The washer, the washer, the washer, the washer...

I had started this post almost a year ago to tell about our new laundry system. I've had the piece on 'hold' waiting for the outcome of the story, which has not come yet. The story was getting to be too long, so I've edited it to 'current' and will post the outcome later...when the outcome comes!

Well, the 'repair' guys from our "local" appliance dealer in Yreka [75 miles from here] are coming again soon for the fifth or sixth time! When our washer conked out on us during the summer of 2009, July I think, we purchased a new washer/dryer set: the Duet Sport. We've been pleased for the most part over this past year, but issues have still not been resolved.

Last summer we had gone to the appliance store anticipating the purchase of a 'conventional' set, similar to the one we were now needing to replace: top loading washer, front load dryer, all the regular settings one could want. When we checked out what is now available, we found that we just NEEDED this new type of washer that uses LESS THAN 6 GALLONS OF WATER PER LOAD!!! This is quite important for us as our laundry water comes from our well. If we can conserve our well water, that would be MAJOR! :-)

So, the Whirlpool Duet Sport set of washer and dryer, was for us! We also got the pedestal stands for them to raise them up for easier access. The set cost more initially, but the savings to us in actual WATER will be like GOLD to us! Our new appliances would be delivered to Happy Camp as soon as possible....10 days from purchase date [they only go to Happy Camp when they have enough calls/deliveries to make a full days work...so, a trip every 2 to 3 weeks].

Well, the first load of laundry was lots of fun! We both stood there and watched our towels go 'round and 'round, then there would be a pause........and then they'd go 'round and 'round in the other direction, then back the other way. We were mesmerized. OK, so, it's difficult to find exciting things to do in Happy Camp, but THIS was one of them! The water level was quite low and there was hardly any suds...but we were quite pleasantly surprised how nice and clean the towels were. So, next load...

Well, the newness had worn off by now, so we didn't feel the need to watch the whole show...but at the end of the cycle, we had to go check it out: the noise alerted us that the washer was just rockin' and rollin'! It was dancing around so much that it "walked" a full three inches forward during the spin cycle! It was doing "the bump" with the dryer--we put a piece of card board in between to protect themselves from each other. We were at a loss as to what to do--turn it off? hold it down? ...move with the grooves? [OK, let's ALL dance...]

So, we called the appliance store and told them our woes...and they said they'd send the repair guys out....on their next trip down river to Happy Camp....week after next. Tom and Shawn leveled up the washer, gave it a test run and all seemed well! :-) Then a couple days later when I was doing washing, the machine was scootching it's way forward again, rockin' and a rollin', bumping with the dryer. Another call to the repair guys...

Another few weeks went by until the next trip to Happy Camp was arranged. After another inspection and test run, it was determined that the 'boot' [I think that's what Tom called it] was one of original types, the thicker ones, and after a call to the manufacturer, it was decided to request a newer type, the thinner one, that keeps the load balanced better. Seems originally the heavier gasket around the door SOMEtimes causes the load to be off balanced or something, causing the washer to rock....sometimes not. We, 75 miles from the dealer, had to be 'the unlucky ones'.

We got the new boot/gasket for around the door a few weeks later....or so we thought. After removing the old gasket piece from around the door, Tom, the repair guy, discovered that he had been sent the exact same gasket that he had just removed! Instead of the newer lighter weight and thinner gasket....we got just what we had! *sigh* Another few weeks wait until the next Happy Camp trip, which had to be cancelled because the same mistake had taken place again! This time Tom checked the part he was sent and it was yet again, the same original THICK gasket! Seems the parts warehouses hadn't yet cleared out the old parts, and the NEW part still had the same part number. This was ridiculous! I told Tom to just order me a new washer, one with the new part IN it! He understood my frustration and took my request to the "higher ups".

Finally, [it's January by now!] we got the new washer; the test run went well. Whew! At last, washing without all the movement! Now the washer just jiggles during the spin cycle! Washing has been wonderful again, for several months.......then we noticed a leak!

The washer apparently has developed a problem when we run the washer on "heavy duty" an/or "whitest white" cycles! Water dribbles out of the bottom of the door, down the front of the washer, into the pedestal drawer, then onto the floor. Is this due to the thinner gasket at the door?! Our floor isn't level, I guess, as the water runs down into a puddle in front of the dryer. I called the repair team and the next trip to Happy Camp.....was going to be the day we were leaving on vacation and before our house/dog sitter showed up that evening. Alas, another wait for the next Happy Camp trip.

So, the repair guys, Tom and Shawn, are due to make another trip to our house soon. We don't have to give them directions anymore...and the dogs don't bark at them. It's like having old friends over! LOL I sure hope something can be done about this.....or we might be trying out a different set of washer! But, we DO love that these newer ones use so much less water! We'll keep giving these a try, after all, the laundry looks good, the well doesn't run dry...and it's fun to see the clothes go 'round and 'round and 'round............
:-)

Happy New Year! ~~~ Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Well, I had fully intended to keep up the blogging...but I see I've fallen behind! I have a couple of writings "in the works", but they are not completed yet...they are long stories and will take a bit more time before I should post them! ;-p

So, random thoughts: We've had a Happy New Year..had TWO of them, actually: January 1, Twenty-Ten, and then Year of the Tiger began on February 14th. Nice having that "second chance" at a new start! We didn't stay up to midnight in January...but we {I} always do for Chinese New Year, and Michael naps in his recliner chair until I wake him up to do firecrackers.

So, at midnight we toss the firecrackers out the entrances to our home--and this year there are more doors to our house than EVER, so, gee, I'm going to run out of firecrackers more quickly!! A pack out the front, a pack out the back and a pack out the patio door, which will cover both the door from the pool room and the one from the bedroom--they both open to the patio....save firecrackers that way! Haha!

After each pack, we have to calm the dogs down...old Toby is so hard of hearing this year, the noise doesn't bother him; but Garner is really skittish and Penny seems nervous just because Garner is, I think. Once they are more relaxed we can continue with our celebration.

I make Jai every year that I can...and this year I COULD, thanks to a shopping trip to a very nice market in Fremont where I was able to find EVERYthing I needed! [I needed to restock ALL my supplies this year]. Cousin Broderick and his wife Virginia took me shopping there when we stopped by to visit with them during our Christmas travels. So, after firecrackers we sit down to a nice bowl of Jai and sweeten chrysanthemum tea...right after a nice toast to the New Year: we each down a shot of Jack Daniels [mandatory for Michael...it helps the Jai go down! lol] It's a delicious dish but a very different one. I wish we could get the "candy" we used to get when I was a child...Dad used to buy it in Chinatown, SF...usually in a really old shop with rough and worn wooden floors, way in the back...it came in barrels: candied coconut, candied melon pieces and candied kumquats [like tiny oranges]. We'd also get dried lychee nuts, so sweet-- after cracking into the rough textured thin shell, you nibble the sweet dried fruit off of the big smooth seed in the middle.

I'm so happy that Michael indulges me by sharing in my Chinese New Year celebration! We've had many wonderful years and perhaps our good luck IS helped by stacking oranges, putting Li See lucky money in the rice storage container, lighting firecrackers to chase the bad luck away. AND, the house gets a pretty good cleaning beforehand, too! :-) We hope all our friends and family had a great new year...and another great start of a new year: Happy New Year and Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Merry 2009 Christmas!

Hope everyone had a lovely and Merry Christmas! It was a busy time for us, as usual. We had to work the pharmacy alone, just the two of us, as our clerk was on maternity leave, so we were very busy as we prepared for the pharmacy closure between Christmas and New Year's Day.

We had a nice quiet Christmas at home, then the next day we drove off to visit family and friends. Cousin Broderick invited us to dinner for the 26th, so we drove all day to get to Fremont. In addition to Broderick and Virginia, and their kids Stephanie and Eric, we got to visit with cousin Yvonne and her husband Werner. It had been a number of years since we had seen each other, so it was a very enjoyable visit.

Next day we traveled further down the road to see my sister, Elena and her son Joshua. Oh, and also, we got to see Saphire the Great Dane! She really likes Michael!

I didn't take pictures of the two cats, as they were rather shy and I didn't want to blast them with a flash picture! LOL We had a great visit with everyone, but we didn't get to drop by and see the Aunties in King City: they had traveled north!

We got to visit with Michael's brother, Tristan and his daughterKim and all of her kids. Our nieces and nephews are all in college now! I got to get together for a lunch with my childhood girlfriends--always a good thing!

Then off we went to visit with daughter Kris and her family. She and Doug are fine and all the kids are growing up fast! I think we may have interested Elliot in a pharmacy career! He said he'll look into it! [he's just starting high school next fall]. Pictured with us, left to right: Elliot, Madison and Max.

Before our Christmas break, we were able to get up to Medford to see granddaughter Kaydie and her family. Lots of fun seeing the excited little ones! Pictured here with us, Lathrop, Keyari, Carmen, Junior and Kaydie.

We spent a relaxing and quiet New Year's Eve at home and had our friend, Sonny, over for New Year's Day dinner. It was a great Christmas season and a good beginning to the new year, which I have vowed to call "Twenty-Ten".

I hope Twenty Ten brings you good health, good wealth, every happiness, and love and laughs. Happy New Year!