I finally broke down a week ago and bought a new stove. When we moved into this house 20 years ago, this stove had already been there about 10 years, so that makes the beast around 30 years old. And it still works.So, why on earth would I part with my super-outdated, ultra-dorky Montgomery Ward e-lectronic stove??? Uh, I dunno. The new ones are just so shiny? I want that double-oven feature? Or perhaps I'm thinking that I'm going to go to use it one day and it is going to refuse--and that day will probably be Christmas morning or some other really inconvenient day.
I swear the appliances are talking behind my back--saying things like "Hey, let's all break down at the same time" or "Wouldn't it be funny to all stick it to Lin by not working today?". I may be a tad paranoid, but I'm starting the Let's-replace-the-ancient-appliances-here Action Plan just to be safe.
Today was the day they were to deliver my shiny new stove with the double oven and I was very excited. Delivery was scheduled between 1 and 4, so I had to leave work a couple of hours early to greet it when it arrived. Not such a bad deal except that I am paid hourly, which means I lost some big time earnings waiting for New Stove.
So, here I sat--from 12:30 on, waiting patiently and then not so patiently for the delivery dudes to come. I sat here watching the clock tick--1 came and went. 2 was approaching. Soon it was 3 and then coming close to 4.
Okay, I'm a little miffed that my scheduled delivery time window was now over and I had no new stove. AND I needed to be dressed and out the door at 5:00 for Em's band banquet.
What is the deal with delivery dudes? Can we not make the window a little less large? And do I have to sit here, waiting, all that time?? I called, made a big 'ol fuss with the store, and they promised I would get my stove in minutes, but I was still irked. I lost pay and patience, when I could have just as easily stayed at work and come home to have the darned thing delivered late.
And then the nicest delivery guys ever showed up. I was all miffy at them too, because I didn't care if they were nice--they were LATE. They hauled 'ol Montgomery out to the truck and tossed it into the back like an old shoe--it made me feel bad.
In came New Stove, all spiffy and white. Delivery Dude hooked up the electricity and gas line and went to push the bad boy in. And stopped. It wasn't gonna fit.
So, there it sat--in the middle of my kitchen. It was probably 1/16th of an inch too big and Delivery Dude wasn't about to help me cram that mother into the little opening. I signed the papers, they apologized for my bad luck, and got the hell out of there.
"Yeah, it'll be nice to be able to cook from every side of this thing," I'm yelling behind them. "Yeah, sure is convenient to have it smack dab in the middle of the kitchen!" They couldn't get away fast enough.
And there, Col and I stood, looking at the New Stove in the middle of the room. And then we looked at each other.
Colin pulled at the counter, I shoved the beast this way and that and forced that bad boy in! It's a little snug, but it's in. It's in late, but it's in. I'm all about solutions and solving problems.
And showing those appliances who's boss.
26 comments:
Oh I am soooo jealous. Two years ago I said my tax refund was going to replace the ancient Roper gas range that came with this house, it's so hard to clean (I had a brand spanking new Whirlpool Gold Series in black with matching side by side fridge at my old house and I was so mad at my agent for including them with the house). Anyway, didn't replace it that year. This year we got the shiny red Troybuilt Pony lawn tractor.
Maybe next year? I'm hoping because I'm the cook of the house and I kind of have champagne taste when it comes to appliances. I have to be nice because I don't want it to die on me. As it is we have a very tempermental Bosch dishwasher that we are debating to have serviced or deal with it until tax time. (Me things we may be replacing quite a few appliances next tax time.)
(Pouting). Double oven. (Double pouting).
Glad you got it sorted in the end. And glad that I'm not alone in thinking appliances have something against me! :)
Love that shot of Hobbes!
For the rest of it, the phrase, "In order to serve you better . . ." comes to mind.
It's the 1st time I saw Hobbes with this menacing looks! Nice shot!
Establish appliance dominance from the get go. Push it around, show it who's boss.
:)
The publicist got her appliances as wedding presents, except for her stove. At around the 15th year of her marriage she started to dread for them. (The stove came about 2 years in when the male person bought her a very spiffy Jenn Air) Then they moved! Way to solve appliance problem! Heh heh. Took the Jenn Air and left everything else. Heh heh again.
Now she has a GORGEOUS Dacor sitting in her basement gathering dust while she cooks on 15", 3 burner gas disaster in trailer.
She is not bitter. No, not at all.
Sorry to rant in your comments.
Stoves are for cooking, and not for storing pans that never get used? Wow, I can't wait to tell my wife.
I think I would've brought out the saw and started sawing at the countertop until it fit!! Desperate measures.hahaha
I had my oven die on me on Thanksgiving day. The turkey didn't even begin to cook. Needless to say, we went to Hometown Buffet. (rhymes)
um...shouldn't you receive a free matching refrigerator since you had to put it in yourself? Geez.
There was your chance to have a kitchen remodel! Oh well, glad you gave that stove the smackdown and got it to fit.
Lola--Does it help that the oven on top is just a little one?? I'm not typically into cooking, so I'm not really into appliances. But, that said, it is nice having some new features--you know, all those improvements since the 70's. I feel your pain of having to deal with lame ones after the loss of super cool appliances--I cannot imagine going backwards. Ugh. And has anyone else noticed the price of appliances lately---GASP!!
Laala--And what do you bet this thing only lasts 7 years??? They don't make them like they used to.
Chuck--Can you tell that Hobbes is growing tired of photoshoots?? Just look at that puss face. Oh, I really gave the lady on the phone AND the delivery guys the crud yesterday. Sheesh. And they wonder why the economy is in the crapper.
Vanilla--Good catch on the crabby cat face!! He is soooo tired of my photoshoots.
Joe--It was a hoot! I was so freaking mad, I just shoved that mother in there! That's probably what the delivery guys would have done, but they'd be liable if they scratched the sides. I say "who cares?" nobody sees the sides. It works either way.
Pricilla--It's okay, sister. Rant away. I feel your pain. I'm not sure what's worse--appliances as a "present" or not having full sized appliances after having top 'o the line ones. I'd have to go with the latter. Sigh. Life is tough sometimes. I'm with you in sympathy.
Fishhawk--Hee! Hee! I've never done that storing pans in the oven thing. The funny thing is that I'm not the one who cooks--it's Joe. He likes to cook--sick man. I'm more the big meal once in awhile kinda gal. I'm known for my meatloaf--in a good way.
Chocolate--You know, if I wasn't dressed and ready to go to Em's band banquet, I would have. The thought actually crossed my mind. But then, I just got mad and pushed that mother in. Problem solved. Joe's relieved he didn't have to lift a finger---or a saw.
Nancy--Yeah, you'd think. They were sweet guys AND they thought I was funny. Can't beat that. I would have loved them had they been here on time. What is with that?? They should give you delivery free if they don't get her in the allotted window--they'd be on schedule then I bet.
Beaded tail--If you think the appliances are old, you should see the kitchen!! I would KILL for new cabinets, we have laminated crap. With college directly in my headlights, I have to wait for awhile. Sigh. That's why I can't buy top of the line appliances--they'd just look ridiculous!
Thank you so very much for taking that as a joke. With all of the "stuff" that has been going on another blog we are both familiar with, I was really afraid that you would take that as being an insult directed at women or something maybe even worse. If anything, it was meant to set myself up for some (hopefully) good natured grief. Thank you! Thank you!! THANK YOU!!!
The prices are outrageous. When I bought that top of the line Whirlpool Gold Series for my previous house it was the same price that Whirlpool's cheapest gas range is now. (still pouting)
I hate dealing with service people, they suck. I'm home most of the day but if I weren't, we'd miss all of our delivery windows because nobody ever shows up on time.
Congrats on the new stove, it sounds great (big). I can't believe you were cooking on a 30 year old stove.
Fishhawk--Awww, it's all about having fun and gentle ribbing here. Life's way too serious as it is--let's have some FUN!!
Lola--What is the DEAL??? I thought things were supposed to get cheaper. Gees. I'm sooo out of touch, aren't I?? I don't even want to think about a washer and dryer. I may have to pull a kid out of college for that one.
Casey--Oh, I wasn't cooking on a 30 year old stove--Joe was. Hey, it worked. What else does a gal need? But then again, we also go tent camping, so I'm used to suffering.
I would have preferred a pic of the shiny new stove to compliment the blog entry--opposed to the cute kitty ;-)
Not done with school yet. Sigh...it'll be this week + 2 more. And I'm feeling EVERY second of it. Unfortunately, these weeks don't fly by like the others.
Jodi--Blasphemy!! What?! You don't like Hobbes crabby face to coincide with the story?? Sigh. I think I'm done with when I start taking photos of my appliances. I draw the line there.
Nancy-- If you are like me, my head is spinning! I will not be "normal" until Tuesday when graduation is over. Tuesday night is gonna be cocktail night!!
I need to do the appliance action plan myself - I think everything except the fridge is almost as old as me in here.
Good that you managed to fit it in there yourself! (useless delivery folks - hmph!)
It seems like those deliveries are never quite right. Mine are always late too. At least you finally got it put in, no thanks to them.
We lost our front load washer in a flood after the tornado in 2007. I couldn't believe the sticker shock when I went shopping for a Bosch front loader. But I got it and I love it. We even sprung for the drawer so it's elevated a bit.
My son's 8th grade graduation is Friday night. Why on earth they would pick a Friday, I don't know. He tried his gown on today after school. Awww!
When Lowes delivered our tractor they said no way would it be Sunday morning because we had just bought it Saturday night. Thank goodness I got up early because they never did call us Friday night to give the actual time window.
I would love to see a pic of your shiny new stove!!! But then again, I love pics of Hobbes too.
Now that is a bitch. One-sixteenth of an INCH?! Unbelievable and I had no clue where this was headed.
But way to go on making that bad boy your bitch! Yay-yah!
Storm--Those darned appliances are a FORTUNE now! I figured I'd save up and start trying to afford them now before it is an emergency situation. And then to figure out what model you want--gees! It's like rocket science to figure it all out! Good luck with your Action Plan.
Lola--Quit with the sad appliance stories--you're KILLING me!! I cannot cry anymore--really. It's all too sad. Have fun at graduation--be sure to enjoy it most of all. Tell my pally I said "Congratulations on getting out of Middle School!" That in itself is reason to celebrate.
Veronica--You and Jodi--geesh! Who wants photos of appliances when you've got Hobbes?? What's next? The coffeemaker? The ice-cube maker??!
CardioGirl--I'm glad my son is old enough to understand (and forgive) but I was totally yelling "Take that! Mother......!! (insert expletive) Col just laughed and did the fist bump thing to me. I'm a bad ass when it comes to home improvements.
Years ago I lived in a historical house (I loved that house) but being the type of person I am, I went all out in my decor. Finally I got a new stove (it was gorgeous) every time someone would come over I would drag them in to see my brand new 1921 gas stove.. the sad part is, it really was the best stove I ever owned.
I am going to refrain from commenting on delivery time.. well I will point out that delivery time is similar to dog years.. I mean who gets it, really?
Shauni
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