I have done the sudoku from today’s paper; I have actually driven one block to Jim’s Pizza to get an icy cold Diet Coke from their vending machine; I have checked the weather, the news and looked at Amazon.com. What I have to do is cleaning, and I mean basic cleaning – such as finding the kitchen counter. This is not my forte and I think it is time for someone to invent a cleaning robot that roams around and does more than suck floors.

Until that time, I am left to sigh and tote that bale and so forth. I am tempted to go with the “so forth”, which could involve being abducted by aliens. No. I crossed the line there; aliens are a reach.

I could delve into the programming of the thermostat for my new Trane furnace, but it is daunting. When I found out I would need a new furnace, I researched the subject and first found out that the the serviceman’s company represented one of the two most reliable furnaces produced. I thought, “Well, that’s good, I won’t have to cancel the appointment with the salesman who was to come.”

I delved into Consumer Reports and Internet ratings and descriptions of types of furnaces and efficiency and one stage heating, two stage heating. What I learned that was most important was that much more than half the cost of a new furnace goes into the installation. It is not, I guess, like plugging in a space heater. So I decided to make certain not to cut corners on the actual physical furnace since so much was invested in the installation.

The fellows came, made no comment about my cluttered house and went about their business – the basic furnace guy was, to quote the salesman, “an old sheet metal guy with 37 years experience. Good. The other guy was younger, but his job was to vent the furnace to the outside and connect the thermostat.

Venting the furnace. They did not use my chimney; I now have thick PVC pipe going through the brick wall and sticking out like a dryer vent. Santa can’t handle it, but I suppose the elves can squeeze in and spy through the vents. Now the thermostat is not a simple little control where one pushes a button repeatedly until the temperature desired appears in a digital window. It certainly is not one with the little wheel one rotated to align an arrow with a desired temperature.

No, this thermostat is a touchscreen with options to connect it to my smart phone, schedule different temps for different times of day and other stuff highlighted in an instruction book I am approaching with apprehension. My favorite part of the display is the drawing of a chimney that shows a red X when the furnace is not running. (Of course, this chimney represents the tradition brick one on a roof; it is not a drawing showing a PVC pipe poking out of the wall.)

I have valiantly tried to keep typing to avoid the cleaning thing, but I must face my problem. Clean it? Well, maybe I can think of something else that is just vital to do. Suggestions are appreciated.