Ugh that timing is brutal. When my water heater went, I called the assistance office first thing Monday and asked if they could speed up the check for an emergency fix. Sometimes they have a faster process for stuff like that, or can at least tell the contractor to bill them direct. Always worth calling to ask if they can do a direct pay to the HVAC company instead of mailing a check to you.

Breathing for three counts between tasks creates instant focus, way better than forced silence.

Venice in 'The Tourist' completely ignores the acqua alta flooding St. Mark's Square every November. How do they film a romance there without showing people wading through knee-deep water? Critics from dry cities probably don't realize the canal smell in summer would ruin any picnic scene. Seeing those streets submerged makes the movie's glamour feel like a lie.