Appliance Melancholy

The year.... 1974*. Appliance companies everywhere responded to consumer demand for appliances to be any colour but white. Pea-soup green became the uh... 'gold' standard in households across North America. Other promising colours were dried-mustard yellow and bad-mayonnaise beige. Washing machines began offering 'gentle cycles' and brands like Maytag and Whirlpool became household names, known for producing quality product that lasted for years.

Fast forward to 2008. Last year (in 2007), we bought a house and became proud owners of a pea-soup green washer and dryer. I looked all over the machines for the emblazened seal of approval stating the year of manufacturing, to no avail. I convinced myself I wasn't yet out of diapers.

After my first load of laundry, I asked The Man for a new washer and dryer. "What would really go great in our laundry room is a new washing machine. One that has more than two options for wash cycles," I pleaded. Not a chance. My best hope was for one of the machines to break. I won't lie; in earnest I concocted possible scenarios for how best to break either machine. 'How bad is it really to put a hammer in the dryer? How many towels could I wash at a time before the washing machine choked and died? Is a pack of matches in the dryer a fire hazard?' I never had the nerve, or the financial comfort, to bring my imagination to life. However two weeks ago, the answer came, in the form of a large, blue, terry cloth bathrobe.

Otherwise known as the thing. that would not. dry. Time flies when you only have three dry settings to choose from. Apparently, after three hours, the bathrobe was still not dry. 'Hmm," I thought. "That's some thick bathrobe. Obviously too much for my antique dryer to handle." Genius husband said it was because I was using permanient press dial setting, with the high heat temperature setting. He buys into the theory that if you say anything with authority, people will believe you. I'm onto him though!

A week later my cousin Jenn and her bf Ryan came to visit. They had driven along the coast from B.C, camping in rain for a week, I offered them use of my laundry facilities. No terry-cloth fur coats in their laundry, yet it still took three hours to dry. While I was slightly embarrassed, I rejoiced. "Ding, Dong! The dryer's dead. The dryer's dead!" in tune to the W.O.Oz's Munchkin Parade.

I registered on Consumer Reports. I spent hours browsing. I pounded the pavement. I talked to friends and got first-hand accounts. I read reviews. Using an Excel spreadsheet and some moderately confusing math, I narrowed it down. One of the most important things to me, was energy efficiency. While some people in my household believe more in global cooling than global warming, I wanted a lower electricity bill. Fortunately, that only leaves about 45 units to choose from. I wanted a top loader for a few reasons - easier on my tweaky back, can add clothes to the cycle once it's started, my laundry room doesn't leave a whole lot of room for doors at knee height, and larger loads. (One day I will have a king size bed and will need to wash king-size blankets).

I narrowed it down to the Whirlpool Cabrio, Maytag Bravos, Kenmore Elilte Oasis HE, and GE Profile. To make a long story less long, I went with the Kenmore Elite Oasis HE from Sears because I got a ridiculously good price on a floor model. (Also, I am less concerned about anti-bacteria in my laundry, am not convinced the 'steam' function really makes a huge difference, not to mention any of those washer and dryers have about 80 per cent more functionality than my current pair, and 100 per cent more effectiveness than my current dryer).

Overall, I would say trying to decide on which appliances to go with is not easy. It's a lot of pressure! It's all fine and dandy for The Guy at home on the couch watching television, but I just knew that if I bought the wrong thing it's going to be all my fault. A woman with her son were also spending their Monday afternoon shopping for a new W/D set, and I'd like to think, we bonded over the anxiety.

Things I learned:

• You will usually pay about $100 more for a non-white machine
• They will take MORE money off the floor model if there are scratches etc. At Sears, for every two weeks the floor model sits there, they knock more money off.
• It's important to note which machines are gas and which are electric
• Doing one load of laundry in hot water uses as much energy as leaving your fridge door open for 24-hours
• By the end of 2011, nearly a quarter of the major home appliances sold worldwide will be non-white. This will be most true for high-end appliances.
• Kenmore appliances are produced by Whirlpool
• No one has invented a washer/dryer combo that folds laundry yet
  

The washer and dryer arrive on Saturday. Here's hoping for a lower electricity bill, cleaner clothes, shorter drying time, and a husband that will do laundry.


* Totally fabricated date

Competition Amongst Friends

The Death Ride is in one week. Seven days of nerves to withstand. It's ridiculous. There's nothing to be nervous about. Get on the bike and pedal. The catch is that you pedal for 12 hours, at elevation, taking 10-15 minute breaks every few hours. The butterflies are going crazy in my stomach.

I did this ride two years ago. And I completed 90 miles of the 129 mile route. I was in better shape, but was not mentally prepared for five "passes" and so only completed four. (Looking back, had I completed the whole thing, I would not be attempting it again. Hindsights a bi*ch).

I've trained a little differently this year.
First, I didn't bike as much. This is not a good thing.
I'm going to take aspirin for the week leading to the event. This should help to thin my blood and make it easier for my heart to work at high altitude.
In training, I rode longer hill climbs and varied it up. Instead of riding the same three hills, I went to Mt. Diablo and Mt. Tamalpais to seek the intensity I would be facing on the Death Ride route.
Lastly, I rode with friends. I'm fortunate this year to be participating in the event with people I know. It's made training easier and more fun. But it's also taught me something about competition amongst friends.

When it comes to athletics, it's hard to find someone that is a mirror image of you in talent and skill Maybe someone runs faster, but the other person can run longer. Cycling is no exception. I have a friend who's excellent at hills. I suck at hills. I have a friend who goes really fast on the flats... I like riding with them because they make me push myself harder on the flats. I consider myself a competitive person, but when it comes to cycling, I want to ride with people who are better than I am. They push me to do better, and i think that's the secret to getting better at anything.

Friendly competition is a phenomenal thing. It can help one succeed when they otherwise wouldn't have; and it can strengthen or break a friendship. If there's one thing I have learned during this season's training, it's to surround yourself with people who want to see you succeed and do well, and who remain supportive and positive, whether they finish before you or after you. Avoid those who never were able to grow out of being that 'sore loser' on the elementary school playground.

Now, go watch the Tour de France!

Things that Make You Go...Fu*k, That's Frustrating

I like things to go my way. I don't feel bad about it because I know I'm not alone. And I know when things don't go my way, I'm going to get a little frustrated. I married a guy who thinks cleaning an entire bathroom - the sink, the toilet, the floor - with just one sponge is perfectly acceptable. This is frustrating to me, but thanks to my grandmother's advice I realize, atleast he's cleaning the bathroom.

I get frustrated by Home Depot. Specifically, the Home Depot 'drain'. That feeling I get as every ounce of energy in my being gets sucked out of me by a lack of employee help, endless aisles full of more things that I need or know how to use, and concrete floors. I waste many a brain calorie wondering if this large black tube 6" wide and 8' long is something I could use at my house. No? Well, what about the one that's only 4" wide and 6' long? No again? What about several black tubes that are only a metre long, and 2" in diameter? There must be something.... which one of these signs is the price of the short black tubes? This one? no. that one? no..... and on and on it goes.. I'm not letting Ikea off this hook, but at least at Ikea, there's a whole couch section and a whole bed section where you can rest up before enjoying a &1.99 breakfast with Swedish meatballs.

Today's frustration came from Facebook. While I am happy to be a part of the continuously growing popularity that is FB, I still have no problems admitting the main reason I caved and joined when I did comes from a pretty silver can, named Coors Light and his other five Coors Light friends.

Why does FB only allow you to be a member of one geographic network at a time? I am more than frustrated by this. I don't want to pigeon hole myself into the San Francisco network (no offence all my SF friends), after all, I only work in the city. I don't want to limit myself to San Jose, because I live in Mountain View. The Silicon Valley network works, but then I feel as though I am abandoning all connections to the True North Strong and Free. Why can't I be a member of a Canadian network at the same time I am a member of an American one? Even the U.S Government lets me hold two citizenships. (When I want to get around to it).

I decided to email my question to the Facebook developer team. I admit, mostly, to see what kind of form letter I get in response. Will let you know when I get them to change the rules.