Test drives

Last weekend Maggie, Steve and I went appliance shopping. We were having new granite countertops installed on Monday and we were anticipating the need to replace the dishwasher, stove and fridge. The assumption was that they would look too shabby with the new countertops. We went to a large showroom that had a variety of all three appliances. It was a self-contained appliance store, not a Lowe’s or a Home Depot, and it had a parking lot with easy wheelchair access. Perfect.

Maggie thought that place was hilarious. There were so many things to pull on and touch. Keep in mind that Maggie does a lot of “cooking’ and she gets a say on how the new appliances handle. Dishwashers are boring because there is just one handle. Stoves are not important because her mean mother does not let her near that. (Burn much?) But the refrigerators? Now that was good test driving material. Steve positioned her so that she could try out each door. There were at least 50 refrigerators there and she test-drove probably 30.

Steve was playing used car sales person to her buyer.

“So, ma’am, you like the feel of this.” (Signs yes)

“That’s one of our best sellers.” (Looks at him quizzically)

“What will it take for you to take this home with you today?” (Laughs uproariously)

Though we were just looking, we did garner some important information. Never would have thought this, but we now know that we cannot consider getting a water dispenser, and especially not one with a sensor that cues it to run. Maggie would have water running everywhere. The sensor would be particularly entertaining. Every time she stuck her hand even in the vicinity, she would get water.

We also learned that a full door fridge would not do. Right now, we have the fridge on top and freezer on the bottom. A full side by side will be entertaining for her to open but there will be numerous dents in the door as it repeatedly hits the wheelchair. (Oh, by the way, you might want to stay away from the floor models in that particular showroom). That discovery plays perfectly into my plan, however. I want one of those two-door fridges with a pull out drawer freezer on the bottom. No dents, no water dispenser. No problem. Right on.

We did not buy anything last week and likely will not do so for a while. All three appliances are old, but all are functional. We ultimately decided to wait until they break. We are not good consumers – we actually use things for their entire useful life.

Bonus – When the granite was installed, the appliances looked fine – in fact better than ever.

Here are a couple of "before and after" or not quite after - there's no backsplash and no faucet. Oh, and the counters are clean which weill not last more than a day. Note the turkey in the before picture #1 - This was Thanksgiving morning. Counters a bit more cluttered than usual.

Rock my world

My house was built in 1922, which means it 87 years old. That is an old house, at least by California standards. We are only the third owners. Someone owned it for the first 33 years, until my grandparents bought it in 1955. My dad never lived here because my parents were already married with three kids by 1955. My grandmother lived here until she died at age 97 in early 1987. We bought it a few months after she died and have been here 22 years.

When we moved in it needed everything. We tackled things slowly over the first five or so years we were here. The original kitchen, complete with trash burning stove, was still here and was in desperate need of remodel. It took us a couple of years to get to it. We were broke, had a baby, etc etc. In 1989, we gutted the whole thing and remodeled. Over the years since, we have replaced the floor because of water damage, redone the lights and replaced each appliance at least once. However, the cabinets, countertops and overall design have not changed. It is perfectly functional. A bit tired, perhaps, but functional.

All work done on the house since then has been to accommodate the wheelchair and Maggie’s needs. We talk about changing things in the kitchen, look at stores and magazines for ideas, but we just never get to it. The talk has been entertainment enough.

On Saturday, almost on a whim, we went to a granite place and ordered new granite counter tops. They are beautiful, darkish green granite. They will be installed after Thanksgiving. It could have been sooner, but we are woefully unprepared for installation. The old counters, backsplash and sink have to be removed. We have to purchase a faucet and have everything ready to go. Once installed we can’t use the countertops for three days and I can’t take the chance that prepping Thanksgiving dinner would have to be done without counters, so we will wait.

The problem with this is that now we have to replace the backsplash, and the floors will not match. Ca-ching! In addition, if we are going to need a new stove and dishwasher in the next year anyway, maybe we should just get it now. CA-ching! We are debating those extras but we are proceeding with the granite installation. You have to start somewhere. I can live with mis-matched stuff for a while. With Maggie and her needs, we cannot simply move out and have everything done at once.

Our floor choice will be extremely limited. We want to get tile, either natural stone or porcelain. Steve pointed out, however, that we will have to stop Maggie from “cooking.” You may recall Maggie “cooks” by flinging the pots, pans and anything else she can reach onto the floor. The crashing will break tile and dent natural wood or laminate. I said no. She gets to keep doing that because there are so few things she really has fun doing. If we have to have a resilient floor, so be it. Resilient is my middle name.

The excitement of the new purchase was dampened by a phone call from Eddie, the bike-racing son. He crashed on his bike and was enroute to the emergency room with a self-diagnosed separated shoulder. His diagnosis was spot on – perhaps because he is experienced with this particular injury. He has done it before.

He is the one who needs the resilient floor.