The M Word

Dishwasher

We need a new dishwasher. Desperately.

Our dishwasher is about 18 years old and falling apart, as well as falling out of the cabinet. You can only open one drawer at a time or the whole thing tips over. About a month ago we decided it was time to bring "Buy a Dishwasher" to the top of the To Do List. Mr M carefully kept all of the appliance coupons that came in the mail, he decided we should go to Sears. We've always had good luck there.

One day Mr M hands me the 15% off coupons and tells me to go get what I want. Great! But life gets in the way and I never quite got around to it.

Yesterday, he called Sears to find out if they were going to have any upcoming sales to look out for. The nice lady on the phone told him there would be some fabulous sales on Black Friday. Black. Friday.
Yes the day after Thanksgiving.

At dinner he actually brought up the subject of going to the mall at 7am on Black Friday to BUY A DISHWASHER! WTF! It was like conversation whiplash - a trip to the mall, getting up at 7am, shopping on the busiest day of the year! I asked if there was something I should know, like he's on crack, drunk, crazy or all of the above. He insists this is the way to go. A man who hasn't been in a mall since 2003. A man who hasn't done any, not even his own, Christmas shopping in 9 years. He will be there at 7am on Black Friday.

I have to work on Black Friday (no, not in retail) so I'm going to leave the appliance shopping to the Mr. Wish him luck fighting off the ladies for all the bargains. Who knows, in his quest to save a few bucks we might actually get a deal.

Updates

Time sure has flown by around here. It seems like just yesterday was 3's birthday. The birthday party was a great success. It was a Laser Tag party. I was a little skeptical that 3 was coerced into having her party there by her older brother. But she LOVED it much to my surprise. All of her little friends were too cute wearing the gear and strategizing about the best way to get the big kids. Meanwhile, I took the whole thing quite seriously and got a fair amount of pleasure shooting all of the kids running around. I'm WAY too competitive, ask my family about Apples to Apples Easter 2004. I have been banned from large family games ever since. Anyway Laser Tag was defintely the way to go. I predict many more birthday parties there in our future.

Parent Teacher conferences went well this year. The teachers all seem to really understand and connect with the kids this year. Better than last year, the-grade-that-shall-not-be-named, that's for sure. 2's ADD symptoms seem to well under control. He is enjoying school for the first time in a long time. 1 is like totally like having like an awe-some time in 5th grade. (Yes 'like' is her new favorite word. I thought that went out in the eighties). She is really entering into her 'social phase.' 3 is doing as 3 does. Making things look easy and moving through life on her terms.

Cheerleading is over for the year. It was bittersweet this year. A BFF and I worked together to coach these girls. In the beginning they were a group of misfits who blossomed into a tight squad. We were a small squad, but I was very proud of their performance overall. They came a long way over the last few months. I'll miss seeing these girls on a regular basis. Hopefully next year we can work something out.

The Cashmere sweater......hmmm. This is not turning out very well. I hesitate to mention it, but it will come out eventually. I don't think I like it very much. The color is not to my liking. The pattern is not very interesting. And quite frankly I'm bored. I always try to finish these things that I commit to, so....I'll finish it then rip it out and wait for the next idea. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. You never know when you will end up with a happy mistake.

Now we are off to more lessons and getting ready with projects to keep busy in the winter months.

Laundry

Last week in a moment of impulsive shopping I purchased this. Yes dryer balls. Who knew such a thing existed?! But I will have environmentally-friendly, softer clothes for pennies. I am such a geek for getting a big thrill out of this.

Many years ago when Mr M and I were first married we both worked at night alot. It would take us a few hours to unwind, and we'd usually watch TV for a bit before heading off to bed. Usually at 12-2am there would be these fabulous infomercials and paid programming that made everything look so easy "in 3 easy steps." We did a bit of binge shopping and purchased or got 'free' many of those things "As Seen on TV." We couldn't pass up those great bargains. Everything looks fabulous and easy when seen through sleep deprived eyes. Our current garage is living proof of this pursuasive advertising.

Anyway, I thought we had mended our ways. That is until last week. In an effort to fool myself into thinking I had less laundry to do. I decided to just wash larger loads. Nothing gets completely dry the first time through and I usually have to dry a load 1 and 1/2 times, but I'm not willing to give up on the 'idea' of doing less laundry. So I bought these dryer balls, and you won't believe it..............................
but they really work! Honestly. Truly. I'm so excited!!

I love it when things work the way they are supposed to. This is one thing that will not end up in the garage, that Mr M affectionately calls The Hellpile.