I didn’t set any gigantic goal for this weekend. Life has been throwing me curves lately, and plans seemed like a bad idea.
Today was a day to pick something up, finish it, and move to the next project. With that in mind, Lisa Burton Radio is assembled and scheduled for Thursday, and so is the following Thursday. This actually feels kind of good to get ahead a tiny bit. I used to track every questionnaire I sent out, and do appropriate follow up, but I stopped doing that this year. People seem to be benefitting from the interview slot, but they need to have some skin in the game too. There are probably ten or more questionnaires out, but it’s up to them to respond and get back with me. Makes my part of the process less stressful, and that’s a good thing. I’ll be here for you from now on, but I’m not twisting arms to fill the interview slots.
I also spent some time writing, assembling, and scheduling my next post over at Story Empire. It’s up on Wednesday, and I hope it comes across well.
Oh yeah, there is this post too.
Life continues to throw us curves. The range decided to go out, including the oven portion. We’ve been doing without it for a couple of weeks now. Between the barbecue and the microwave, we’ve survived. Now that Frankie seems like her old self, today was time to address our appliance problem.
The old range was original to the house, so seventeen years old. In this day and age, that’s a good run.
The debate of the day was whether to pay for the range or finance it. Holding back a tiny bit of cash seems like a good idea in light of current events. Free delivery swayed us to use our Sears credit card. In event of another emergency, we have a few bucks available, and can make minimum payments if we have to. If everything evens out, I’ll probably take two months to pay it off. That way we get a couple of paydays in there and don’t strap ourselves.
Delivery will happen next weekend. At that time, I’ll probably wake up Tituba, my sourdough starter and christen the new oven the right way.
To her credit, Old What’s Her Face chose a very reasonable range. There was a time when both of us did a lot of cooking. As the kids have moved out, the appeal of a Wolfe gas range isn’t there any more. We wound up with a decent Kenmore electric that matches all the rest of the appliances. Honestly, I’ve always had good luck with Kenmore stuff.
After signing the papers, we walked over to Old Chicago for pizza and beer. We called it an early night, because my wife has to work this weekend. A few Winter Olympics and I’ll figure out what tomorrow has in store. I might even add some new words to my work in progress. Maybe I’ll paste together a new background for Lisa’s Facebook page. I have some new images that might be fun to use as Polaroids on her table.
The dogs are getting some ball time right now. All posts are more popular with a picture, so here’s Otto being a crazy man with his oversized tennis ball.
Glad to hear things are looking better! Have a good rest of your weekend!
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Thanks, Traci.
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So glad Frankie is back to her old self! I was worried. Hope you like the new appliance. Waiting for sourdough bread pictures…
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Bread might be a couple of weeks out. My starter is refrigerated chips right now, but usually wakes up fast. We won’t have the oven for a week. We’re thrilled to have our Frankie back.
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Thrilled for you. It’s scary when something’s wrong (one of mine ALWAYS seems to have something wrong. But when they rebound, it’s so joyful.)
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Bulldogs seem to be like hothouse flowers too. They’re so animated and lively, but things hit them hard.
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Good to hear Frankie is doing better. Sorry about the range though. We just had part of a shower and the ice maker die, but those don’t compare. Hope things start taking an upswing for you.
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We’ve replaced every appliance here now. (Microwave twice.) This stuff happens, and it’s never good timing. We’re pretty happy our girl is better.
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The house we’re in is older than I am. They don’t make appliances like they used to.
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That’s for sure. My old washer and dryer were repairable. They were in their late twenties when we replaced them. I had an old rebuilt freezer I sold when we moved here. It’s still working for the folks who bought it.
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Funny thing is that we have a large standing freezer in the basement. Been around since I was a kid and still going strong. Those are immortal beasts it seems.
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The old ones are. I suspect some degree of breakage is engineered in these days. Otherwise they wouldn’t sell too many.
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I’ve thought the same thing. Especially computers and phone.
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There is even a term for it: planned obsolescence.
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So glad to know Frankie is better. I was concerned about her. I had a Kenmore range for over twenty years. Can’t complain. Hoping my GE lasts half that time! And yes, I’m looking forward to sourdough pics. And if you wanted to send some to Texas… 🙂
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Funny story. Rachel Carerra was one of my first blogging friends. She has some serious medical issues and had to step back. She was also a talented Photoshop person. She made two of my book covers, and charged me a loaf of sourdough for my first Experimental Notebook. It’s a price I gladly paid.
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Glad to hear that life is returning to what passes for normal in your neck of the woods!
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What passes for normal is a good way of putting it. Thanks.
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Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
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Thanks for the reblog.
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I’m glad Frankie is back to her old self again.
Sorry about the range, but glad you were able to sort out a new one to come soon, and in a way you can afford it without stretching funds too much.
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I hate replacing those big ticket items. I’ll pay it off quickly, but I don’t want to strap us by paying it all at once either. These things happen, and there isn’t much we can do about it.
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It’s gooood to be positive, even with nasty surprises. Appliances have such an unpredictable lifespan – I’ve replaced all my kitchen appliances this year as well! The oldest was well over 20 years old and were performing like it (my washing machine especially!). So, replacement was well overdue for some and the new appliances are doing good to brilliant, so I’m sure your new range will seem superb, once you take the plunge! 😀
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My old washer and dryer moved here with us. They were over twenty before we replaced them. Some of that older, pre-computer stuff lasted forever. The new stuff just doesn’t.
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Ah, yes, life is full of curves, twists, and turns. Sounds like you’re handling them quite well. Enjoy the new oven!
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Thanks, Jan.
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Last year it was the washer and the fridge. The year before, it was the range and the dishwasher. All were original to the house when I built it in ’04. Before something else implodes, maybe I’ll just sell out, move away and start over again.
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That does have some appeal, except I have all these new appliances over the years. Mine was built in 00, so the range had a good run.
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Wow, he’s gotten big!
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He’s a lunker. He’s about 15 pounds larger than the breed standard. Frankie was a runt and she’s slightly under the breed standard. There is quite a difference between them.
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Great to see Otto, he’s gotten really big. And that tennis ball seems to have grown a lot too. Cheers, Craig.
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He’s a monster, but a gentle one. The ball is a bit oversized to fit that giant maw.
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Glad Frankie is doing better! We seem to have more luck with Kenmore appliances also.
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Glad your pup doesn’t need any more medical intervention!
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Thanks. We’re still watching her though.
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