I used to think of myself as a Lefty Libertarian...
...or, perhaps, a free market progressive.
But now I think I am a hot tub anarchist.
I'm generally happy about the way the elections went last week. I just hope the Democrats all saw the Spiderman movies and are mindful of their great newfound responsibility. And I hope they subpeona and investigate more than they say they will. I don't think Nancy can stop Mr. Conyers, Mr. Reid, and give 'em Hell Harry. Let's hope not, anyway.
I've had a few projects lately. I managed to hang shelving, straight and level, in the laundry room. Just in time for both appliances to just about crap out on us. We've already been through one new motor on the washer and a couple of near dryer fires (the dryer came with the house).
Anyway, back to that in a minute. I also spent some time mixing, coloring, and applying some cement patch to the top deck. And then a whole bunch of caulking. We got our first serious rains this weekend, and so far, the sun room is dry as a bone. So the caulking and cement patch worked. We still have this darned leak in the entry way. It's outside, but I'm concerned it will eat away at the door frame. It is vexing me because I have caulked every place I can find where water can possibly creep in there. But it's at the bottom of a slope in the roof on three sides, so it could be trickling in somewhere far away. But the rest of my work is looking good so far.
I've also been looking forward to the first hot tub in the rain. I got that tonight. And Rachel snapped a picture.
Totally new topic - should be a new post, but I already uploaded the picture and I'm a bit lazy and I want to get back to my book by the fire before the fire goes out.
Have I mentioned how much I hate the Sears store in Clearlake? I mean, I dig the tools and all. But the guy there is just a tremendous nob. He totally screwed us over on a fridge a year or so ago. And I vowed never to go there again. And then time passed, and like U-Haul - I know I've mentioned how much I hate U-Haul - and I forgt about it and, well, our fridge...what can I say? It used to have two cripsers and lots of nice shelves, and over time, well, the one drawer fell on the shelf which eventually fell on the other drawer. So now we have one less shelf, no drawers, really, just some cubby kind of things. And food goes bad. And you'll be filling your cup with nice cold water, and you'll pull your cup away, and the water keeps running, and if you don't know to open the door to make it stop, as some of our recnt house guests didn't, well, it keeps on running and you freak out a little. And then it randomly spits out ice cubes. Which is fine if Moe is around and in the mood for a puppy popscicle. But if she isn't, you step in cold wet and slippery.
I kept thining, "Jeez, this thing is only two years old." But in reality, it's only been ours for two years. It's really 15 years or so old, and original with the house. It is time.
And Thanksgiving is coming up. And there was this huge Veteran's Day sale at Sears. Zero percent financing on your Sears card or 10% off of one item, 15% off of two, or 20% off of three. And I thought I would surprise Rachel. So I went and looked at the one like Jolene and Jeff's that she liked, only with the ice and water dispenser that we love. And while I was there, I checked out washers and dryers. Our washer is like six years old. At the time, we bought the cheapest one we could afford with a ceramic tub. And, of course, that was before Rachel's accident. Now one of her biggest pains (Jake and I do the vacuuming now) is reaching in to the tub and pulling out wet laundry to move to the dryer.
So anyway, I'm in the back of the store looking at the open box deals, and what do you know, there are washer dryer pedestals for Kenmore HE2 washer and dryers for $49 each. Those are usually $150. So I looked and there were HE2 washers and dryers, front loading, on sale. And I started doing some math in my head (Yes, in my head. Yes, I was an English major, but I've been running my own business for 5+ years now and I can do math in my head, dammit! Oh, and I have never said, "Would you like fries with that?").
I figured If I bought everything, it would work out to paying for the fridge and the dryer and getting the washer and pedestals for free. I was ready to move. But the guy said I had to use my Sears card. And he said to go home and call and see if they would up my limit. If they couldn't come back tomorrow and we'll go through applying for a Sears plus card or some weird thing. And not to worry, we would work something out.
I went home and went online to do some research and talk it over with Rachel. We got these 1.2% APR checks from my Amazon Visa. So I could use those and pay it off by May and be groovy. And while we are online, I realized that you don't need a Sears card to get the discount. So the next day I called the store and HE HAD SOLD THE PEDESTALS!!!!!!!
Oh, I can order you some more.
How much?
$149.
I blew up. Anyway. As much as I would like to keep my tax dollars local, execuse me, F*%k the Sears store in Clearlake and the guy with the keys.
So we ordered it all on line, minus the pedestals. The front loader will be a big improvement for her back. And if it is still painful, we can build something to raise it up (I think we can do something with cinder blocks and some plywood and a little trim wood). Maybe make a drawer. Paint it white. Maybe Rachel's Dad (or I guess my sister, she's pretty handy with stuff) can help me if I can't figure it out myself. And the dryer is not going to catch fire anymore. And it will be really nice to have a fridge that works with some room for Thanksgiving. And since nobody had even thought of Energy Star yet when our old appliances were made, well, I figure they will pay for themselves in 8 years and hopefully have lifespan of 10.
And I always get this lousy feeling when we make big purchases - like cars and such - but I don't feel that this time. I think we did good.
And it is a glorious fridge!
But now I think I am a hot tub anarchist.
I'm generally happy about the way the elections went last week. I just hope the Democrats all saw the Spiderman movies and are mindful of their great newfound responsibility. And I hope they subpeona and investigate more than they say they will. I don't think Nancy can stop Mr. Conyers, Mr. Reid, and give 'em Hell Harry. Let's hope not, anyway.
I've had a few projects lately. I managed to hang shelving, straight and level, in the laundry room. Just in time for both appliances to just about crap out on us. We've already been through one new motor on the washer and a couple of near dryer fires (the dryer came with the house).
Anyway, back to that in a minute. I also spent some time mixing, coloring, and applying some cement patch to the top deck. And then a whole bunch of caulking. We got our first serious rains this weekend, and so far, the sun room is dry as a bone. So the caulking and cement patch worked. We still have this darned leak in the entry way. It's outside, but I'm concerned it will eat away at the door frame. It is vexing me because I have caulked every place I can find where water can possibly creep in there. But it's at the bottom of a slope in the roof on three sides, so it could be trickling in somewhere far away. But the rest of my work is looking good so far.
I've also been looking forward to the first hot tub in the rain. I got that tonight. And Rachel snapped a picture.
Totally new topic - should be a new post, but I already uploaded the picture and I'm a bit lazy and I want to get back to my book by the fire before the fire goes out.
Have I mentioned how much I hate the Sears store in Clearlake? I mean, I dig the tools and all. But the guy there is just a tremendous nob. He totally screwed us over on a fridge a year or so ago. And I vowed never to go there again. And then time passed, and like U-Haul - I know I've mentioned how much I hate U-Haul - and I forgt about it and, well, our fridge...what can I say? It used to have two cripsers and lots of nice shelves, and over time, well, the one drawer fell on the shelf which eventually fell on the other drawer. So now we have one less shelf, no drawers, really, just some cubby kind of things. And food goes bad. And you'll be filling your cup with nice cold water, and you'll pull your cup away, and the water keeps running, and if you don't know to open the door to make it stop, as some of our recnt house guests didn't, well, it keeps on running and you freak out a little. And then it randomly spits out ice cubes. Which is fine if Moe is around and in the mood for a puppy popscicle. But if she isn't, you step in cold wet and slippery.
I kept thining, "Jeez, this thing is only two years old." But in reality, it's only been ours for two years. It's really 15 years or so old, and original with the house. It is time.
And Thanksgiving is coming up. And there was this huge Veteran's Day sale at Sears. Zero percent financing on your Sears card or 10% off of one item, 15% off of two, or 20% off of three. And I thought I would surprise Rachel. So I went and looked at the one like Jolene and Jeff's that she liked, only with the ice and water dispenser that we love. And while I was there, I checked out washers and dryers. Our washer is like six years old. At the time, we bought the cheapest one we could afford with a ceramic tub. And, of course, that was before Rachel's accident. Now one of her biggest pains (Jake and I do the vacuuming now) is reaching in to the tub and pulling out wet laundry to move to the dryer.
So anyway, I'm in the back of the store looking at the open box deals, and what do you know, there are washer dryer pedestals for Kenmore HE2 washer and dryers for $49 each. Those are usually $150. So I looked and there were HE2 washers and dryers, front loading, on sale. And I started doing some math in my head (Yes, in my head. Yes, I was an English major, but I've been running my own business for 5+ years now and I can do math in my head, dammit! Oh, and I have never said, "Would you like fries with that?").
I figured If I bought everything, it would work out to paying for the fridge and the dryer and getting the washer and pedestals for free. I was ready to move. But the guy said I had to use my Sears card. And he said to go home and call and see if they would up my limit. If they couldn't come back tomorrow and we'll go through applying for a Sears plus card or some weird thing. And not to worry, we would work something out.
I went home and went online to do some research and talk it over with Rachel. We got these 1.2% APR checks from my Amazon Visa. So I could use those and pay it off by May and be groovy. And while we are online, I realized that you don't need a Sears card to get the discount. So the next day I called the store and HE HAD SOLD THE PEDESTALS!!!!!!!
Oh, I can order you some more.
How much?
$149.
I blew up. Anyway. As much as I would like to keep my tax dollars local, execuse me, F*%k the Sears store in Clearlake and the guy with the keys.
So we ordered it all on line, minus the pedestals. The front loader will be a big improvement for her back. And if it is still painful, we can build something to raise it up (I think we can do something with cinder blocks and some plywood and a little trim wood). Maybe make a drawer. Paint it white. Maybe Rachel's Dad (or I guess my sister, she's pretty handy with stuff) can help me if I can't figure it out myself. And the dryer is not going to catch fire anymore. And it will be really nice to have a fridge that works with some room for Thanksgiving. And since nobody had even thought of Energy Star yet when our old appliances were made, well, I figure they will pay for themselves in 8 years and hopefully have lifespan of 10.
And I always get this lousy feeling when we make big purchases - like cars and such - but I don't feel that this time. I think we did good.
And it is a glorious fridge!
posted by Eric Soderstrom at 11:51 PM
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