Monday, August 25, 2008

Laundry Crisis Averted!

Why is it that something always goes wrong when you're finally in a groove, making progress on a project. Last week I was cracking my whip on the boys to get their rooms cleaned out, junk hauled away, old clothes disposed of, and laundry caught up on. You know, teenage boys seem to mistake the tiny space between the mattress and bedframe for a laundry hamper. Not to mention that corner in the closet, as well as under the bed! So we were in the midst of getting all the laundry caught up, when my dryer decided it was a good time to quit.

The drum wasn't going to roll any more and I detected an air of burnt rubber. Yeah, probably just the belt had gone out, but it was Saturday late afternoon - no one's coming out to pay me a visit for days. And daughter Melanie arrived home from her week in the mountains with a laundry objective of her own! People, I (or someone in the family) do laundry every day. Having a working dryer is a cornerstone of my existence!

So after discussing the situation with DH, we decided we should consider buying a new dryer. This old one is fifteen years old and has done the work of a 25-year old machine. Retirement was in order. Setting out to visit various local appliance dealers (who were still open on Saturday evening), we found that no one had a plain jane dryer in stock - I'd have to wait until September 7!

Now really, I could have coped with this and made visits to the laundromat. But my DH knows that a sane wife is conducive to making his life easier. So while I was back home fussing over bedrooms, he paid a visit to Best Buy just before closing. They had a dryer that matched my front-load washer and we could get the floor model the next day if I didn't mind a few little dings. My laundry room is in the back corner of the basement - a few little dings wouldn't matter to me if I could get back into the laundry business! So on Sunday the Best Buy boys wrapped up that little sucker and put it in my Expedition and I drove home a happy woman.

But now to get it into the house. Boys were gone, only DH and I were at home. Not a biggie as we have a hand truck, I can help out. But God bless him, Daniel (Melanie's boyfriend) came driving in just as we were ready to lift the thing out of the XP. He's a whiz at moving things and before long, my dryer was installed and ready for action. I immediately removed the damp load from my washer, threw it into the dryer, and smiled as the cycle began all over again.

11 comments:

Jennifer said...

Perhaps you should call your blog "On the Dryer Side?" LOL

Anonymous said...

Ha ha Jennifer!
It's a beauty. Glad you got one so quickly.

Wendy said...

I love Jennifer's comment!

But I can completely understand your frustration. We went through this last winter and luckily only waited 5 days for our delivery. A friend of mine went months (!) without a dryer but was hanging laundry in her basement every day. Uh, no thanks!

Von said...

How could I have missed that obvious headline, Jennifer?! What a hoot. :D

Stitchingranny said...

It really does not take a lot to make life sweet - a working washer and dryer helps - but a happy wife is a real essential and your hubby understands that lol.

mainely stitching said...

Phew, glad that a crisis was averted! And relieved that Max isn't the only boy who uses that part of his bedroom as a hamper! LOL!

Jinger said...

I know you were thrilled to bits with your hubby, Best Buy and Daniel as well. You now have a new dryer and all is well in your household. :-) May the other dryer RIP.

Anonymous said...

Its great to catch up with your blog again Von :)

CJ in OK ;-) said...

Whooo Hooo, congrats on the new dryer. I totally understand what waiting several days would have meant, but to have a husband that understood too, is truely spectacular. Again congrats, CJ(ok;-)

Leeland said...

Well, you probably won't believe it but I haven't got a dryer. And I often regret it. Then I think of the electricity we save and it gives me courage... not. But, after all, it's just the four of us, no comparison!!! Lol!
Thank you for your comment, you're just so sweet...
Take care,
Lili

Elizabeth Braun said...

We air dry. Takes a lot longer, of course, but it's cheaper, greener and takes no technology. Having said that, there are only 2 of us!!! I'd be in a real pickle if the washing machine itself was out! I do about 4 loads per week just for the 2 of us, including towels, clothes and bedding. Thank goodness we do have decent machines for these jobs, or we'd spend our whole lives doing laundry! And where would the stitching time be???