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Sear’s Repairmen and Goldfish, Part 2

…And there is water every where.

My first thought was, "Lord, please don't let it be the washing machine."

And then I thought, "Lord, please don't let it be the water heater."

And then, I called the Smart One over to help me figure it out. We got out the flashlight and looked up, down, around, over and under. I didn't think it could be the water heater because there wasn't enough water, unless it was a slow leak. But, the water was actually closer to the heater than the washing machine, so I wasn't sure. We ran a rinse and drain and couldn't find the leak, so we finally decided to call hubby. The conversation went somewhat like the other night; only this time, I was the bearer of bad news.

Me: "Hi, honey. You may not want to come home."

Him, "What's wrong?"

Me, "Well, you know how the other night you told me to just go to bed? You might want to do that tonight."

Him, "Why's that?"

Me, "Well, either the washer or the water heater is broke. Regardless, the garage is full of water."

He came straight home and went to work trying to figure it out. And it was; you guessed it, the washing machine! The water was pouring out of the top of the machine, towards the water heater. The new rubber seal was put on incorrectly. I won't tell you what I was thinking, but you can imagine that I wasn't real happy. I called the Sear's repair line and stayed on hold forever, only to get the person that makes you give them all of your information even though you've just told them that you have a warranty, a service number, etc and you don't want to have to repeat the information all over again to a different person. Then, I tell them anyway because after all, they're just trying to do their job, and I'm put on hold once again. After another 15 minutes go by, we're finally connected and none of the information has been passed, so I have to start all over again!

They apologize and say that they can't get anyone over to fix it until Tuesday. (It's Saturday, and I've been waiting since Thursday to wash my clothes.And there are EIGHT people in my house!) It does not matter that there is water in the garage or that I have dirty clothes or that their repair men are incompetent. It does not matter that I am desperate or that the dumb washing machine keeps breaking on me! Apparently, they think by giving me a $10 gift card takes care of the countless hours I've spent waiting for them to fix my machine. And I don't qualify for a new machine, because in order to qualify it has to be the same thing that keeps breaking, not several different things. Yeah, like that makes sense. So…They can't come until Tuesday.

The lady does give me another number and suggests that I call on Monday and see if they can get over to fix it same day, pleading my case. She wants me to call at seven am, central time. That's five am for me, but hey, if it will get my dishwasher fixed a day earlier, I'll do it! Then she realizes that that won't work because their department calls my city's department and if it is five am when I call them, it is also five am for my city's department. Well, duh!

Ok, honestly, this is where it becomes almost comical. She then spends the next few minutes trying to calculate what time I should call on Monday. She's trying to figure it out because there is a two hour time difference and she wants to make sure that my city's office is open when I call. I suggest that I just call at whatever time they open, since I live in the same city. She isn't happy with that answer, because she's still trying to figure out the time difference. HELLO…I am in the same time zone as the office in my city!!! She finally decides that I should call her at 9:30 in her time zone which would be 7:30 in my time zone because by then the office in my city should be open, because they also have a two hour difference. Ok, ma'm, I'll do that.

Do you suppose that they train their repairmen and their customer service people in the same office? Maybe what they really do in their training sessions is teach them 101 Ways to Annoy Their Customers.

At any rate, I finally get off the phone and head upstairs to relax and try and watch a movie after such a day as this.

And then the wailing starts. OH NO PLEASE SAY IT ISN'T SO!!!

Yah, it's the Drama Queen.

"Goldie is dead! I was watching him and he was breathing and then he went upside down and his mouth was doing this (she actually shows me how he was gasping for air) and then it stopped and now he's DEADDDDD!!!"

We are not a callous family, honest. But B-boo had to leave the room before she burst into uncontrollable laughter.

Poor Punky had to hold the Drama Queen while she sobbed.

I offered her a hot bath to make her feel better.

And when she left, I quickly told B-boo to have her daddy flush it into Neverland.

He wasn't thrilled because the agreement was that I would do it while they were at church. But hey, the fish was still alive then! He flushed; I tried to appear compassionate.

Hey, at least I didn't make us circle the toilet as we said a few nice things about the fish!

As for the washing machine…we're waiting for part 4 of the continuing drama.

Other Sear's Fiascoes:

Appliances and Repairmen

A New Day

Sear's Repairmen & Goldfish

Sear's Repairmen & Goldfish, Part 2

DMV

Sear's Part 3

Sear’s Repairmen and Golfish

After the week that I'd had, I decided to rise to the occasion on Saturday and make it a great one. I was hoping the repairman would come early so that I could accomplish my mounds of laundry. I was ready for my day! I'd made an omelet for the bowler, a waffle sandwich for the karate boy and was working on turkey bacon for the others.

We managed to get them where they needed to be in the morning and came back to tackle the house. The three little ones and I would clean, clean, clean and have fun doing it We dusted, we vacuumed, we straightened shoes, we mopped.

And of course, there was drama. Chicken Noodle Butt has been on a roll of tantrums whenever he's asked to do something. Not hard things, just normal things; like taking a shower, picking up your toys, putting your plate in the sink…you know, normal things. And while this was going on, Mr. Goldfish had been found floating around on his side. Then upside down. With his little mouth trying to suck up air. The Drama Queen was sobbing uncontrollably because *this was the first pet that she'd ever had that she didn't have to share that was dying." Now understand that we've had hamsters, rats, fish, frogs, lizards, snakes, birds and dogs. The only thing that is remaining today is the snake and the dogs! (Ok, we had to give the birds away because the dog wanted to eat them, but still! And no, they didn't all die, some we shared with others, but still!) And we were crying over a goldfish??? I was nice and I held her and told her how sorry I was. I asked hubby to take her out of the house with him when he left so I could flush it down the toilet give it a proper burial. Meanwhile, little Goldie was still trying to decide whether he wanted to float or swim.

And then, the repairman calls to let me know he's on his way. I ask if he's got the rubber seal. He doesn't know what I'm talking about. No, the nice lady from Friday didn't put it in the notes. I tell him what is needed, he states he'll get it and I'll have my washing machine today. I do have serious doubts, especially after my last Sear's fiasco, but I am determined to stay positive! He comes on over, with the part needed and we discuss the washing machine. We talk about previous fiascoes with the washer and repairmen and my growing dislike of this particular machine. He guarantees me that he will be able to fix it and fix it correctly the first time.I almost believe him. I'm elated when he tells me it's fixed and I can do laundry! I'm so happy, I can do anything! I can put up with temper tantrums and dead goldfish because I can wash clothes again. Wow, this was easy. I can't believe it! Life is good again in the Vivas household!

I manage to get a load in and even sit for a whole 30 minutes! The kids are happy playing outside now, the goldfish has decided to live after all, and it's not so bad.

For about 30 minutes.

We head out to run an errand and do what we need to do while the clothes wash. I get back and start cleaning again, and ask the Smart One to please put the clothes in the dryer, then put the jeans from the other day back in the washer so that they can be rinsed out properly. He wonders if the reason why he was itching the other day was due to soap in his jeans, I say it might be. I finally finish and head downstairs to relax.

And I walk into the garage.

And there is water every where.

But I need to get ready for church, so I guess there's a part three to this saga.

Other Sear's Fiascoes:

Appliances and Repairmen

A New Day

Sear's Repairmen & Goldfish

Sear's Repairmen & Goldfish, Part 2

DMV

Sear's Part 3

A New Day

I'm glad today is a new day, because quite frankly, yesterday needed to be over!

It started out with my brain not quite working, so at 6 am, I was filling out paperwork for my kids to turn into their school. Only, I did it wrong. Thank goodness there was another one; only it was in Spanish. That's OK, because I just filled it in anyway. I just hope I don't get a letter in Spanish that I don't understand in response!

I had an appointment yesterday morning, but somehow I ended up running later than usual. I hate to be late to anything; ever. And it wasn't so much that I was late for the appointment, just later than I wanted to be, because I had more paperwork to fill out.

Only I grabbed the wrong paperwork to take with me.

This is the first part where I tell you how much I love my hubby. Because I could call him and tell him what I forgot and he faxed it over right away. This is also where things like faxes and cell phones come in handy!

My appointment wasn't that great either, although I was told that I looked exactly just like I did 15 years ago. Why thank you for trying to make me feel good; although I KNOW that isn't true! This was followed by, "Have you started having any menopause symptoms yet?" And then I got words like, "too complicated" and "specialist" and that was enough for me.

So I headed out of the appointment feeling sorry for myself and decided to drive to the DMV because since I am getting older I have to go in person and get a new license. I have one week left to do this. I thought, "Hey, I'll try it." Yeah, right! Does not being able to even make it driving through the parking lot give you a clue? So, I decided I'll head out early one day next week to get it and headed home; because by now it was after noon and I still hadn't had breakfast!

When I got home though, I took one look at hubby and burst into tears. "I hate words like complicated!" Yah. It's been one of those days. I headed downstairs to make me something to eat only to get sidetracked by something else that needed to be taken care of. Before I knew it, B-boo was calling me to pick her up. Hubby had offered, but I could tell by the tone of her voice that her day hadn't been much better than mine, so I decided I'd better get her and we'd go run an errand together.  (I didn't think hubby should have to deal with both of us!)

We made it through her *lesson at the bank* while I listened to her cry and whine talk about her day only to drive past Sonic…and happy hour. It's amazing what peach tea, strawberry limeade and mozzarella sticks will do for the soul!

And so, the day went on; just those little things that annoy you, kwim?

But the topper was late last night. Hubby came in and suggested that I just go to bed. This while I am filling out yet more paperwork for our college student.

"Why?"

"Well, you probably just shouldn't have gotten out of bed this morning."

Honestly, these are words I really didn't want to hear.

"Why do I want to go to bed now?"

"Well, your washing machine is broke. Somehow the jeans got caught in the rubber seal and spun. The rubber seal is broke, the tub is offline and the jeans are all twisted and soapy."

This is bad, folks, very bad. Some of you may remember reading my post about Appliances and Repairmen last spring. Nobody should have to live through that kind of trauma!

This is the second part where I tell you how much I love my hubby.

First, I called my son and told him that I'd fill out the rest in the morning. Next, my sweet, loving husband volunteered to look up the number for Sears Repair. (I've permanently erased it from my mind!)

I woke up this morning to fresh, hot coffee and a notebook not only with the number, but also all of the information that is needed for the nice lady that answers the phone. Ah…today should be a better day, right?

BTW-I called the number. It took two tries and a repeat of information, but they finally agreed to send the nice repairman out sometime tomorrow. I tried to be helpful and asked her to please put it somewhere in the notes that a new rubber seal is a must.

She said that she can't guarantee that they will bring a rubber seal with them because they don't carry things like that on their repair vans.

I said, "Well, that's why I am asking you to put it on your notes, so that they'll know to bring one."

Her reply, "Well, they have to order things like that and then come back out again."

"Can you please just put it in your notes anyway? Because I really need to use my washing machine."

"Yes, Ma'm, it is in the notes. But they'll have to order the part."

Obviously, there'll be a part 2 to this blog. Stay tuned………..

Other Sear's Fiascoes:

Appliances and Repairmen

A New Day

Sear's Repairmen & Goldfish

Sear's Repairmen & Goldfish, Part 2

DMV

Sear's Part 3

Cuddling & Homeschooling

You know what's great about homeschooling?

Yes, I get to spend more time with my Drama Queen.

Yes, I get to teach her multiplication and division and subtraction.

Yes, I get to teacher her about helping verbs and grammar.

I get to listen to music and sing my heart out with her.

And drink hot tea.

And read books together.

And cuddle.

That's the best part of homeschooling!

MIA

It has been almost a year now since I first started this blog. I started it because I love to write and thought it would be a great way for me to *tell our tale* and have fun with it. And I have enjoyed it so much!

Right now, I'm in a stump. I find it hard to write, because, quite frankly, I am having trouble seeing the fun tales to tell! I figure I'll be honest and state that there is  a struggle going on right now and it seems to be my main focus. Getting through the day is tough. Finding time to blog is even tougher.

I'm having a little struggle with God right now. Not my faith in Him, but just not liking certain aspects of my life right now. There are parts of me who are screaming and stomping my feet and shouting, "It's too much! I can't do it! You're asking too much this time! It's not fair."

Then, there is the reasonable part who knows I should put my big girl panties on and deal with it. Except, I can't seem to find them. (If you find them, can you please send them my way?)

Last night, Punky and I were working on memorizing the moves for a VBS concert that our childrens choir is giving in a couple of weeks. I didn't want to do it. I told her, not even so and so could talk me into doing a VBS musical with her, and we've been friends for almost 17 years! And yet, somehow, here I am; looking foolish and doing it anyway. Last night, I wanted chocolate and my bed. Let me wallow, God.

But, I did it anyway. And unknown to those surrounding my ineptness when it comes to stuff like this, I was actually able to get my brain away from the temper tantrum stewing in my head, if only for an hour. But this morning, I was able to wake up with a song in my head. Ok, it's a VBS song, but these words are what keep going through my stubborn brain this morning.

God Knows

God Hears

God Leads

God Speaks

God Knows

God Loves

God Cares about Me

So I will cast my cares on the Lord, because He cares for me

I will trust in Him, no matter what

'Cause I know He will never stop, caring for me

It seems to me, that He knows I'm having trouble seeing Him right now, so He's bound and determined to prove it to me, if only through a child's VBS song that I can't get out of my head.