Delirium Wilderness
We’re not really in the Delirium this weekend. It just kinda feels like it. Lemme see. Got up and on the road to Kalamazoo by seven this morning. Almost ran outta gas right where I thought was in the middle of nowhere. The Indefatigable’s gas gauge hasn’t worked in years and someone made a miscalculation. By a miraculous stroke of luck, we made it up a hill and saw that an exit was coming up in a mile and somehow whatever little bitsy bit of gasoline that was in the tank got us to it. Somehow. Whew. Grabbed Mouse from her new apartment and headed up to the Cooper Cafe for Bluegrass Breakfast. In the Cute Little Blue Honda Civic (y’all know the rest), which she has had over there since Wednesday. Back to futz with outlets and other little details at her apartment. Yes, y’all, The Indefatigable lives and Mouse will have it in kzoo until summer. I am not happy with this plan but Mouse seems to be and so I will live with it for the time being. There is a method to the madness. Or at least madness.
Back to The Planet Ann Arbor about 15 minutes before the new washer got delivered. Yes, Webmomster, it is a front-loader. Am I happy with it? I dunno yet. What I was immediately *not* happy with was that the door opened on the wrong side for me. We’ll figger it out. I’m all for high-efficiency appliances and I am ECSTATIC that I can actually wash sleeping bags and comforters, etc., at home. But my bottom line is always, IS IT RELIABLE OR NOT??? Our first washer? Definitely not. The one we just replaced? YES, yes yes yes! But after 10 good years, it was time.
And then. Because we weren’t tired enough from driving to kzoo and back, et al, we schlepped out into our vee-hickle again and shot over to EMU for the Great Lakes regional robotics competition. Our nephew was there as part of the Thunderchickens! They did not win in the end. Their robot was heads and shoulders above the others and I am not kidding because I was right down there front and center taking cheap little videos on my digital cam as they racked up points during the second round. And racked them up and racked them up. Alas, mechanical/electronic/whatever issues (hey, speak slowly, I’m blonde) kept their robot from moving in a couple rounds. I am still proud of them. This is a wonderful competition and it was a drag that they didn’t win but but but but. I’m running out of steam and you know the drill about what great kids they all are, blah blah blah. They are, but they are sick of hearing that over and over again. I know.
Home now. Can I sit down tomorrow? I may need to! At least for part of the day. OH!!!! It wouldda been Grandpa Garth’s birthday! Thanks, Kathy for reminding me, I think the GG remembered too. Happy birthday, Gumper. I love you! Click here or on the pic for our delirious road warrior day.
March 29th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Yes. Today’s a good birthday! Someone I know would be 95. Happy Birthday *my* moom. 24 minutes left. “Bo-ats”! …. 🙂
Cliff’s Victory.
March 30th, 2008 at 8:16 am
Spiffy new washer!! I’ve been eyeing those nifty, efficient front-loaders, but I’m not sure they have the same footprint as the old style machines & I have virtually no wiggle room on that!
March 30th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Actually, to those who are interested, the front-loader fits in pretty much the same footprint as the old top loader. The only issue I have with it is that the door opens on an inconvenient side. I’ll live. And I had to make a special run to the grocery store this morning to get special detergent. But I’m washing my down comforter right now. Because I can! 🙂
As recently as a week ago, I was totally unaware of the concept of a front-loading, high-efficiency washing machine. I just wanted a *working* washing machine. I don’t have time to run out to the laundromat any more. I also didn’t want to be involved in a washing machine purchase. The last time we bought one, I huuuuuunnnnnnggggg around Big George for HOURS while the GG took every washing machine on the premises apart (YES! he really did that) to make sure he didn’t get one with the same problematical controller that the old one had.
Of course, just because life is never dull around here, I put the first load of laundry into the dryer and couldn’t get the door to shut! It’s just a little clip that’s gone missing and so will be fixed and not replaced. Actually, it’s running right now with some object or other (haven’t gone down to look) leaned up against it.
Now for a new motorized vee-hickle…
March 30th, 2008 at 10:18 am
One rule for front loaders is leave the door ajar when not in use.
March 30th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
If yours is like ours with a rubber ring to help keep water from spilling out – check it after every load for socks. It is a small thing, but … We love ours. Does A2 have any rebates for getting high efficiency washers. Lots of places do this for the energy and water savings. We really like ours after several years use.
March 30th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Well, I can’t find anything in the book about keeping the door open when not in use but I *did* leave it open after my last load and I haven’t inspected for a rubber ring yet. Another thing on my long to-do-list! Thanks you guys. 🙂
March 30th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
I didn’t know about the “leave door ajar” *rule*, but I’ve been doing that ANYway ever since I got my front-loader in early 2005 (or was it 2004????). Just seemed to make sense, since otherwise it seemed to me it could go funky from humidity inside the washer (since the door seals so nicely 🙂 )
I also took advantage of the Whirlpool option of stacking my dryer on top of the washer (Whirlpool has a brackets and pads kit to make that happen) and I LOVE that configuration! Makes for a single footprint and makes use of the vertical space otherwise “going to waste”. Jim was skeptical of doing that, but I HELD MY GROUND (for once), and when it was all set up, he decided that was a very good idea!
March 30th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
I *think* you can have the washer’s door turned around (um, reattached) to open from the other side…. check with your appliance store…. don’t let GG try to do it, it could be disastrous and/or take weeks….
March 30th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
your betrayal is unacceptable. you dare to purchase a *front loading washing machine*? your real purpose is to prevent me from felting anything in the near future. i’ll think about forgiving you later.
March 30th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
not in a frontloader, but i’m just teasing you. ;D
anyway, it’s probably better to gum up the laundromat instead of your loverly new musheen!!
March 30th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
by the way, could you maybe help me choose an internet provider? i’ve been looking at them online and it’s all kind of the same to me. it looks like at&t and comcast are the main two, although i’m not sure at&t has wireless…
March 31st, 2008 at 6:50 pm
AT&T has DSL, but you should still be able to go wireless???? All you need is the right kind of router hooked up to the DSL modem….