Mystery Solved

I swear I've always said that the washer eats socks just to be funny; to explain one of those Bermuda Triangle kind of things that happens all the time. I now have proof that my washer really does eat socks.

I've been getting an error message, on my fairly new high end washer, that said the drain wasn't working properly. It being New Year's Eve, and there being no shops open until next year, I got adventurous and began taking the thing apart. I discovered and internal filter on the drainage system. This is what it looked like. And yes, that is three socks, a dime, and some lint blocking up the works. Kearsyn thought it was funny. I have no idea how this stuff got in there, since the water has to leave the washer via the holes in the side of the stainless steel drum. I guess it just got hungry.

Now I have to go see if this fixed the problem and see if I can re-assemble my very expensive washer.

Happy New Year everybody.

Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve constructing and decorating our gingerbread house and people. I wish I could say we baked our own gingerbread but the best we could do was to assemble a pre-fab house. I am also ashamed to say that much of the result was consumed before I could get a picture of the finished product.








Kenzie also made her umpteenth batch of cookies, some of which survived beyond the normal cookie lifespan in this house full of sweet-teeth; perhaps because of an epidemic of gingerbread overdose.

Vicki took half the kids to 5 o'clock Mass; Tay, Ty, and Kenzie sang in the choir. This year was Vicki's turn for Midnight mass, but I got to go instead. This was Kenzie's first time as Altar Server for the Midnight Mass. She called the rectory weeks ago to make sure she and her brothers got this Mass. Alex has done it several years, and Connor as well. Last year would have been her first chance to serve this Mass, but someone else got scheduled instead. She was very excited, and a little sleepy.

Brr, again, addenedum

I was going to let the kids have off school for the next two weeks, to follow along with the public school schedule. Now, it seems, the only room in the house with reliable heat (I just jinxed us, didn't I?) is the classroom. Who wants to bet the kids won't mind being a little chilly vs doing school?

Brr, again

At least once a month our furnace breaks down. The technician that comes to fix it always says this'll be the last time he needs to come here for the season. I always tell him that I'll see him soon. I'm always right, at least until April, when I won't see him again until October/November.

This morning (5:00 am) I was dreaming a pleasant dream about moving back to the country where all you need to keep warm is pile of firewood, when Vicki woke me up and told me the furnace is not working, it's 60 degrees in the house, and it's 15 degrees outside. I guess the phone only connects to the furnace emergency repair operator when I am holding it (the phone, no the operator). So, I got up to make the call. To top things off, our backup LP gas stove (for heating, not cooking) is on the fritz, too. So now, all of our electric heaters are plugged in and sucking up the juice like electricity grows on trees, right next to the money.

I just checked on the kids. Now I know what human popsicles, wrapped in blankets, looks like. They're all still asleep, but not looking too happy. Wait 'til they wake up!

Another Zits Cartoon

Alex doesn't bug us to let him drive quite this badly, but I expect it's only a matter of time.

Connor's Poster(s)

Here's Connor's award-winning posters. This year's earned him second place and $25. Last year's earned him third place and $10.

2008 Poster:

2007 Poster:

Another Soccer Trophy

Connor's team took second place in their U13 division of the BBSL. They got their trophies last night at the Baltimore Blast game. Here's Connor with his trophy. We also found out this morning that he took second place in the church "Keep Christ in Christmas" poster contest. If he'd spent more than a half hour on it, the night before it was due to be turned in, he might've gotten first. He got third last last year, so this is a step up. Next year is the last year he'll be young enough to enter, so he better aim for first. He'll get his cash reward tomorrow morning.