I had an epiphany the other day.

And since I don’t get those so very often, I figured I’d better jump on this one before it got away.

These dogs around here really suffer.

At least someone thinks they do.

Last couple of years we’ve tried to make do with a too small window unit in a too big garden shed.

I’m not sure if it was better or worse in there for those dogs.

By summer’s end we practically had to drag them over there, kicking and screaming as it were.

I was doodling around in the garage, messing with wire spools and pieces of wood that I attempted to draw on.

It was the tail end of spring, and I realized this cool weather was soon going to go away for good when I flashed with the idea.

Why not get a window unit, sized correctly this time, for the garage. 

The dogs sleep in there at night, when it is cool enough, that is.

I looked over to my right, and saw the exact spot it would fit in.  Just above the counter and off to the side.  I was sure it wouldn’t take up too much space.

I consulted the big box store websites and when the straws were all down and one drawn, I got ready to make my way over to Sutherlands.

Before I did, though, I told the boys that the next day they should keep one of the trailers in the yard, so they had tools to put this unit in for me.

“What unit?” They asked.

“The one I’m going to get from Sutherlands.”

“What kind is it?”

“One that blows cold air.”

“Is it a window unit?”

“Why not?”

“No way.  You need to go with a split unit.”

“Hardly.  They cost 2,000 bucks.  This one is 700.”

“Doesn’t matter.  You need to go with a split unit.”

“No.  I need airflow, and those don’t have it like I want it.”

I saw the vote they took between themselves, even though they never said anything out loud, and I saw that it fell in favor of a split unit.

But, having made my mind up, and considering it was my money, I got myself on the way to Sutherlands at the next available opportunity.

Those guys were good to me and went about installing my window unit without too much grumbling. 

They did a really neat job too, which is fairly normal for them.

And I soon had myself sitting in front of ice-cold air.  So cold that I finally had to redirect the vents so not so much blew on me.

One day, it was cold enough outside that I tried out the heat function on it and toasted right up in minutes.

As the days grew warmer, I ran it more, and the dogs were delighted.  They even told me so, and I consoled myself that I had done the right thing by them, because they needed that extra air flow and all. 

That A/C, paired with a new fly spray dispenser made it possible for those dogs to spend all day out there in comparative comfort.  But they said they still planned on staying in the house most of the time, just to keep us company.

I heard a noise, one day, that I didn’t like to hear. 

It was the fan kicking up water; I knew what that meant.  The drain for all the condensation had plugged.

Except when I went to unplug the drain, there was no drain that I could see.

So, I crammed a screwdriver in the most likely place, a rubber grommet that let a little water drip out by the screwdriver.

But it wasn’t enough, and the fan continued to kick up water.

I looked through the louvers and saw a place I could drill a little hole to let all that water out.  There were two freon lines that lay right next to where I needed to drill that hole, but it looked like I’d be able to fit it in easily enough.

I fished an extension cord out the dog door that was nearby and plugged my Dremmel tool in.  I fitted an eighth inch bit to it and set up to make this happen.

My Dremmel danced around a little too much for my liking at the start, but once I had a small divot started, it went to work nicely for me.

I eased upwards on it and was already envisioning the steady trickle of water that would drain out once I drilled through.

And then my hand rocketed downward with amazing force.

And I was in near danger of frost bite; all the air around my hand had turned freezing cold while frost was manufactured right in the middle of that 90-degree summer afternoon.

I kept telling myself it was all about making memories, like I always tell the boys when I try to encourage them, but it blew in hollow and empty somehow.

In fact, just as hollow and empty as the freon lines seemed to be.

And, upon looking into that brand new unit a little farther, I saw there were no ports to charge it back up with freon, should I have decided to braze the eighth inch hole in that line.

It took a little while to crank up my courage to ask the boys to leave one of the trailers home the next day, and it seemed a bit awkward when they asked me why.

Especially because I knew, down to the roots of my hangnails, that I would have right next to 2,000 dollars in this project, figuring their labor and all.

I wonder if a split unit actually would have been the way to go on this deal.