Washday blues

It's relatively early on a Saturday afternoon and I'm already worn out! The source of my exhaustion is our washer, which decided to overflow this morning. I caught it just a couple of minutes after it started, but you wouldn't believe how far the water had already gone! I had a minor flood in my house and it was a grand mess to clean up. Apparently the washer forgot to spin before adding rinse water, and presto - an indoor waterfall! I had to unplug it to make the water stop flowing - glad I didn't get shocked in the process.

I've never had to deal with this sort of problem and didn't really have anyone to call for advice so I had to make it up as I went along. I first attacked the standing water with a mop, then dragged out the carpet shampooer to extract water from the carpet, and finished up by bailing the water out of the washer and wringing out the clothes by hand. During this whole process Boycat danced around nervously because part of the flooded area was his bathroom and HE HAD TO GO!

Fortunately Hubby slept through all of this. I worried about waking him, since he works nights, but there was no way I could let any of that cleanup wait till afternoon. Fortunately he slept right through it though he says he does remember hearing something like a vacuum cleaner. And no, I was actually all right with doing the cleanup myself because the actual flooded area was fairly small, only big enough for one person to work in, and we have one mop and one carpet shampooer. Besides, he would give me the same courtesy if there was a minor emergency during my sleep cycle and he was awake to deal with it.

So now I'm sitting here waiting for a repair technician to come by and tell us if our washer can be saved, or if it will simply cost too much. Hubby and I decided that if the repair will be more than $200, then today I'll be buying a new washer. I really don't want to spend a chunk of change on a major appliance right now, but if I do then at least it will give me the chance to get something a little more energy-efficient. Wish I could spring for a front-loader, but they tend to be more expensive and I don't think I can justify the extra cost.

Oh, and now I have a basket full of very wet clothes sitting in the foyer, and unless the repair person can breathe life into our machine, I'll also have to visit a laundromat this evening. If that's the case I'm going to grab the rest of the laundry and strip the beds too - might as well make the trip worth my while. I actually like laundromats - gigantic triple load washers and dryers that make short work out of anything. I can study well at laundromats too - there's something about the steady hum of laundry machines that just puts me right into a great mental zone for learning or writing. I wrote most of my novel to the sounds of our laundry machines.

I guess it's strange to see my domestic side, since I primarily show my activist/rabblerouser side on this blog. Just so you know, I've been a housewife (working, but a housewife at the same time) for almost 22 years. It still doesn't come easily to me. In a way I envy those who can tell company to come on over without giving notice - I need three days minimum to make the house presentable. I quit striving for "House Beautiful" a long time ago; my goal is House Comfortable and Reasonably Sanitary. I manage that most of the time. Anything more just seems like a waste of effort.

My friend M paid me the highest compliment last week when I went to her house for coffee: She welcomed me in and said it was wonderful knowing she didn't have to clean because I was coming over. That's a comfortable friendship, and I plan to return the compliment when she comes for coffee tomorrow! It's so nice being able to welcome a friend to your home without worrying what they'll think because (gasp, horrors!) your house isn't pristine and perfect.

"My second favorite household chore is ironing. My first being hitting my head on the top bunk bed until I faint." - Erma Bomeck

I still have the iron Hubby and I got as a wedding gift. It still looks pretty new, and works quite well despite being over 20 years old. Guess that's because I haven't put a lot of mileage on the thing. My theory on ironing is, if it comes out of the dryer wrinkled it's because God wants it that way, and I'm not going to mess with a plan.

A lot of years ago a fellow dealer commented on my domestic abilities - he called me "Martha Stewart on crack". So appropriate, I love that title!

Well, the repair tech should be here any minute to tell me whether I will be washing clothes or buying a new washer this evening. Will let you know what happens.