Monday, January 26, 2009

Hard Times, They're A Coming

Ok, dishwasher, listen up. I’ve got some tough news for you. But before I share the bad news, let me just thank you upfront for all the hard work you’ve done. When our fancy-schmancy dishwasher died on us after only a year of work, I wasn’t sure that getting a used dishwasher via Craigslist was the right thing to do. After all, we need a dishwasher that is willing to run at least two to three cycles a day. (I bet you’re wondering how a family of four can eat so much food. It freaks me out, too.) I just wasn’t sure you’d be up for it.
Well, you’ve proven me wrong. We’ve worked you hard this past year—loading you up with dishes at least twice a day—and you keep chugging along. There was that time your front door got misaligned and we couldn’t shut you properly. I thought I was going to have a heart attack at the thought of washing all those dishes by hand. But Terry managed to fix you and we haven’t had a problem since.
So now that you know how deeply I appreciate you, let me tell you the bad news. We’re going to have to use you more than ever now. The economy is pretty bad, and while Terry’s work is going well, I need to pay credence the advice I read on those frugality blogs and spend less. One of the easiest expenses to cut is going to restaurants or getting take out. So that means I’m going to be cooking more, and you’ll be washing dishes more. I’m not too happy about it, either, but we need to be adults about it. Whining will get us nowhere.
I know that this is a lot to ask of you, especially since you are in your twilight years. But, I’ll be honest with you. I cannot—I repeat—cannot—do this without you. Let’s keep this awesome partnership going strong!

“Why couldn’t have some never-at-home bachelor bought me?”

10 comments:

Quirky Mom said...

Wow. 2-3 loads per day? And that's WITH eating out and take-out? I'm, um, impressed.

We run ours every other day, and that's now that we've cut way back on eating out. We eat at home every weeknight, and I'm at home for 3-4 weekday lunches and breakfast. Hubby and Apple get breakfast at work/preschool, so I guess that cuts back. Oh, and two dinners per week are in the crockpot, so that's just one giant dish that was cooked in, and sometimes a cutting board/knife and maybe a bowl that something was mixed in. Not too bad.

And that reminds me. I really need to go unload/reload the dishwasher.

MaryAnn Ashley said...

Thank God for the dishwasher! Our kitchen is so tiny, it really belongs in a New York apartment. I'll give mine a little sweetness too.

Anonymous said...

naughty dishwasher. i hate appliances!

Kathleen said...

ours goes maybe 5-7 times a wekk depends on how much i cook. we had to replace ours recently it's no fun i know they are fantastic things though.

Maude Lynn said...

Mine runs every day, too!

Stat Mama said...

The only time we eat meals away from home is if we picnic, get invited somewhere, or it's some special occasion...so my dishwasher works so hard I'm surprised it isn't petitioning for better wages or something. Well, it kind of is. It quit on me three days ago, and I've been relegated to hand-washing until the part to fix it arrives.

Can I scream now?

Janice said...

I love it!! You're so funny. I talk to my appliances too. But usually not so nicely...

Cookie said...

That is a lot of dishes! Better the machine than you.

Memarie Lane said...

Wow, that's a lot of dish washing! With my family of 5 that never ever eats out I run the dishwasher once a day at most, sometimes every other day.

suzannah | the smitten word said...

while i honestly have no idea how you run your dishwasher that much(!), i hear ya on how not eating out= WAY more dishes to do. my husband and i were just talking about that last night as we did dishes by hand for-ev-er from the chicken i roasted, stock i made, and then soup i made. frugal? for sure, but we paid for it in dishes!