway).

The boys chose to sleep in the basement since it was cooler there. (Funny thing -- they are still sleeping down there even though the AC is working. And after we spent all that money on a bunk bed, too!) The rest of us (excluding Shmuly who also had sleeping quarters in the basement), just slept in the sweltering humidity of the upper level.

Finally, Wed. came, and so did the HVAC guy. Unfortunately he couldn't fix the problem. For $99 he told us we need an electric guy -- the AC unit wasn't getting any power. So we called in the electrician. He said he couldn't come till Fri. Friday brought the electrician. For $100 he told us that he can't fix it -- it's a problem that the local electric company (BGE) would have to take care of. So, Yosef called in the BGE guy. B"H, he came the same day, fixed the problem, and didn't charge us anything for it!