Washed Up

The ole Kenmore came to a screeching and shuddering halt on Sunday. I hate it when that happens.

Aren't these stupid appliances supposed to last until you're carted off to a nursing home? I keep thinking it's part of a plan being perpetrated on the buying public by avaricious appliance designers. This could explain many things, including my sister-in-law's brand new microwave oven blowing up 10 days out of warranty. (You should see the scorch marks.)

I'm disappointed in these manufacturers for being short-sighted and creating appliances that should last, if not a lifetime, then fairly close. I also blame them for avocado green. Not a good design decision in any decade.

Charlie and I hit 17 stores yesterday, armed with a list of what not to buy, courtesy of a local repairman who does not recommend front loading anything. (But they're so spiffy! And gleamy! And red!)

The good news is they can deliver tomorrow. And because we are in that microscopic segment of the population that doesn't want a front loader, we got a pretty good deal.

At least, I think we did. Ask me in 366 days. From Wednesday.

New Content

This is my 200th post, an anniversary that happens to coincide with a most wonderful announcement:

"New content has been added to your family tree."

If you are an Ancestry.com subscriber, this will resonate hugely. If you have posted your genealogy online, you have received emails alerting you to the fact that someone out there in this big blue world has "added content to your family tree."

In our case, however, it is our daughter who will be adding new content (with a little help from son-in-law Dennis) to our family tree around the first of August. Her name, at this great and awesome moment, is 

Charlotte Elizabeth

Hello, Charley. And welcome -- almost -- to the world. We can hardly wait to meet you in person baby.

Your brother is celebrating his 2nd birthday this weekend, so we are looking very much forward to being in full woo hoo mode.

We are all about the blue and the pink, baby girl. And our hearts are very full.

Welcome (shortly) to our corner of the earth. We'll be so glad to know you.



Let's Review, Shall We?

As a rule-follower and former New Yorker, it pains me to watch pedestrians and bikers be so dense when it comes to traffic signals.

Time for review (and don't make me stop this car):

This, dear friends, means stop:

The large red hand does not mean "High five, dude, now cross the street," because if you do, you will most assuredly be killed. No, the large red hand means stop. As in, do not cross the street. As in, stop.

To review:
Red hand = stop. Do not go. Stay on the curb. Ponder life for a few extra seconds. Chill.

When it is your turn to cross, the red hand goes away (I love magic, don't you?) and this appears:

See how his legs are kinetic, implying motion? That means you! Time to cross the street. It is safe (mostly) to do so, so skedaddle on across -- on foot, with your 10-speed, pushing your baby in his stroller.

(I suppose in a perfect world our little walking man should be green, but I can't control everything.)

So, remember: red hand = stop. Little walking man = go.

Now go out there and be careful, especially at Royce and Washington.

Key Indeed

My glamorous sister-in-law, Sarah, presented me with yet another wildly innovative gift:

  "Recycling is Key" Photo Frame, made from recycled keyboards.
Go wireless with this techno savvy framed made from recycled computer keyboards. Show off your environmental awareness and "re"decorate with some eco-friendly goods. Your friends will be "green" with envy!

I am, if anything, techno savvy. In fact, the very first keyboard that I ever used had ginormous keys just like this, along with the same icky fingerprints and coffee stains.

I peeked in Google. Two's Company, the manufacturer, also sells frames made from old motherboards. Love that.

Sarah last presented me with a frame made from wood recycled from a home in southeast Georgia, which I wrote about here.

I'm late with my thanks, Sarah. Love the frame, love the whole repurposing idea very much, although I draw the line at Soylent Green.

At Last

Out with the old (and still on our street)

and in with the new:

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Really.

Prayers For Japan

Like everyone else these days, I am watching the news with both hands in front of my face.

The stories and pictures of Japan are gut-wrenching.

Prayers of hope and healing and safety, for Japan and for this world.

Finish Line In Sight

Chicago's crappy weather has made it possible for me to be enough of a Troglodyte to keep after this stupid basement project. Grey, windy, cold = sorting, sanitizing and toting 40 more boxes of junk.

And today, my friends, I do believe I am closer to the finish line.

But with one small snag, which sounded like this:

Daughter: "Whatcha doing?"
Me: "Washing Duplos."
D: "You mean big Legos?"
Me: "Exactly. And I found a cute plastic container to hold them so we can give them to Zach for his birthday."
D: ~silence~
M: "Hello?"
D: "Can't you keep them at your house?"
M: "Why can't we keep them at your house?"
D: "We have so many here. Why don't you keep them there and Zach can play with them at your house?"
M: "But he's not over here very much."
D: "I'll take him over more often."

I think my birthday toy plans (and depleting the basement crap levels at the same time) have been derailed.

Time for my secret weapon:

One can never have too many horses.

Did I mention there's a stable that goes with these?