Damn, it seems like everything we have is falling apart.

[Tobin S.]

We recently replaced the washer and dryer and central air unit. The dishwasher has been broken for at least a year. We've been washing them by hand which isn't too bad because it's usually just the two of us. A wiring harness for a burner on the stove has come loose. I don't think that's going to be too costly to fix. I'm just not sure how to do it. The lighting fixture on a ceiling fan we have in the living room is not working. It's not the bulbs. Jen called me at work tonight and said the vacuum cleaner quit working. It's one of those bagless deals. I've gone through four of those in the last ten years. I'm going to get a canister deal that uses bags this time. Hopefully, that will last longer.

I took our lawn mower to the shop today. I think the carburetor is gummed up. We haven't used it in two years and we put it up with fuel still in it unaware of what that might do to the fuel system. I am low on mechanical ability so I'm not going to try to fix that myself. The guy at the shop said $50. That's a lot cheaper than buying a new one and it's a pretty nice little mower to begin with. One of those self-propelled deals.

We had a guy mowing our lawn for us. He was just a neighborhood guy and he did it pretty cheap. I've been thinking about doing it myself again since spring came along. Then, a couple of days ago, my wife became aware that this guy has a warrant out for his arrest. Something about criminal conversion. I think it has something to do with trying to sell stolen stuff, but I'm not sure. He's always been cool with us so we aren't going to turn him in. He's still living at the same address so I think it's only a matter of time before they come and get him anyway. However, we decided that we don't really need to be associating with the guy anymore and that settled it on doing the lawn ourselves again.

It's muggy tonight and it was hot earlier today. I've been out in the weather on 2nd shift at work. It was so nice to walk into our house and feel the cool air. We got that a/c fixed just in time.

Tomorrow's to do list:

1. Do a curb alert on Craigslist with the old vacuum cleaner.
2. Use our new washer and dryer for the first time. I've got some laundry to do.
3. Try to fix the stove.
4. Price new ceiling fans.

[NanceGreggs]

1. I hear ya.

I was just talking to my kids about this yesterday – the way appliances have become as disposable at Bic lighters.

I had to have my water heater replaced three weeks ago - $2,200. The one it replaced was twelve years old – the one THAT one replaced was over 40 years old.

My last stove lasted 32 years before a heating element blew in the oven. My current stove, brand-new state-of-the-art, was two years old when the oven element blew. Repairable - but WTF?

My house was built in 1923. I still have the original claw-foot bathtub. When I bought in 1985, the tub still had the original taps. They lasted until the late ‘90s, when I had them replaced (so 70 years). The replacement taps lasted SEVEN years before they had to be replaced.

If we had the technology to make things that lasted seventy years in 1923, why are we living in a world where things aren’t made to last more than a few years – if that?

I understand what’s behind the idea ($$$) – I just don’t understand why we live like this.

[mnhtnbb]

2. Appliances have become as disposable as Bic lighters.

Great simile!




Water heater and a/c for a 14 year old studio apartment above our garage needed replacement, and now a double pane fixed, big picture window that has developed moisture between the panes
in the house we built only 5 years ago to replace the one that burned down here. Got the first estimate yesterday: $607.76! Have another company scheduled to come give us an estimate
next week. My fear is that the other windows in the same wall--overlooking our view on either side of the fireplace--will develop the same problem and we could be looking at a couple grand
to replace the glass if the seals on all of them decide to fail, one by one.

I'm beginning to like the idea of selling the house and moving to an apartment.