The list.

I absolutely SWORE I wouldn't do this, but then changed my mind.

Broken:

• Our internet connection: for the past week, has been sporadic and when it has (rarely) worked, it has been sloooooow.  I'm working with our internet provider to figure it out but it could take a few days, I'd guess.  Uploading pictures is nearly impossible right now.
• Whirlpool kitchen range that's been broken since December 9, 2006, less than three months after it was installed, and has been dangerous to even use in the house: after countless hours on the phone with them over the past year, pages of records noted and recorded on my part, several so-called repairs, a $90 outlay on our part to have our propane lines checked, and a consumer complaint filed with the the Montana Department of Justice, they finally agreed to take it back and refund our full cost about a month ago.  The check from them arrived today and I took it straight to the bank.
• New GE range, installed last Friday:  One burner didn't work.  Repairman came today and said the gas line leading to that burner is broken and will need to be fixed.  Fortunately (I think) it's broken in a way that kinked the line completely shut.  Part has been ordered.
• Greywater tank: has been draining more and more slowly over the past couple of weeks and won't be pumped out until Monday.  The dishwasher can only be run sporadically and after a bath, tub takes a few hours to drain.  The toilet, on a regular septic, still works.  That doesn't matter so much, though, as there's always the outhouse for back up use.
• On-demand hot water heater in laundry room has been broken for over a year I'd guess, maybe more, and never was sufficient for it's use anyways.  Not really necessary anyways.  Cold water is fine and saves energy.
• A horrendous morning of mishaps last week culminated in my car having a flat tire last week.  Unknowingly, I drove on it, thus voiding the warranty on the tire.
• Back door on the minivan: has been broken for going on two years now, I'd guess.  Must try to get it into the shop for repairs before ski lessons start next week.  My own fault, there, for not taking care of this sooner.
• Twice we've tried to watch The Wizard of Oz from Netflix and have received discs that wouldn't play.
• DVD's: aren't playing properly on C's laptop at all.
• The knob on my camera that adjusts the settings for Auto, Natural light, Movement, etc.: has broken off.

Gosh, I know there's more, but I just can't think of them right now.

It doesn't help that R woke in the middle of the night Christmas morning, with a fever and by the time everyone woke at 8:30 am (late!), E too was starting to feel it.  They managed pretty well throughout the day, half-heartedly coming down the stairs to see what was under the tree, then lethargically alternating between crawling onto the couch or our laps and finding another present to unwrap.  E said several times throughout the day, "The toys make me feel a little better."  So sad, but so sweet. 

Later, in the afternoon, it seemed like they were on the up and up but, by 5 p.m., I was the only one awake in the house, and by 6 p.m. R's fever hit 104.2 and E's was 103.6.  The one gas station open within an hour's drive had only infant Tylenol drops.  Wouldn't you know it, we had only one dose of children's Tylenol left in the house?  There was no way I was going to go through Christmas night without anything on hand to bring their fevers down, so got in the car and drove half an hour on icy, snowy roads to C's sister's house for children's Tylenol.

Two days later, they're still under the weather, we're all sleeping tons, and their fevers have evolved into raspy coughs, runny noses, and and ear infection, tonight, for E so it's likely we'll go to the doctor in the morning where it will probably require four people to hold him down while he SCREAMS so that the doctor can get a quick glimpse in his ear.  And, that little, telling, scratch has begun to develop in my throat.

All in all, and surpisingly, a very mellow and relaxing holiday, albeit odd.  It still beats the stomach flu of last month's Thanksgiving weekend.

I've managed to download, after many frustrating and unsuccessful attempts, a handful of pictures to Flickr.

Will be focusing on getting healthy and on repairs for awhile.   

If you've made it this far, I'm so sorry for all the negativity.

All this broken technology (ugh), it's making sitting quietly in the evenings close around an oil lantern, hauling water and heating it on the woodstove for a bath, and trips to the cold outhouse in the dark look awfully appealing again.

 

Comments

[Krista]

OH, I'm so sorry.... I've so enjoyed all of your posts of the season.

Ugh! Broken things really can get you down, especially when there are many at once. Things will cheer up soon enough though! No apologies are needed for the "negativity" which I think isn't negativity at all but just a natural need to vent... I think it is very justified here!

Hoping you'll all be right as rain soon, sending good, healing thoughts your way for all of you! Fevers and cold bugs, be gone!

[Hege]

Oh my. And all of this at the same time...
Sending tou some warm and happy thoughts :)

[Lizz]

I hear ya!

[Jennifer]

You're allowed to have a rant. I bet you feel better just shouting it out to everyone. Lots of hugs being sent your way. I hope everyone gets well NOW and gets tons of rest so you can start 2008 off on the right foot. Best of luck with repairland.

[Sharon]

{{HUGS}}} Hope things start to calm down around there for you. Wishing you and yours a speedy recovery!

[Georgia]

I hear you!!! I've been trying not to blog negatively either, but we all came down with colds; coughing, sore throats, sniffles over Christmas and then my washing machine broke (actually the land lord's) and I already have MOUNTAINS of washing to catch up on. Our Christmas was also suprisingly good, but we've all lacked the usual energy of Christmas week.

Hope you all feel better soon and that things start to get fixed around there.

[Sarah]

I'm a big believer in purging. It's better, I think, to get it all out than to hold onto it and let it fester. Life is a series of hills and valleys. We can't always be at the top. Which is all just a long-winded way of saying, it's okay to kvetch, gripe, piss, & moan. It's real. Don't apologize.

I hope the New Year finds you all healthy and happy or at least headed in that direction. If not, I hope one of those high places isn't far off.

Be well.

[theresa]

oh, good gracious, I hope the New Year brings your family good health and nothing in need of repair! It seems that this nasty bug is making it's way across the entire country - my sister in law in San Fransisco has it, and all 6 of us in my household are all suffering from it, here in Philly.

[Laura]

I hope you're all feeling better soon. Best wishes for an uneventful, unbroken, healthy New Year.

[Carrie]

Poor family! I hope the doctor's visit goes smoothly with the kids, and I hope if they get something for the illness, the doctor kicks something down for you too.
I too know about the long litany of broken things. Unfortunately, they're all things I can't fix myself. The DH is going to have to start working on our house on weekends, alas.

[Beth]

Oh, dear... Sorry for the list of not-so-good happenings (but score on the Whirlpool battle, eh?!). I hope the boys are on the mend and that you avoid it (drink some tea!).

Hang in there. I'm sending good thoughts to you and yours.

[Elizabeth]

Sounds like our house, except we are all healthy, crossing fingers. We are in the house 2 weeks and the washing machine dies and the car (our only) needs expensive brake work today. I was going to buy cross country ski boots for the old skis left here but not yet I guess..
I do like your firewood holder glimpsed at in one of the flickr pics. We are looking for one. Do you remember where you got it?

Oh and hang in there with positive thoughts, the New Year is on the way.

[Allison]

Oh my - I do hope things improve - and quickly!

[Michelle]

Oh Siri! Hang in there love, New Year is coming.

One year, my daughter woke up with a horrible rash all over her body on xmas morning. And fever with a sore throat.

We got her in the next day...she had freakin' scarlet fever!!!! I mean who gets that now days. Years later, we can laugh about it but man, did that suck.

[PICAdrienne]

Making a list somehow makes it seem surmountable. I can recall the Christmas when my son (now 10) was 3, and he woke up sick on Christmas. He opened 2 presents and said 'no more presents.' It was too much work to unwrap them. Poor punkin.

It will get better at your house, it really will. By the way, infant drops are usually far more concentrated than childrens medicine, so if you do the math by weight, it can be used, but just smaller doses than children's medicine.

[Peg]

I hope you all get well real soon! Good luck at the doctor's. Not fun having children ill and then when they start to feel better, Mom bites the dust!

[mindy]

Oh, thank the heavens above ~ you're rid of that Whirlpool stove!!! Is that a pie I smell??

[Amber]

Oh Siri, I just read this post and I hear ya. Sometimes all the little things seem manageable until they all build up into one BIG something... I can't believe you were sick for these holidays after your bout of the flu at Thanksgiving. I guess you can just chalk up 2007 as the year of illness and it'll be all closed up in that box of memories...

In your newest post, it sounds like things are on the upturn so I hope that's the case... Take it easy and enjoy your road into a New Year!:-)

[Stephanie]

Hi, I so enjoy reading your blog.

I'm de-lurking to comment about the broken back minivan door - it doesn't happen to be the latch on it that is broken, is it? If so, here's a link that helped us fix ours http://www.findonefindall.com/toyota-sienna/siennareardoor.htm - a fix that only cost the price of about a half of an hour, glue, and a few screws. These directions may be helpful even if you have a different make. If it's not your door's problem, then good luck with it anyway!

[chrispy]

I think I understand. We have been replacing things since this summer. They keep breaking and annoying me.

We borrowed Bruce Almighty from Netflix and returned it 3 times because it was not working and it was not our DVD player's fault (see below). We thought maybe it was a sign that we should not see this movie but realized that it was not since the movie was awesome.

Our DVD player can't decide on certain days if it remembers how to spin so the top of the box is removed so we can reach in and spin it to help it remember. My father-in-law sent us a spare one but it did not play burned dvds and other things that we tend to use or play, so we are coping until we can convince the computer that it is a DVD player/burner/tv receiver/music grand central. It currently does 2 of these things very well but not fast enough to watch tv from the web.

The Stereo informed us that it also was on its last leg and ended up when it and the DVD conspired to not allow us a simple night of entertainment. We replaced it.

The computer started acting up in October and Thanksgiving night I got online to order a laptop. I think the made the desktop feel unloved so its motherboard quick blinking. Now we are currently waiting on a new motherboard so that it can become the DVD player/burner/ tv receiver/ music grand central/ plus internet surfer. It has been 3 weeks since we ordered the board and they keep telling us it should be in tomorrow.

I am sure there are others but those are the ones that have been annoying me.

[Kim]

Here's hoping everyone gets feeling better fast! Oh and that no more appliances break at your house! :)