Our house is absolutely perfect. Mostly.
I love how colorful and homey it is (particularly when it is clean). I love how comfy our couch is. I love how there are a million books spilling all over my bookshelves. I love how our DVD player is pink. I love our Elvis picture hanging in our kitchen. I love my red tea kettle.
Although I love our house, problems do come along with being a homeowner.
About a month ago, our washing machine decided that the spin cycle was overrated and unnecessary, so it quit. I went to pull out the laundry to find it completely soaked. As I wrestled it out of the washer, water dripped down my hands back into the soggy machine. After doing several loads like this, I realized that not only was this contrary to what a washing machine was suppose to do, it also was horrible for our dryer. To compensate for the overly wet clothing, I would haul them to the dryer in the garage and put them on a cycle. I would then come out again in 45 minutes, only to find them still wet. I would then put them through another cycle. If I was lucky it would be dry after two; however, some required three rounds in our dryer.
Finally, I determined that this was not productive - and it was a waste of money and energy. So, my darling husband and I decided it was time to spend the $150 and buy a used washing machine.
Oh joy! Oh bliss! When my very buff husband and father finally situated the new washing machine in its proper place (with many manly grunts, of course), I reveled in the new (well, new to me) washing machine. For two days I was in heaven. My new washing machine loved the spin cycle. It cleaned clothes. You could tell what setting you were putting your clothes on. (Our old washing machine's nob had fallen off, leaving me guessing every time whether I was doing delicate or cotton.) The new to me washing machine was amazing.
One beautiful day, a few days later, I was being a good housewife. I grabbed a load of laundry, shoved them (lovingly of course) into the washing machine, excitedly turned the knob to the right setting and went about cleaning the kitchen. Thinking myself so clever for putting the laundry in first so that it could run while I did other things, I scrubbed dishes. A few minutes later, as I was scrubbing, I noticed an odd odor. Hesitantly, I went to investigate.
Although I am no match for Gus's Super Sniffer, I did manage to find the source of the smell. As I walked down our very short hall, I smelled the smell even stronger. Pushing open the door which conceals our washing machine, I was greeted with smoke billowing and pouring out from my brand new-to-me machine. Although horrified, I responded with amazing wits and pulled the knob to stop the load. My soul was in anguish. How could this happen to my beautiful, new-to-me washer? What was going to happen?
When my groom returned home I quickly explained what had happened. Being the wonderful man that he is, he comforted me and assured me that we would figure it out.
A few days later and a few phone calls later, we found out that we could bring it back to the store and could get a replacement.
Oh happy day!
But wait! Oh sad day! The washing machine was filled with half-washed clothing and was full of water. Thus began the long process of transferring sopping clothes from the washer to the dryer in small amounts, running the dryer a million times, and then (my favorite) scooping out the water and throwing it on our dead lawn using a coffee mug and a bucket. Finally, it was done. My incredibly strong husband, with the help of our neighbor (because I was too weak) loaded the washing machine on Susie Q, and Luke headed off. A few hours later Luke returned bearing a wonderful present! Another new-to-me washing machine! This time I mustered my strength and helped him haul in the new washing machine. We got it installed and I tentatively ran a first cleansing cycle. Oh glory! It worked!
I now have another brand-new-to-me washing machine that has a knob, spins, and doesn't smoke. It is amazingly wonderful! Not only that, but I also have caught up on all my laundry that had piled up over the period of no washing machine! (Catching up included an enormous folding party with myself. I had a huge mound sitting on the couch. I folded it while watching Northanger Abbey which made it fun!)
That is one of the glories of home ownership, or I suppose I should say washing machine ownership.
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