The Hidden Dangers of Window Air-Conditioners Beware!!

Yes.

Ours tried to kill us today. The aftermath and carnage is almost more than we can handle.

Ok, ok.....I'll try to recapture our morning minus the drama. :)

Older homes have character, charm, romance and something else. 9 times out of 10, no central air conditioning. Our rental is no exception.

Andy and I decided today was definitely the day to pull the window air conditioner out of our 2 story window. This thing must weigh 50-60 pounds. And because the unit had been in a 90 year old window for many months, it was wedged solid.

A hammer, mallet, car keys, leveler (? I'm not sure what for), sweat and tears later. The window began to budge! Andy and I were both making a duel effort to pry open the window, and in all our excitement of finally seeing progress, we forgot one small detail, to hold on to the unit.

Yep. You can probably close your eyes and imagine the rest, but here's a little help....

Nellie: (SCREAM) "ANDY! It's FALLING!"
My foot somehow was standing ON the cord that was plugged into the wall and was the ONLY thing holding a dangling air conditioner from 2 stories high (foot cramp ensuing)
Andy: "I KNOW!" (typical guy response)
BANG! The heavier than cement window fell on Andy's hand. (bruised knuckles)
Emma comes up, "Guys?!" Nellie: "Emma, downstairs!" Emma: "Yes mom!" (bless her heart)

Andy pries the window back open and lunges out to grab the air conditioner that has been hanging in mid-air still connected to the cord that my cramped up foot is holding down.

At this point, I can't get the window re-open far enough to pull Andy OR the air conditioner back in. I'm desperately trying not to laugh 'cause I'm already shaking and have no strength to pry the window open.

Andy is also trying not to laugh as he's holding on to the unit with all his strength and through gritted teeth I hear "Any....time....now...sweetie." (haha, he still calls me 'sweetie' when facing an air-conditioner duel to the death, awww)

After we somehow managed to pull both my husband AND the stupid air conditioner in, we set it down and fell to the floor laughing.

Had our neighbors been watching, I'm sure they would have brought over a plate of zucchini bread and politely asked us if we shouldn't maybe go back to Oregon, where we know how to function. ;)

All in all. It was quite a morning. Wisdom gained that we'll pass down to our children, and their children after them. "When removing an air-conditioner unit from a 90 year old, 2 story window...call a handyman service, or just blow up a jumpy house underneath the window."