“I washed a sock. Then I put it in the dryer. When I took it out, it was gone.”
Rain again today, but it is a warm day and brighter than it’s been. A wind advisory is in effect, and my bird feeders are swaying as are the tops of the huge pine trees. A cardinal has been by a few times checking my front lawn for worms. Yesterday, two robins joined him. Gracie and I will be out in a bit as we have a couple of errands today, mostly animal food. Tonight is trivia.
My dryer turned on but wouldn’t tumble yesterday. Nothing makes me feel as helpless as when an appliance won’t work. I tried the button a few more times hoping for a miracle but got nothing. I called Albert, my appliance fixer, and he came at 9:02 this morning. He did say between 9 and 11. It was a broken hose and was fixed in about ten minutes. I had visions of buying a new dryer as my first thought is always drastic. I figure most appliances have a built in point of death and this dryer has been around a while. Maybe the hose is just a reminder that appliances aren’t built to last and have their own mortality.
Every homeowner has a herd of fixers. I have a great plumber named Warren who always apologizes for his bill. I called him once when my toilet wouldn’t stop running. He checked it out and told me to follow him outside while he got the part. We walked along the side of the street and he picked up a stone or maybe a rock. (I don’t know when size changes one to the other.) He used the stone inside the toilet to make the plug fall, and it worked. The toilet stopped running. My electrician, Shane, is a former student and a long time friend. I hate to call him as he never charges me enough but he does the best work and has great suggestions. Skip is my factotum, and I already have a huge list of jobs for him, a day’s worth. He does just about everything: carpentry, painting, shoveling, plowing and any general fixer-upper stuff. He is a great worker and meticulous. I also have a landscaper and I have cleaning people who come very other week. All I’m missing is a cook and a downstairs maid. I figure I can make do without an upstairs maid.
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keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
April 28, 2011 at 1:53 pm
Sunny here again but slightly cooler though. It´s a nice evening outside today.
I´m like You and always believes the worst at first 🙂 When things finally do break down it takes for ever to get a new one 🙂
But I have a friend that fixes most things I can´t fix myself. Or I tell him to show me so I can do it myself the next time. Otherwise I do most things myself if something happens. As a former gardener I would never let any one close to my garden 🙂 🙂 🙂
Have a great day now!
Christer.
April 28, 2011 at 10:18 pm
Christer,
It finally rained, and it poured. We even had thunder and lightning-pretty dramatic!
I wish I had a friend who could fix most things. My brother-in-law can but he’s a bit too far away to call.
I make sure I have an up-to-date list.
April 28, 2011 at 5:15 pm
Hi Kat,
I have staff as well but not quite as extensive as yours. I have a lawn crew, a plumber and the oil burner man. Those seem to be the things that require attention most regularly. I do have to say that my washer and drier lasted for over 30 years before they expired so I can’t really complain about them. I hope the replacements are equally sturdy. I had a moment of concern the other day when I thought the drier timer was broken but it was okay.
Muggy, grey and warm here but no sun. Then it got muggy and cool and still no sun.
Have a good day.
April 28, 2011 at 10:19 pm
Hi Caryn,
I love my staff!
Tonight it poured. I got soaked running from the house to the car. We even had thunder and lightning just to spice up the storm. Gracie wouldn’t go out!
April 28, 2011 at 5:53 pm
If you can pick it up with one hand, it’s a stone. If you have to call Skip, then it must be a rock, because you can pick up stones yourself.
Cheers
April 28, 2011 at 10:20 pm
Minicapt,
Okay, I’ll go with those distinctions!
April 28, 2011 at 6:02 pm
It’s a sunny day and I am resting in bed with my cat. I seem to have a headache that is slowly going away which started when I had to spend 5 stupid hours at the city council about a library issue. The powers that be, made wait till very late on purpose. I often when an appliance won’t work send a prayer of sorts to the appliance fairy for help. Sometimes it works!
Now, on to the music.
April 28, 2011 at 10:22 pm
Lori,
Pouring rain we had tonight-hard to see driving home from trivia.
I moan whenever when of my appliances gives up the ghost. I always feel so darn helpless. Let me edit a paper or proof read something-that’s my strength.
April 28, 2011 at 6:03 pm
Stone in the toilet tank? Please explain. Where did he put the stone?
April 28, 2011 at 7:03 pm
Z&M: Probably on top of an item similar to this one: http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR0vzt08CvFSRcJN43GtHboAN9dSyKoIMqXp0Ta1hvMnJ_9tE0L
April 28, 2011 at 10:24 pm
Rick,
It almost looks like a flat plunger.
April 28, 2011 at 10:23 pm
Z&Me,
He put the stone at the bottom spot on the black cover which drops on the hole where the water flows away. It allows the tank to fill.
April 28, 2011 at 7:46 pm
Since the only Jewish guy I know that has a set of tools is a dentist, I have mechanical insurance on my home. If something needs to be repaired, then we call the home repair insurance and they send out a repairman for a flat fee. I have a lawn service who mows my yard and trims the shrubs. I assume I am helping to support several families back in Mexico.
Today the weather here was cooler and the severe weather has moved on to the East where it devastated Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi.
April 28, 2011 at 10:26 pm
Bob,
Bob,
I have never heard of mechanical insurance so I suspect it’s not available here. What a great idea!
The news is filled with the horrors left behind by the storm. It’s God awful.
April 29, 2011 at 8:57 am
Hi Kat,
The real name is “Home Warrantee”. They send an inspector to your house to look at you plumbing, heating etc. Then, you pay the premium and they cover any problems and you pay a deductible. Unfortunately, they get to pick the company whose repairman comes to your house. For a few extra dollars a year they cover your major appliances.
April 29, 2011 at 8:45 am
I’m lucky. My “herd” is Steve.
April 29, 2011 at 11:09 am
Ralph,
He can do everything. I figure if he gets tired of living down there-he can come here!
April 29, 2011 at 11:08 am
Bob,
It still sounds like a good idea. They must pick reputable repairmen. I wouldn’t have to keep building my herd!