There’s a piece of me that is relieved this afternoon.   

For several years, eating at home,  or more to the point, inviting friends to dine with us at home has been a little uncomfortable.   We have a small kitchen, circa 1960s, with tile countertops, aging cabinetry, and appliances that we bought soon after we bought the place in 2003.

throw in the towel

​

to admit that you are defeated or cannot do something any more:  = the Cambridge dictionary

Raising pre-teen boys through early adulthood in this house,  most everything shows sign of none-too-gentle abuse use.  Nowhere is this more evident than in our kitchen.  Duct tape, wood glue, oversized knobs,  a couple cabinet doors that aren’t used much because the hinge is not secure are just the exterior touches.  The oven door coming apart in my wife’s hands the other evening was the last straw.  For nearly a decade, we have not had a functioning dishwasher – but didn’t get round to replacing it.  Washing dishes by hand was a good lesson in chores for the boys – even though dishes tended to remain in the drying rack until they needed to be washed again.    The refrigerator began its decline with one or two shelves supports snapping – in the freezer, and ones in the fridge door as well.   Trying to find reasonably priced components was irritating and often were a different fit.   The icemaker froze up – pardon the pun – and we have been buying bagged ice at the convenience store so long we should have had our own account with the ice wholesaler.

The range-top microwave oven,  a major appliance for the pre-teen and teenager in your household,  died about four years ago.  One of our sons on a brief passing-through visit this year snapped off the handle trying to open the door –  not knowing that is was the same  non-functioning microwave from the prior years.

everything but/except the kitchen sink

humorous

​a much larger number of things than is necessary:   -the Cambridge dictionary

We were trying to get through the end of the year.  Eyeing early retirement, we were consolidating everything and prioritizing all the things we needed to do in order for the last few years.  Then there were a couple medical missteps (me and my father-in-law), a couple other expenses,  a new grandchild,  and even a boomerang.   And then there’s the dog, Comet who keeps reminding me that any trashcan left inside the home – is separated throughout the house by taste, smell and texture.   Dexter, for his part leaves dog hair and scratches all over our gently-used. (but quality!) secondhand leather furniture.   I had been measuring, pricing, and shopping for an outdoor dog run that would neither dominate my yard, nor extend my retirement date to pay for it.

When the oven door self-destructed in my wife’s enthusiastic-to-cook hands last night,  I was given the signal.   THE TIME IS NOW.  NOW.  NOW.

So, an enthusiastic salesperson,  and an equally-enthusiastic company credit consultant,  had little problem making all our kitchen dreams come true.  For a price.   It’s peace of mind.  But I bought the extended warranty just to be more peaceful.

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Guest Bloggers Wanted!

In the tried and true SHAMELESS BEGGING fashion as mentored by EVERYONE HAS THE BEST TITLES ,   I am asking for submissions to be a guest on my blog!

• dog stories
• funny stories
• unbelievable images
• funny videos
• observations as a dog-person, cat-person, or in general

Add a few details about you,  how you got started and what your blog is about.

Disclaimer: I will post it exactly as written

I only ask:

1.  since I’m a “recovering Sailor”, please limit cussing

Send me a link to your post at notdonner9@gmail.com

I will publish future Guest Posts on Thursdays.

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