Unacceptable

Unacceptable: The air conditioner in my apartment has been broken for two weeks.

Unacceptable: My landlady refuses to use a full-time AC technician to address the problem. Instead, I've been forced to play phone tag with a friend of the family, who finally showed up at my house Saturday and did very little before declaring he could do no more, as he has no ladder with which to reach the roof.

Unacceptable: Said part-time AC technician left my place Saturday and said he would return "Monday or Tuesday."

Unacceptable: My landlady has conveniently removed herself from the proceedings, leaving the burden of scheduling repairs squarely on my shoulders.

Unacceptable: The temperature in Dallas reached 95 degrees today.

Unacceptable: I had to remove young Simon from his sweltering home for fear he would overheat and perish in my absence. He's staying with his grandparents and is very upset with me.

Unacceptable: I cannot sleep in a hot apartment, and believe me, I've tried. Opening the windows helps with the temperature, of course, but it also worsens an already nearly intolerable noise level from the busy street below. And if I do manage to fall asleep, the heat of the morning sun blazing through my window dashes all hopes of continued slumber until at least noon.

Unacceptable: This apartment. I bite my thumb at it.