This morning was like any other. I hopped out of the shower, gathered up the jeans and dark shirts and socks from the past couple days, loaded up the washing machine, and turned it on to fill with water while I finished putting my make-up on. I headed into our bedroom to check on Growly Bear, and noticed that I didn't hear the washer filling any more, but I also didn't hear it agitating. I figured my mushy mommy brain forgot to close the lid, so I went to close it. Unfortunately, I discovered that it already was closed! But nothing was happening! I played with the setting, trying every different combo I could think of, and nadda!
A word suddenly came to mind.... "conniption". I remember my dad using that term when I was a kid. If I was being rotten and having a freak out, he'd tell me not to have a conniption. Or he'd warn me to clean up after myself of else my mom would have a conniption. I never really though much about the word, and in all honestly, I always kinda wondered if it was even a REAL word (my dad has come pretty crazy made up words!) I have discovered (since googling it to get the correct spelling) that it IS indeed a word, and I was about to have one!
I'm standing there looking at a washing machine that was full of about 500lbs of soapy water, and some of my favorite clothes, and it was dead! I told my self to remain calm, and did the only thing I could think to do. I called my husband on his cell and freaked! He politely reminded me that he was at work, and he'd take a look when he got home. I squawked at him that I NEEDED to do laundry (apparently, in my dramatic mindset, I'd forgotten the fact that we all have enough clothes, socks and underwear to get us through about 3 weeks). So, he started talking about "belts" and "starter switches" and something about the motor, and he started asking me all these questions. I dunno... I stopped listening and agreed that him looking at it after he got off of work was a good idea.
So, when he got home, he pulled it out to take a look. Well, Oh. My. God. I now know what the most disgusting place in my entire house is! Dog hair. Laundry soap. Long lost socks. Missing change. And other stuff that I'm sure I don't even want to know what it was! I considered taking a photo to share with you all, but decided against it. I like you all too much to subject you to that horror.
It was all I could do to turn my back and walk away from the filth while my poor husband was trying to figure out the problem. Every part of my soul wanted to shove him aside and deal with it right then! I made him PROMISE not to push the washing machine back in place until I could get back there and clean it. He has a kinda "Outta site. Outta mind" mentality when it comes to housework. I knew the site of that Dust Doggies colony would haunt me if I knew it was under there though!
But, I did leave him alone. And after about 20 minutes of curse words and tools clanking, he came out and told me that it was that starter thing that he thought it was right from the start. He's got a really amazing mind when it comes to mechanics of any kind, and he likes to figure out how things work. He started explaining to me how the starter had a thing that pushed down on another thing and released something else, and that allowed the motor to start, and... I have no idea what else. I answered with "Oh wow. Cool!" and that seemed to make him happy, so I suppose it was the appropriate response?
Anyway, with a little tweaking and some duct-tape, he had me up and running again in no time! And, he even vaccumed the Dust Doggie colony up for me! He earned some big "Good Husband" brownie points, and I managed to fit two loads of laundry in before Growly Bear went to bed! All those factors, combined with the fact that he probably saved us a minimum of $700, even if just temporarily, makes it a good day in my books.
I'm off to bed now my faithful readers,
Love and Hugs