Eric's New Washer

Our new washing machine arrived today. We got the LG model WT7700H*A. John did all the research and found the largest, most energy efficient top loader that LG makes.  I would like to say that the washer held what use to be 2 loads in the old washer and did not even top out the new washer.  The washer runs about 30 decibels quieter too, around 50 decibel's instead of 80 decibel's. Did I mention it uses less water too.  

The second load I ran today would have been 1 full load and then some in the old washer.  In the new washer it did not even make a dent in capacity. The new washer weighed the clothes and added just the right amount of water. Kudos go to the engineering team at the LG Washer Group.

The only downside of the whole day was the delivery made by Sears, where we bought the machine.  John had asked the driver  twice, if the machine needed to be leveled. The driver told John that is was self leveling,twice. The delivery man than ran the first wash. We noticed that the machine was noisier and shaking more than the reviews said it would. So John check the position of the tub. The tub was not level.  So John used his level to verify the results.  We called the delivery number and asked that they be sent back to level the new washer. Multiple call were ignored. 

Meanwhile I did some research on the web and found that we could do serious harm to the washer if we used it unbalanced. This upset me to no end that Sears could not install a washing machine properly.  I think that they sell a lot of them too.This made me long for the days of Circuit City, where we bought our last washer when the kids were little.  They got the install done right at the time of delivery. 

By the time I lost it, John figured out how to get the machine level. So how I would some up the day, good job marks go to LG for making a great machine and to John for getting the machine as level as he could. On the other hand Sears needs to make a cheat sheet for its delivery drivers that tells them what each install requires.  They also need to be more responsive to its customers.  Just in case you are wondering Sears did not respond to various tweets on Twitter either.  I guess it is take the money and run. 

The old and new washing machines side by side.  The geek picture of the day is of the 1st load of clothes running.  I could not get the whole tub in the picture.

A New Project

Last night I started a new project. I am actually knitting something for me.  I am using Dream in Color. The blend is wool, cashmere and nylon.  It is a lace weight yarn that I am knitting on US sized 11 needles.  In a a nice verigated blue.  I am hoping that 2 skeins will be enough.  

Busy, Busy, Sore

There have been a lot of late nights with Eric.  Post viral asthma has struck with a vengence.  That has lead to a lot of naps and not much getting done around here.  This has also lead to a flare up for me, right now my elbows and ankles are not on friendly terms with me.   I know things will get better when Eric feels better.  

Amish Shadows

The quilt is fiannly back on the wall after the remodel. I made this quilt in December of 1987. Even after a professional cleaning, I have been told by a reliable source that the quilt has lost that new quilt look. Not bad for an almost 30 year old quilt. Yes that is a Tucson made Bens Bell hanging from the side.  

Yeah for Sleep

I managed to get 7 hours of sleep last night. Needless to say I had a better day. Today. I even got to the mall today with Lisa. Aside from laundry, shopping and knitting not much got done.  

Time Warp

There comes a time in every moms lives called the time warp.  I have entered the time warp. It comes when Eric gets into a cycle of getting sick, recovering some then going back to his program.  Then I just begin to reset my routine, but have not fully recovered from the long nights and broken sleep. Then Eric gets sick again.  After 2 or 3 cycles of this the time warp kicks in. 

I am in the time warp right now.  So that I have trouble sleeping more then 3 hours at a time. So I land up talking a lot of naps.  My meal schedule is so off too, sometimes breakfast at 6 or 7 lunch at 3 pm and then I am not ready for dinner at 6pm so I have an appetizer for dinner. Then I tend to snack too much late at night. 

I am hoping that this cold is the last one Eric will have for a while. I spent the day cleaning and doing laundry.  I am still exhausted but am too hyper to sleep. So I tried spinning lace weight yarn before dinner.  After dinner I finished knitting 2 hats and cast on one more so far.   I am hoping that Eric will sleep tonight and that I can unwind to sleep. I really want to break this cycle.  I am tired of being out of sync. 

Spinning and Winter

Today we had a fairly good winter storm. We got slightly over 1 inch of rain at the house. I drove home home from spinning through heavy rain and sleet.  I can't believe the number of drivers that drove recklessly speeding and weaving in and out of traffic. The good news is that I made it home safely.  

I left the spinning wheel in the car until it stops raining, it was hard to get the wheel into the car in the rain.  I am hoping that the garage will not get to cold tonight for it.  I am happy to be able to spin now.  I had to stop spinning after the car accident on the 7th of last month.  Physical therapy is still hard and progress is going in inches, but I will take my inches.  

Here is a picture of the snow on the Santa Catalins.  The snow level has not been so low in years. 

The Rollercoaster

Eric is on the mend after being sick for a few days. What ever this bug was, it brought on a few late night/ very early morning asthma episodes.  I am trying to unwind from the most recent one.  For some reason in the middle of the night they take longer to get under control. This one took about 90 minutes to get under control. Then wave 2 of the series of El Niño inspired storms hit and that took a few more minutes to resettle Eric down.  

It is now just past 2 am and I feel wide away and sleepy at the same time.  I am too tired to knit or spin yet too wide awake to sleep.  The physical therapy seems to be working, I was able to use the spinning wheel for the first time since the accident. 

I think that I am finally unwinding and will try some more sleep. Later today I plan on working on my indoor todo list and then do errands once the rain slows down. Have a wonderful and productive day. 

A Slow Day

Today I did the unheard of, I slept in until after 11 am. I think that my body needed the sleep from all the broken nights of sleep with Eric.  I think I might of slept longer if my back did not hurt so much.  I did manage to get my whole pt routine done.  

We went out shopping today for a new washing machine, we bought our current machine before we moved into this house so last century is on its last legs.  All we can get are rebuilt parts which are not as good. We landed up putting the machine on order. John said that the machine was for me.. Eric is sure the machine is for him. So to clarify the new washing machine is going to be for me as an I love you present from John. Then  Eric will be in charge of making the laundry so that I can use it more.   My hope is that with a bigger washer will cut down the number of loads of laundry.

I also found out that it is not the best idea in the world to knit with black yarn at night.  Now I have to Tink out a full round tomorrow when the light is better. See that strand of yarn, that is what I need to fix. 

Day 2 2016

As I was guzzling a glass of luke warm tea after 5 pm tonight, I briefly thought of banning any one getting sick for the rest of the month. It is really putting a major crimp in my day having to start the laundry in the wee hours of the morning. Getting no more than 3 hours of sleep at a time. I am starting to fall behind on commitments.

On the other hand I think I am so tired that I am stuck on knitting hats. I am almost finished with the second hat of the year. Maybe if I get some more sleep, If I can get some more sleep maybe I can finish the Dream In Color Cowl. 

New Years Day 2016

Today was another early day with Eric.  He had created 3 loads of laundry long before dawn. Since John and I managed to stay awake until midnight , the 3 hours of sleep was not enough. So today was spent napping instead of getting the display organized for the downtown Libaray. My first nap was from 4:30 am to 7 am.  The second nap happened when I fell asleep during the Rose Parade. So after that nap I found the Rose Parade on another channel and took another nap. Then of course I fell asleep when I put my eye drops in. 

So my take away from this is to pray that Eric sleeps through the night. Hope against all odds that he will not make 3 loads of laundry made in the wee hours of the morning.  Yes I know that in this house 4 loads of laundry in one day is not too bad.  Remember to TiVo the Rose Parade next year. I think even with the naps a solid night of sleep might be better. 

I also finished and cast on another hat today. My total rows knit in the last 4 days was 326. I am also approaching the 50,000 rows knit. I have 18 hats ready to donate to the Flowing Wells Cloths Bank, but would like to knit 6 more before I bring them in so I can give them 2 dozen hats. I just have this quirk that I like to donate even dozens when hats and scarfs go in.