What next?

[sugarplumkitty]

I broke the washing machine. You know, I never thought something so huge would be so fragile. I went to throw a load of light clothes in yesterday and remembered the last thing I washed were the bath rugs after the cats peed on them. I had the temperature turned to Hot. I wash my clothes in cold to preserve the elastic and colors so I gave the knob a twist, just like I always do and it came off in my hand. The post the knob attaches to had broken. I tried using needlenose pliers to turn it, but it wouldn't turn. It just crumbled more. I had to do laundry so I dragged the garden hose into the garage and filled the washer with it. The rinse cycle is Warm, so I filled a 3 gallon bucket with water from the hose to help cool it down and left the door to the garage open so I could hear when I needed to run out there to dump the bucket in.

Why didn't it break in the cold position? I could have lived with that. Now we have to spend money to get the darned thing repaired which means I need to clean up the living room big time before I have anyone walk through. Well, unless I can find the repair manual online so I can fix it. The post was made of PLASTIC. How stupid is that? Planned obsolescence?

Eric got home after a stressful day only to discover what had happened. We're having to take money out of savings to cover bills this month already, so a broken washing machine hit him pretty hard.

Poor Eric, he had a funny envelope from his dad in the mail. His dad has been dumping all kinds of legal paperwork on Eric since Eric's mom died. She took care of all the paperwork, you see. Eric is executor of his parents' estate so Dad M. just sends him anything that looks offical. We've had to photocopy insurance paperwork and send it back because Dad discovered he needed it. *sigh*

So Eric blustered when he found the envelope on his chair. "What is he sending me NOW?" It turned out to be a letter from their old family Baptist church in MacPherson, KS sent to Eric via his dad, wondering why they hadn't seen him in a while. Now this is very odd. Eric has lived in California for over 25 years now. The church has seen him three times since then. Once for his sister's funeral, once when we threw a 50th anniversary party for his parents there, and last year for his mother's funeral. The pastor creeped me out. I had the feeling he's all about power without spirituality. We know Dad stopped going there right after the funeral because he's living in a different town 30 miles away and was not happy with the lack of support he got from the congregation there both during Mom's illness and after she died. The Mennonite community in his new town was supportive to the point that he was seriously thinking about joining their church. He asked me what I'd think about it before we went home after the funeral. I told him it was still Christian, so I didn't see any problem with it. (Actually, I wouldn't have a problem with anything he chose since I believe all positive spiritual paths lead to the same place) The lady next door he's seeing isn't Mennonite as it turns out, so he's attending a Unitarian church with her.

I think Eric is going to blow off the letter from the church, so I think I'll write to them to let them know why Eric hasn't attended church there for over 25 years! LOL

Comments

[destinyblue.livejournal.com]

how odd that it took them 25 years to notice he wasn't showing up on a regular basis! What weird people!

I hope you get your washer fixed without having to call a repairman!

[honeyswtrose.livejournal.com]

well they were probably going through all their old membership lists and sending out mass mailing to beef up dues. LOL

[sugarplumkitty.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, tithing. :)

[gladtobehere.livejournal.com]

you are crafty too...

[sugarplumkitty.livejournal.com]

Shhh! Don't tell! LOL

[gladtobehere.livejournal.com]

GIRL!! you just told the entire LJ community. i just had the nerve to point it out.

[sugarplumkitty.livejournal.com]

Oh, they know. I am quiet about it when visiting religious relatives unless they start pushing their propaganda onto me. I see no need to ruffle feathers unless they're asking for it.

[aikoheiwa.livejournal.com]

Sucks about the washer; and it's weird he'd hear from the church after so long.

[sugarplumkitty.livejournal.com]

The washer is fixable. Eric took it apart last night.


I've decided not to write to the church. If they had our address, they'd probably contact the local Baptist church to check up on him and we'd get bothered by them. I'm going to call.

[jenny-rambles.livejournal.com]

Is there a Craig's List in your area? A lot of time they have washers that people are just giving away. Also look at Free Cycle.
They may not be fancy but they'll get you through better than fixing it right now. :)

[sugarplumkitty.livejournal.com]

It's just the knob. The machine works fine. When I got hom from class last night, Eric handed me the little switch mechanism and asked if I could find a replacement at the local appliance store today! :)

[yeoww.livejournal.com]

Eric's dad is seeing someone?

At this point I'm suspicious of any church. Blech. I'm sorry about your washer.

[sugarplumkitty.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's cute! He and the lady next door have been watching out for each other since they moved in since Eric's mom spent most of her time in the hospital while they lived there. She's a really sweet widow and an excellent cook. Eric's dad is a bit of a flirt by nature, so they already had a flirtatious thing going before Eric's mom died. After she was gone, the lady stepped up to offer support.

He invited her to go to the lake with his camping/fishing club last month. It would have meant they shared the camper. She refused saying she's "not kinky that way." LOL

Eric and Donald are thrilled for him. I'm not sure what Geneva thinks. Dad is fibbing to her about it saying they're just friends.

[yeoww.livejournal.com]

"not kinky that way" aw!

I'm glad he found someone.

[sugarplumkitty.livejournal.com]

I think if he wants some, he's going to have to marry her! LOL

[yeoww.livejournal.com]

uh-oh. I was gonna say something about not buying shoes before you try them on but that would be tacky. Oops! Too late =)

Honestly, no matter what the age - I'd never marry someone without having sex first. Too many icky variables could rear their ugly - heads - after the marriage license has already been signed!

[sugarplumkitty.livejournal.com]

I agree, but she's an elderly lady from the midwest with strong old-fashioned values. Her values are not the same as ours.

[yeoww.livejournal.com]

I hear you. I wish them the best.

[sugarplumkitty.livejournal.com]

I don't blame you about the church feelings. You know I share them.

This is a rumor I feel a need to pass on to you. Someone here in LJ told me they've known of the LDS church helping "disappear" kids in hostile divorces when they thought the other spouse was going to take the kids away from the church.

I'm going to ask my Aunt Shirley about it, since she was raised in the LDS church, but I wanted to mention it to you to make sure you're careful not to even hint at that.

I'd hate to think how the kids would grow up with Jim raising them on his own...

[yeoww.livejournal.com]

hm. I hadn't heard that. Jim's LDS friends are helping him hide his motorcycle from me, though!

More seriously - first of all, I am not pulling them the kids away from the church, as that would only make it more attractive to them - forbidden fruits and all that. Secondly, if they were stupid enough to mess with my kids I'd raise such a stink - can you see it now? LDS Insider Tells All! And believe me, I do have some stories to tell. So I'm not worried but I thank you for passing this on. Forewarned is always forearmed.

[sugarplumkitty.livejournal.com]

I have sent the email to my aunt telling her about the situation (with no names) and asking her if it's really a risk. At this point, I wouldn't put it past YSTBX to lie to them about that just to hurt you.

[yeoww.livejournal.com]

*hugs* You're a good friend. Let me know what you hear.

[sugarplumkitty.livejournal.com]

I will. If push comes to shove, I'll help by pushing from within the church through my aunt. Only if you want me to, of course.

[yeoww.livejournal.com]

if it came to that I'd want to pull out ALL the stops. Oh, Lordy. They wouldn't want to go there with me.

[sugarplumkitty.livejournal.com]

I'd be right there beside you fighting all the way.