Hello, my name is Debbie and I am addicted to knowing what the temperature is at all times. This fact became very apparent the other day when our indoor/outdoor thermometer stopped working. I assumed it was the battery and immediately went to the store for a fresh button battery. Alas, it still didn’t work. I was shocked and confused when the screen remained blank. A new battery had always worked before! I cannot explain the deep sense of loss and disappointment I felt. It’s unhealthy, I know, and I’m not proud of how dependent I had become on our thermometer. Regardless, I was devastated. I promptly went on line to research the reviews for a new indoor/outdoor thermometer; I didn’t want this to happen again.

Dead thermometer

I believe my addiction started around October 2003, when our new Toyota Matrix displayed the outdoor temperature on the dashboard.  I had driven other cars with temperature gauges but they were not as accurate as this car. My 1976 Olds 98 Regency had a gauge on its side mirror, but if the car was parked in the sun, it would read over 100°F on a cool fall day. I had thermometers that stuck to my kitchen windows but they were also prone to inaccurate readings when the sun shone on them. The thermometer in the Matrix, however, was quite accurate. The minute I got in the car, I looked at it. I compared its reading to bank thermometers. I looked at it every time I looked at the speedometer. Any car after that one had to have an outdoor thermometer and, luckily, it seems to be standard on most cars nowadays.

In March of 2004, I bought an indoor/outdoor thermometer and put it in our kitchen. Every time I went into the kitchen, I would check it. I kept telling myself that I needed to know how to dress appropriately for the day.  Some days, it can get so bright and sunny in the house, I would never guess it was -14°F outside without my handy thermometer. It really helped me. But the day the little screen went blank and could not be revived, my reaction made it clear I could no longer deny my addiction to knowing what the indoor or outdoor temperature was – I was a temperaturaholic.

When we moved into our new home, the addiction grew from needing to know the outdoor temperature to also needing to know the indoor temperature, as well. The room my Mom enjoys to watch TV in has a wood stove for heat. Every morning I need to know whether or whether not to light a fire. And the thrill of getting the room up to 74° on a frozen day is quite awesome. So now, it’s absolutely necessary to have a good indoor/outdoor thermometer! After all, I need to make sure my Mom is comfortable. See, a sure sign of an addict ~ excuses just roll off my tongue.

The week we waited for the new thermometer was painful. My Mom even noticed how I would look at the corner where it had been, forgetting it was gone. Nevertheless, it finally arrived and we now have a wonderful new large screen thermometer, allowing everyone to see the indoor and outdoor temperature from anywhere in the room. It was a difficult week but I survived ~ how’s that for first world problems. I wish other problems were as easy to solve.

YAY!

I just had to share my dark secret addiction. What technology are you addicted to? Please share – it is very liberating.