Saturday, August 11, 2018

Are we done yet?

They say things happen in threes. Good luck, bad luck, visitors, coincidences. Well, I hope that's so, because if things keep breaking around here I'm going to run away from home.

First our dryer died,  so we immediately called around and found a repair service to come out and look at it. The service call plus the repair, although minor, cost $300. Okay. Well, at least it's working now and we got it done quickly and easily, we said. Haha!

Our washing machine stopped working (mid load, full of water and soap) less than 48 hours later! We couldn't do without a washing machine for long, so we had to go right out and buy one, which meant spending another nice chunk of cash. I prayed to all the gods and saints that nothing else would break, but deep inside I felt that it was just a matter of time before one more thing would happen. I'm not generally a superstitious person, but for some reason the rule of threes (things happening in threes) has always held true for me. So I waited, and watched, and after a week or two went by I forgot about it.

Yesterday Gregg decided it was (past) time to cut the grass. We've had a lot of rain and all of a sudden the grass is getting out of hand. So he went out, filled the machine with gas, and began to mow...

and the lawn mower CAUGHT ON FIRE. As in, flames shooting out of one side, cut off the mower and somebody run for a fire extinguisher (or in Gregg's case, the water hose because it was closer). Luckily the fire went out on its own when the engine shut off. We dare not try to crank it again.

There you go; appliance #3 has broken or died. All three were items that we own, as opposed to most of the appliances in this house. Since we're renting almost anything else would have been the landlord's responsibility. Lucky us! And check this out: we lost our dryer (Air), our washer (Water), and our lawn mower (Earth), and the lawn mower died by way of (Fire). Maybe this means the circle of bad luck and breakage is now complete? I hope so!

20 comments:

  1. Air, water, earth and fire, wow. What an expensive week.

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  2. I feel for you, girl! We haven't had a matching washer and dryer in years. Ours always broke down in separate years. By the way, I now have songs by Earth Wind and Fire running thru my head. Try to have a good weekend.

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    1. I almost posted a YouTube video of an Earth Wind and Fire song! Great minds!

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  3. Whoa! Heavy.
    I will say we had a similar experience with our mower - although smoke, not fire. Turned out a family of mice had built a nest in the engine and we inadvertently BQ'd everybody.

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  4. My toilet is broken. When you flush it, water rushes everywhere. It is leaking from some bolts. After looking at it and trying a few things, my can-fix-anything husband informed me that I may need a new toilet. Okay. Add to the equation that he is about to go gator hunting for a week. "Good thing we have two more toilets!" he said cheerfully. I take this to mean that he probably isn't going to get it fixed before he leaves. And oh, I do realize what a first world problem this is. We DO have two more toilets.
    So. You have had earth, wind, and fire related breakdowns. I have had a pee and poop and water breakdown.
    I'm hoping that was my three right there.

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  5. From now on everything will be fine.

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  6. It caught fire? Holy shit. I would have panicked while the neighbourhood caught fire.

    Let it all be done for now.

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  7. The four elements - that's a fun way to look at it. Hope things settle down for you, what an expense!

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  8. I'm sorry to laugh but I love your four elements connection. I would say this is all mystical and magical. (OK, mystical, magical, and expensive!)

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    1. Well, it's making my checking account disappear just like magic!

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  9. Holy elemental problem, Batman. May it be over.

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  10. So you are safe now. Three and done. Crap happens. They all would have gone sooner or later, but it would have been nicer if it was spaced apart. The good thing was that Gregg was not hurt.

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  11. We've also had a series of minor mishaps. Mowers, oven, pool filter. My fingers are now permanently crossed.

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  12. None of my things have gone wrong for quite a while. It's quiet. Too quiet. I don't like it...

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  13. You don't need a lawnmower. Use two pairs of scissors instead and as for washing your clothes, why not go over to Oakdale or Forest Lake with some soap powder and a couple of rocks? Dry your laundry on a washing line. These tips are provided free of charge. (Expletive from JB)... You're welcome!

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    1. I'm headed over to Oakdale this afternoon to swim at my friend's house, maybe I should do my laundry in the pool! Ha.

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  14. Or get a sheep to live on your lawn, that will keep it short, plus your dogs will have a new friend!
    My fridge wants replacing, as the freezer compartment's door is broken. I hope my washing machine and computer won't be next.

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  15. It sounds almost Biblical! LOL! Seriously, that is such a nightmare, to have everything die in quick succession. I hope you can get things going again without too much expense. (Can the mower be repaired? It might just be a fuel leak or something...)

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