I’m going to be completely honest, Kindergarten is crushing my buzz.
All summer long Caroline and I would lay in bed until 8 a.m. which is an hour I only dreamed of for the first four years of her life. I had finally trained her in the art of a leisurely morning only to see it destroyed by the educational system.
So, my point is that I am tired. P has been waking us up awfully early but I think I’ve already figured out that we can sleep at least fifteen minutes later every morning. And those extra fifteen minutes will add up to an extra hour and fifteen minutes at the end of each week.
I just did that math in my head.
Who says you’ll never amount to anything if it took you two times to pass Algebra II?
Anyway, I am totally going with a list format because I have several points I would like to make and no energy to voice them in a narrative form.
1. Back-combing is just a fancy way of saying TEASING. If you were alive in the 80’s and older than six, then you’ve teased your hair.
If you’re from Texas there is a good chance that you received a sterling silver teasing comb at birth.
The one I bought is a fine-tooth comb that comes complete with a pick on the other end. It’s exactly like the comb I used in 1987-1989 to separate each curl of my spiral perm after I doused it in Aussie Sprunch Spray.
2. Hot rollers are intended for use on dry hair only. You will immediately regret any attempt to use them on wet hair. To get an idea, imagine your hair after eighteen days in a tropical rain forest.
Now multiply that by 150.
It’s also important to note that some people will mock you for toting around hot rollers in 2008, but those people are called people with flat hair.
3. I volunteered in the cafeteria at Caroline’s school today and let me assure you that nothing will make you lose your appetite like watching some kids use their straw to slurp up leftover juice from their pinto beans.
Disgusting doesn’t begin to cover it.
But it served as a great diet tool for the rest of the day.
4. One kid actually brought sushi in her lunchbox. Girlfriend sat there and rolled her own sushi in some seaweed wraps.
I just pray Caroline wants to buy her lunch for the rest of the year. I can’t take the pressure
5. Our dryer is broken. I’m supposed to sit at home between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. for the Sears repairman to grace me with an appearance.
It would be a great time to catch up on laundry, except for the fact that my dryer is broken.
Truth be told, the dryer is eleven years old. I don’t have high hopes for a comeback. Do y’all have any dryer recommendations? Is one dryer really better than another? Should I just hang a clothesline across the backyard and go old school? (the neighbors would be so pleased)
Any dryer wisdom would be appreciated.
Y’all have a great day and I’ll try to be back with a coherent thought tomorrow.
debbie says:
You probably will be just as well off buying one of the lower end models at SEARS and for sure, get the extended warranty!
August 28th, 2008 at 4:18 am
Theresa says:
Sushi, ha, ha, ha. My stepkids started school yesterday and are due to be here on Friday after school. Then our week begins with them. I’m all nervous about what to pack in their lunch that’s interesting enough for them, they are such picky eaters.
I don’t have any dryer advice, but where I live having a clothes line is not proper….yet having a hammack in your front yard is. I cannot figure that one out at all. Who wants to lay around in a hammack taking a nap when all the neighbors are walking by and driving by looking at you sleeping?
August 28th, 2008 at 4:48 am
Mel says:
Everything became like, “blah, blah, blah,” after the Aussie Scrunch reference. I can honestly smell it……..memories………!
August 28th, 2008 at 5:08 am
Emily says:
I agree with Debbie. Buy a cheap one without all the bells and whistles because eventually it will break. Then you always here the words, “I can fix it for X but you could buy a new one for just a bit more.”
August 28th, 2008 at 5:34 am
Cindy-Still His Girl says:
“only to see it destroyed by the educational system” made me lol. And I mean OL!
Also keep in mind that if she buys lunch every day, you get approximately 4 extra minutes of sleep a day. I can’t do that math in my head right now, but since you’re a mathlete, I bet you can.
August 28th, 2008 at 6:07 am
Amiee says:
Well, when we got married, we purchased a used Maytag washer and dryer…they were already 12 years old! So, three years ago, when my dryer was 11 years older, it broke down, and was too expensive to repair. So we purchased another Maytag, this time with some bells and whistles. We thought, “Maytag is the best!”. Not so! Our dryer is now 3 years old, and we just had to have it repaired because some of the bolts/brackets had rusted through and were beginning to put a nice hole in the drum! My washer? Still going strong =) But next time? We will NOT be getting a Maytag…..they sure don’t make them like they used to!
August 28th, 2008 at 6:29 am
lori says:
Too funny And I am so with you on the sleep thing.
August 28th, 2008 at 6:38 am
Indiana Keetha says:
Maytag.
We purchase all such appliances from a small town dealer who has over the years become our friend. He has been in the business for a long time. He used to sell several brands - - - - no longer. Now he only sells Maytag. The reason? They last longer and break down less. He says they are the only company that makes appliances that well.
Maytag.
I got my washer/drier set from him - - - Maytag - - - they are AT LEAST ten years old, probably older - - - and they still work perfectly well.
Maytag.
August 28th, 2008 at 6:51 am
Sherry says:
oh, what I wouldnt give for a ban on clotheslines where we live. In Ireland it is mainstream and trying to ‘melt’ in, I am caught out when I use my clothes dryer–but with harsh water I need that soft tumble effect!
August 28th, 2008 at 6:57 am
Vickie says:
I am also a Maytag girl. I just replaced my 21 year old Maytags with a new ones. I advise just going with the middle of the line.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:06 am
Wendy Darling says:
It’s also important to note that some people will mock you for toting around hot rollers in 2008
I still own and use my hot rollers.
I’m with you, sister! 
August 28th, 2008 at 7:07 am
Sara says:
check out the recommendations from consumer reports. Also epinions.com are worth a gander.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:10 am
Mindy says:
We have an LG dryer. It has an alternator to save on electricity and it senses when the clothes are dry and will turn off early or it will stay on a little longer if the clothes are still wet.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:18 am
Kathy says:
Lol…another shout out for the Aussie Spray! Memories.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:20 am
Melanie K says:
Get a frontloading type. They dry SO FAST that you can dry in the time you can wash and get it all done faster! Mine is a whirlpool.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:25 am
chocolatechic says:
I’ll probably be the oddball here, but line drying not only will save you AT LEAST $20 a month on your electric bill, but your clothes will last lots longer.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:32 am
maria says:
I have the super duper, fancy schmancy,Whirlpool duet washer and dryer. I love them almost as much as I loved any Aussie product, in fact I still have to pull my hand back when I spy them in the HABA aisle.
But seriously the washer and dryer were worth every penny, and 5 years later, in a house of 6, 4 of whom are males, I still have no complaints.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:36 am
Chelsea says:
If your dryer is 11 years old, I’m going to assume that your washer is 11 years old, too. Which means that it is just one spin cycle from the recycling plant too. In that case, you’ll do yourself a HUGE favor by getting the LG front loaders. You’ll get a rebate from CPS for having high-efficiency models, your laundry time will be cut in half, and you’ll smile every time the LG plays the little song. Really, the machine has a song at the end of the cycles. I love those silly LG machines.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:39 am
Kathi says:
Aussie Scrunch Spray…..Ha!!! I remember it fondly! I think that was the smell of the 80’s, wasn’t it?
When we had to replace our washer & dryer we got the LG Tromm Ultra Capacity Stainless Steel models. (They are both front loaders.) They’ve both been great, but I must confess that the reason I picked them was because of the way they looked.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:43 am
Spotted-Bird says:
How funny, I stayed home last week between the hours of 8am-5pm to wait for Sears. He showed up about 2pm and fixed my dryer. It needed a new motor and we got one using the extended warranty we bought when I called to make the appointment. The dryer is 7 years old and works like new again. I am so happy. I would stick with my Kenmore. It has been good to me.
Also, for the record I take my hot rollers everywhere. It cause me usually to have to take an extra suitcase, but I have great volume.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:44 am
Adrienne says:
Sushi in a kindergarten lunch box should be illegal…..
We bought a Maytag Neptune washer and dryer about 10 years ago; the washer died 3 years ago, but the dryer is still going strong. So chalk that up as another vote for Maytag. Don’t do the laundry line thing - I just cringe whenever I see someone’s drawers flapping in the breeze… I mean who wants to see that!!!
August 28th, 2008 at 7:44 am
Shelly McCabe says:
Oh my sushi in the lunch box! I hope that Caroline doesn’t pick up on that. There is no way I’m making a sushi lunch. I guess it is a good thing one of our local grocery stores sells that.
I cringe to think of when my boys go to school and they have homework. Yuck. I’ve already done my time in school, I hate the thought of helping with homework.
I hope y’all can catch up on some rest and sleep in on Saturday.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:46 am
Lucinda says:
I am right there with you in ” sleep deprived via educational system” department. We have to wake up 2 hours earlier to get my son to school than we have in his entire life!
As for the dryer, it’s been my repair man experience that he’ll arrive at 4:45.
Don’t buy a GE dryer ( if they still make them)
August 28th, 2008 at 7:46 am
Trish says:
I totally agree with Indiana Keetha..Maytag. I used to be Indiana Trish and I have found in my life that the ads are right about Maytag.You are so funny Miss Big Mama. You always crack me up.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:51 am
Heather says:
We bought a set of Samsung front loading units a few years ago, and I can honestly say that if you DON’T want ALL of your clothes a FEW SIZES SMALLER, do NOT get one! I have to dry on Time Dry and can’t even use normal or permanent press. Basically, 6 of the settings NEVER get used. Consequently, my dry time is a LOT longer and my electric bill is a LOT higher! No good, sista!
When I realized the dryer was SHRINKING everything, I wrote an email to the company. And you know what I got in return? A WHOLE LOT of spam!!
My SIL bought an LG not too long ago, and I haven’t heard any horror stories from her. I sooo wish I had gone with that one.
I bought the Samsung washer b/c it had the SilverCare feature. It’s supposed to kill germs with it’s silver ions and be more energy effecient than hot water washing. Well, all I know is that 1 cycle with silvercare takes about 1 HOUR and 30 mins! That’s a WHOLE LOT of energy. A regular cycle takes 54 mins.
I know this is probably WAY more info than you wanted.
As to the back combing, this TXN has hair her HAIRDRESSER can’t back comb! Now, that’s sad, b/c I do love me some big hair! If I had a picture from the 80’s, I could show you!
And this getting up at the crack of dawn for school, has DEFINITELY taken ALL the wind out of my sails! I DON’T do mornings, at all.
Good luck with finding a new dryer. Going old school will seriously cramp your style.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:53 am
Brantlee says:
Oh my goodness…the aussie scrunch spray how I loved thee…also the sushi story reminded me of Claire on Breakfast Club. the 80’s what a fabulous decade to grow up in.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:00 am
jenny says:
I cracked up when I read
…let me assure you that nothing will make you lose your appetite like watching some kids use their straw to slurp up leftover juice from their pinto beans.
That is such a kindergarten thing to do! I’ll never forget the time my kinder class and I were singing a song and I looked over to find little Johnny eating his Band-Aid!
…just thinking of that still grosses me out today!
August 28th, 2008 at 8:01 am
rrmama says:
I have one word to say for lunches…LUNCHABLES! They rock. Kids love them. Also, Maytag brand is one of the best dryers we have ever owned.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:02 am
Jai says:
Sushi? Oh my! Just wait til she gets to high school … you will marvel at the lunch a la Four Seasons choices the kids have today, especially in some school districts … not to mention that they can order take out from their CELL phones and have it delivered!
What ever happened to pizza and corn?
August 28th, 2008 at 8:08 am
Jai says:
And sorry, I don’t have any dryer recommendations for you .. I am praying over my 12 year old dryer, but will be reading the opinions here .. and hanging on by a thread …..
August 28th, 2008 at 8:11 am
Amanda says:
I agree with the idea that if the dryer needs to be replaced the washer probably isn’t far behind. I like buying things together in sets if they come that way. I’d also hesitate to pay someone to fix a dryer that is 11 years old. I’ve got my fingers crossed that he’ll be there by 9am - you’ll be the first person in history!
Aussie Sprunch spray!!!!
SUSHI! Too funny!
August 28th, 2008 at 8:11 am
Kristi says:
Pinto bean juice…ugh! Sushi wraps? I thought I was an over achiever mom when I used cookie cutters to make cute shapes out of the sandwiches. Oiy!
I had Maytags for 12 years. My sweet husband surprised me w/ an LG washer and dryer for Christmas. They are beautiful front loaders. (that looks so funny in print) My clothes are fresher and laundry takes such little time and I don’t have to iron nearly is much…and I just love that benefit!
Tell your sweet hubs, you have survived Kindergarten week and that you deserve a new set (I mean washers and dryers of course)! Blessings to you!
August 28th, 2008 at 8:19 am
Therese says:
I have the Whirlpool Duet front loaders, and while I does love that large front loading washer, I does equally hate the dryer. It has been leaving brown streaks on my clothes, like someone drew a brown crayon line and has ruined a lot of our lighter colored stuff. Since the expensive wonder duo is only about three years, I got in touch with Whirlpool, and lo and behold, no one but me has ever had this problem. And my local repairman is equally puzzled by this. So I use my clothes line for light colors, and the dryer for things that the crayon line won’t show on.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:19 am
Therese says:
I have the Whirlpool Duet front loaders, and while I does love that large front loading washer, I does equally hate the dryer. It has been leaving brown streaks on my clothes, like someone drew a brown crayon line and has ruined a lot of our lighter colored stuff. Since the expensive wonder duo is only about three years old, I got in touch with Whirlpool, and lo and behold, no one but me has ever had this problem. And my local repairman is equally puzzled by this. So I use my clothes line for light colors, and the dryer for things that the crayon line won’t show on.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:19 am
Lora Lynn says:
Love my whirlpool duet, but it may be bigger than you need. Still, love the front loader.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:27 am
Kim says:
Thanks for making me smile this morning! And, yes there is great pressure in packing the perfect lunch!
We have the Whirlpool duet washer and dryer & I’ve been very happy with both. In fact, since our family is heading out of town tomorrow I should probably get OFF the computer and put my W & D to good use so we have ~ I don’t know ~ CLEAN underwear to pack. Have a great day!
August 28th, 2008 at 8:33 am
Alex says:
Old School? That’s how we roll in England. Two things that make that ridiculous:
1) It rains, A LOT.
2) We have much smaller spaces to hang a clothes line.
Thankfully I left Ye Olde England for greener pastures and use an LG dryer that does all kinds of clever stuff that a line doesn’t do.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:36 am
shelly says:
We have the Maytag Neptune set and they are fine, but we are old school and have a clothesline, both in the backyard and one across the laundry room for winter. I grew up with a clothesline so I am conditioned to prefer sheets dried on the line. They also are easier on clothes than a dryer so clothes last longer. My huband but the line in on one condition, no underwear. So I use the dryer for those and socks(that’s just my thing, I hate to hang up socks.) I use the dryer other times, rain, too cold etc. but it feels good to not have the AC and dryer running together. Saves me money and nice side benefit, it saves some energy. Our backyard is such that the clothesline can’t be seen from the street and most of the neighbors have trees in the way to see it so it isn’t a big deal. I usually only do laundry on Monday’s so that cuts down on the unsightliness.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:39 am
Kristin says:
LOOK another comment - guess my lurking days are over.
My dryer stopped earlier this year right after my last load of laundry on my laundry day. Hubs told me if I could find a good, used one on CraigsList that he’d find a truck and pick it up.
After 5 days of searching I did finally find one on CraigsList (nearly new) for THIRTY FIVE dollars! It is amazing.
YES - there is a difference in dryers. This one actually DRIES the clothes the first time.
I suggest just getting one newer than eleven years old and you’ll be good to go!
August 28th, 2008 at 8:42 am
Tricia says:
A lot of people think I choose homeschooling for some great and magnanimous reason.
Nope, It’s so I don’t have to get up early!
I am incapable of finding matching shoes for 4 children before 8 am.
I could not talk our local schools into a reasonable start time so homeschooling was our only option! :o)
August 28th, 2008 at 8:50 am
Stephanie from MO says:
I finished your sentence of “Aussie Sprunch Spray” before you even said it!! Who didn’t have a spiral perm and use that grape-smelling spray?
I remember finding a teasing comb at my grandma’s house when I was in jr. high and being so thrilled. It was like finding gold! We always called it “ratting” your hair….and looking back at pictures….that seems appropriate. Some hair looked like rats nests where we’d “teased” it.
The sushi in the lunchbox only makes me think of one thing: Molly Ringwald in The Breakfast Club.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:54 am
Ohiomom9977 says:
I HATE waiting for the Sears people - they always make you waste a whole day waiting and are only available one day a week. Time Warner Cable is just about as bad. I don’t know how anyone who works gets anything fixed with the large “window” you have to wait for the repair people. Good luck with that !
I like line drying but we have allergies here so that doesn’t work for us except for a few weeks in fall and winter when the pollen isn’t flying.
The early hours of school are killing me too - I’m definately not a morning person.
August 28th, 2008 at 9:04 am
Michelle says:
You’ve gotten some good advice so far. I recently bought a Maytag set at Sears, and went with the middle of the line, not too cheap, but not the biggest & most fancy! Amanda is right, you can often get good deals on the set and if the washer is that old, that may be the way to go.
The whole cafeteria scene cracked me up with the bean juice and sushi!!
August 28th, 2008 at 9:08 am
Anna Willett says:
as i laid in bed this morning scamming 10 more minutes of sleep, i thought, “am i the only one? i can’t be, right?” thanks for renewing my faith in mankind by being a person who doesn’t want to hop out of bed at the thought of a brand new day. ugh. i could go back in there now…
and really, sushi?
August 28th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Allison says:
Lots of your thoughts made me smile, but I’ll just stick to your appliance question. I really wanted one of those fancy front loaders, but didn’t want to pay ridiculous amounts of money for them. So, instead, I went to my local Home Depot, asked about their floor models and waited. Eventually, they put two perfectly good ones on sale and I pounced on them — they ended up being about half the cost as “brand-new” ones. Also, at HD, the extended warranty is less than $100 a machine, which covers five years of in-home repairs (or, if need be, replacement.) And, in my opinion, the front loaders are better! Cheers to memories of hair glory in the late 80s and early 90s!
August 28th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Jenn says:
What? You don’t have a clothesline? Hanging out clothes is one of my favorite OCD activities…oh, it is an art that takes many forms. You should try it.
August 28th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Melissa says:
Gurl! I am 39 yrs old and still have plastic teasing combs (in every color of the rainbow) all over my house, in every purse, in my desk at work.
My hair is flat and fine so a mid-day re-tease is a must. Don’t get the wrong idea - I don’t look like Tammy Wynette but a little lift in the hair also lifts the spirits.
Melissa
Austin, TX
August 28th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Amy from Texas says:
You crack me up!!! I love that you are a child of the 80’s too. Yeah, it’s so hard to get used to these early mornings. Now you have me scared to volunteer in the cafeteria. Sushi???
August 28th, 2008 at 9:34 am
Robyn says:
Ahh, Aussie Scrunch Spray. The hair glue that smelled like Grape Jelly.
Sushi? Really? Wow. I hope she had one heckuva good cooling system in that lunchbox or else you might not see her at school for a while as she recuperates from food poisoning.
My dryer is almost 11 years old. We got it as a wedding present (from my grandmother) 11 years ago in December. I hope your dryer death doesn’t jinx mine. I would be wary of the big front loaders - i have several friends who have one (washer, too) and hate them. Says it takes forever to dry a load of clothes. And you know a sista doesn’t even have time for that!
August 28th, 2008 at 9:40 am
amy says:
my conair hot rollers (the velvety kind) have been my secret hair-styling weapon for years… i’m a novice at back-combing, but i’ll definitely have to start experimenting.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Erin says:
I purchased a front load washer last year the Whirlpool duet. I wasn’t able to get both the washer and dryer but if I had the money I would definitely had gone with the Whirpool duet dryer. Just switching to the washer I am amazed at how much less energy I am using and the dryers are also so much more energy efficient. They are so much better for your clothes as well. I did alot of research on line before deciding on that model and I’ve had it for a year now and just love it.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:14 am
jp's mom says:
The low end models work just as well as the fancy schmancy models and will last the same 10 years.
Go for the less than $300 one and skip the extended warranty…the dryer only costs $30 a year when it lasts for 10 years.
And never ever call the Sears repair people…you time is more valuable than that. Just buy a new one.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:16 am
lavonda says:
Girl, when you figure out the dryer thing, let us know. Ours is circling the drain as I type.
Re the lunches… here’s my logic after only 7 years of school with my little ones: if you pop out of bed with energy, make their lunch. I always pack a super healthy snack and lunch but then - here’s the kicker - I throw in a little yoo hoo drink on occassion, in addition to their water bottle. They are the envy of their class.
Mother of The Year, I tell you.
Mother of The Year.
And if you don’t pop out of bed with the energy of Kelly Ripa, they buy their lunch that day.
Like Cindy-Still His Girl said above, that’s an extra 4 minutes of sleep (or even NINE! if you use your snooze button like I do).
Thanks so much for clearing up the back coming semantics.
Do you think Olan Mills rotated that wicker chair out from state to state back then? I swear I have my picture from 1986 in that very same chair.
I swear it.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Shalee says:
The Girl would love to be the daughter of Girlfriend’s mom. She would eat sushi if I gave it to her… and then beg for more.
Go with the low end model. Less bells and whistles means less that will break. I’ve had my Kenmore for over 10 years and it’s still running like the day I bought it (except with a lot more lint in it.)
And for the record, teasing isn’t just for the 80’s. I’m living proof of it.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Way More Homemade (Donna) says:
I’m totally picturing Molly Ringwald in the Breakfast Club.
My dd has said she’d try sushi sometime soon. Can’t wait to haver a sushi buddy in the house. She & ds LOVE edemame already.
Dryer…. Oh I know… tell that darlin’ husband of yours that you want an LG dryer… with a front load washer to match. Because we can’t have things mis-matched, you know.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:32 am
zoom says:
The pinto bean comment coupled with the Sushi - just made me howl.
Teasing and hot rollers will always be in style in most Texas counties.
I had to buy a washer dryer combo last year. Home Depot and Lowes offer a buy now no interest free deal for one year- It softens the blow for about a year and then it is payola time.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:35 am
PajamaMama says:
I just read this morning on the msn today page that the top secret for the Cosmo Cover Girl’s hair is….HOT ROLLERS! It even told me exactly how to roll the hair for the right effect. So, hot rollers are nothing to be teased about. Tease…get it?
This might be the right link.
http://lifestyle.msn.com/your-look/makeup-skin-care-hair/staticslideshowcosmo.aspx?cp-documentid=9000575>1=32002
August 28th, 2008 at 10:44 am
Kelley says:
I commute into Minneapolis on the bus and I swear to you that there was a woman who rode in every morning in her hot rollers.
By the time we reach downtown, rollers are out and her hair is oh-so-cute.
I haven’t seen her in a while–but I was always amazed.
August 28th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Gabby says:
Kenmore. My parent’s are still using their 20 year old Kenmore in the most gorgious shade of puke green/mustardy yellow mix. They had to buy a newer Kenmore washer (white, so much for Amanda’s pair advice, my parents are FRUGAL)- it is only 10… a mere babe, they are still breaking it in.
Mine we bought used when we married. They are going on 14 years and the dryer kicked last year.. got a basic replacement.
Oh, any ideas on a fridge? Mine is not cooling well, and I sense a breakdown. I heard Samsung ones are great? Any internet advice from the savy fridge shoppers?
Has he(Mr.Sears) showed yet?
August 28th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Libby says:
Because I am one of the flat hair people, I have lots of time to devote to thinking about appliances.
I, too, am on the LG bandwagon. I had a 14 year old Maytag set, & right after ironing, folding laundry was a favorite just like bikini waxing. But life after LG makes me want to wear an apron & skip to the laundry room. The little songs make it that much more special - I love to change to a special cycle so it will sing again. I can wash my DOG BEDS, for the love of pete! The efficiency leaves me speechless. Laundry is a beautiful thing.
Just don’t go anywhere else in the house.
August 28th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Emily says:
this is so funny, I was just eating lunch with my son in second grade today and I saw most of the kids slurping up the leftover pineapple juice on their plates with their straws, I never imagined some would take it to the extreme with the pinto beans!
dryer…I have no idea, I always go trusworthy brand and cheap!
August 28th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Jennifer says:
I’m glad you cleared that up - back when my hairdresser suggest I backcomb, I didn’t have the nerve to ask if that was the same as teasing!!
And sushi? Wow, I’d feel pressured too. My son takes the same basic lunch every single day. He’s so adventurous.
August 28th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Jennifer says:
Seriously, #3 made me throw up a little bit in my mouth.
August 28th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Natalie @ I AM (not) says:
Make sure that you have a timer on your dryer. Mine’s busted and, well, some of my clothes just spin and spin and spin and spin and…you get the idea. But, hey they’re dry.
August 28th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Alana@A Kiss, A Hug, and A Squeeze says:
I’m so enjoying your kindergarten tales. Our school is very cruel and wouldn’t let a kindergarten parent in the building for the whole first month of school! I’m in just a tad bit of disbelief about the sushi. My son’s refined and varied tastes are limited to PB&J, applesauce, and pretzels…which is what he asks for every single day!
August 28th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Deidre says:
Making lunch at 6:00 AM is KILLING ME! Our school doesn’t have prepared meals, so I really don’t have a choice right now, but I can never promise what my child will end up with when she gets to school becuase I CANNOT see at 6:00.
I recently moved and my friends that helped me totally made fun of my hot rollers. I had no idea they were ‘not cool’ now. What Ev.
August 28th, 2008 at 11:33 am
chickadee says:
thanks for that tutorial on back combing. i wondered about that all day.
get a cheap dryer. that way you won’t care when it breaks again. i have a front loading set and just wrote about my experience with sears coming and making comments about my poor washing habits. as if you aren’t supposed to wash dirt!
August 28th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Darlene says:
I don’t have any dryer wisdom, ours is 10 years old so with the way they throw these things together now-a-days I’m sure in a month or so I’ll asking for the same wisdom!
I just wanted to tell you that it took me two years to pass Algebra I, so I get super excited when I can figure things out in my head without it hurting!
Have a good Thursday!
August 28th, 2008 at 11:47 am
KatieBug says:
I’m a HUGE fan of the KENMORE!!! There is a reason that Sears is the only store to sell them (Not Home Depot or Lowes). They are made to LAST!!!!!!!!!!!
August 28th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Tater Mama says:
When I was teaching, I always thought the cafeteria volunteers should’ve been given the bronze star or purple heart or something. Once I got my kids through the line, I was out of that place practically at a dead run. I could handle a sick child, even a child with a cut or a bloody nose. But a cafeteria full of elementary-aged kids….eating? Oh, I just didn’t have the strength.
We have an LG front-loading W/D set. I love ‘em. Perhaps more than my luggage.
August 28th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Ruthee says:
I have a friend who sells washers and dryers for Sears and he says buy ANYTHING but a Maytag. They get replaced and fixed more than any of the other brands combined. Makes him crazy when he sees their t.v. ads.
August 28th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Lindsee says:
Don’t have any dryer wisdom…but I hope y’all got one. Although, I’m all about hanging the clothes in the backyard.
August 28th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Mama Hen says:
Kindergarten stole my brain last year and I never got it back. Like you, we had lazy mornings and Chickie Boy actually had AFTERNOON kindergarten, so really, no excuses. I just never got life back on track. All the organizational skills in the world can not replace the missing brain cells.
We have a maytag dryer.
August 28th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Brickhouse says:
FRONT LOADER - Pop some popcorn and enjoy the show!!! (I know I lead such an exciting life.)
August 28th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Lisa @ Stop and Smell the Chocolates says:
Your list cracked me up! Thanks for the laughs! Hope all goes OK with the dryer.
August 28th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Erin says:
Do not go with a low end model, I did that and it died within three years. It was a kenmore, I also purchased a very expensive vacuum that was a kenmore and it broke, my friend [urchased the same vacuum and the same exact thing happened to her. The front load dryers are completely different than the low end models, they have moisture sensors which mean less energy will be used and your clothes stay in such great condition. It is an investment that will pay for itself, wait till you see the difference in your electric bills, unbelievable!
August 28th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Grafted Branch@Restoring the Years says:
I caught Dumpling slurping her tiny cup of jam through a straw the other day. We were at La Madeleine….as a guest of one of the older women at church. *sigh*
August 28th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Tina Hickman says:
Go with the Whirlpool Duet system (steam or not steam who really cares). I have a washing machine from Whirlpool that I bought in 1988 that is still alive and kicking. I swear by anything Whirlpool
August 28th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
tammy - GratefulinGA says:
I highly recommend the LG frontloaders. We have the Tromm models, washer and dryer. I love the dryer freshener and steam feature on the washer. Wonderful for freshing things up you might have been tempted to dry clean or hand (yuck!) steam press. Quick, less energy lights inside to find the occasional lost sock undies, aaand I can wash/dry my King size quilts…prior to this I was a dry clean only gal.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Emily says:
Thanks for the laugh.
Our dryer went out the same time our fridge went out, and all that happened the same time Stomach Bug 2007 hit, which caused me to lose 12 lbs in a week. Great week to say the least.
We learned during that week from hell that if you choose to buy a new dryer (or another appliance) from Sears after having the Sears repairman tell you that it’s just as expensive to fix your old dryer as it is to buy a new one, you can use the service charge of the repairman as a credit toward your new dryer.
I hope that made sense, at least here in Georgia it does.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Melissa Lee says:
I am reading this blog and, well, I am just angry. So I will go ahead and say it. I will voice it to the world.
I HAVE FLAT HAIR AND I AM NOT GOINT TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!
No more will I be subjected to 2 gels, a root pump and half the can of Big Sexy Hairspray. Tomorrow I am whipping out the hot rollers come hell or high water.
Unless y’all think flat hair is coming back…in which case I am one step ahead.
Melissa
August 28th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Daniella says:
I just laughed so hard that my coca-cola came out of my nose and now have a head-ache…the good kind, and my abs are sore. Keep posting like this in in four week tops I’ll be sproting a six-pack. THANKS!
This is my first time commenting even though I’ve been following your blog for a couple of months now. I must say, I like you! Wish I knew you in person just like everyone else.
Have fun dryer shopping! I say you go old school and hang em out there on a line. You get privacy, natural bleaching, your sheets will smell better than EVER, will have toned up your arms and shoulders in no time, and best of all will not have to pay a penny for a dryer or electricity. Don’t forget to wear your sunscreen (obviously, not the coppertone one) and a big bonnet. Otherwise your Nana will come and hunt you down and you know it!
August 28th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Lynn says:
This may be a bad time to ask about washer/dryers. We upgraded to the lovely computerized jobs One and 1/2 years ago, and what do you know….right after the warranty on the Whirlpool, the computer system got all haywire and needs $300 worth of parts. Come to find out…it had happened to LOTS of people with this washer and Whirlpool won’t do a thing to help. RECALL anyone??? Sorry, but I think a brand new $900 washer should last longer than 17 months before it won’t work. The End.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Missy @ It's Almost Naptime says:
The front loaders are fun to watch.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
lavonda says:
They are, Missy. and especially if you think about them as my husband calls them…
“front end loaders”.
You can take the man out of the country…
(he just has so much tractor in his blood)
August 28th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Lisa @ put-it-on-the-list says:
We had an OOOOOOLD washer and dryer and just replaced them with the Maytag Epic Z frontloaders. I had a friend who had just bought a set, and he’s an exhaustive researcher. I can tell you his findings: get the Maytag or the LG; don’t waste time with another brand. Also, don’t leave wash in the washer overnight, and when you’re done with the washer for the day or week, dry out the gasket so you don’t grow mildew. (This all only applies if you decide to get a new set, obviously.)
Have fun waiting for the repairman but be prepared to get new ones… and know that no company, not even Maytag, makes ‘em like they used to. Washers and dryers are now made to last ~5 years, not the 10-15 that they used to. Stinks, but there you have it (and I’ve heard that from several trustworthy sources).
August 28th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Daisy says:
I have a Roeper (or is it Roper?) brand dryer which is at least 20 years old. Never had problems with it at all!
August 28th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Blogaroni And Dees says:
oh, but line-dried bath towels and bed sheets are soooooo great!!
August 28th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
amy says:
The only thing I can say about dryers would be this… they may be prettier these days (and fancier), but the only good dryers are the ones that were made over 20 yrs ago and butt-ugly.
My mom had the same dryer for 27 yrs (I believe it was a Maytag)… butt-ugly doesn’t even begin to cover it, but it worked without fail. She decided to trade up this past year and since doing so, has called on the repair man, TWICE. Sooo… go butt-ugly, or go home.
August 28th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Cindy says:
I also have the LG front loader set that I bought earlier this year. I love the set AND the chimes. I used to do about 10 loads a week in my 2 year old Maytag set (which was a horrible washer/dryer set, hence the new LG’s). Now I can do the same amount of laundry in about 6 loads. It’s been a long time since I’ve been this excited about laundry
August 28th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
cait says:
hang hang hang… there is something therapuetic and primal about it. i love it so much i don’t even own a dryer.
August 28th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Lauren says:
I have Kenmore dryer that I love (can’t remember the model) but I can’t really recommend it because it’s broken, too!
August 28th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Laura says:
Ummm, is it bad to admit that I still use Aussie Sprunch spray? I’ve had super curly hair all my life and tried just about every product known to man, NOTHING, and I mean nothing, can compte to el cheap-o Aussie when it comes to curl containment :)! And that grape sent…well, it’s just a bonus! LOL
August 28th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Rena says:
I really heart your incoherent thoughts.
My washer and dryer are about as old as your dryer. My washer may spin off into orbit any day. No help on the dryer.
I absolutely teased my hair in the ’80s! Now, I know better than to tease the front. I tease the back.
Hope Kindergarten gets better for you.
Rena
August 28th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Superchikk says:
Our dryer is nearly 10 years old, and still going strong. We bought a GE. I would buy that brand again in a heartbeat. I just have two words for you: High Capacity.
When we lived in Texas, I could NEVER get my hair stylist to NOT pouf my hair. It does it enough on its own - it does not need help.
August 28th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Marla Taviano says:
I’m behind on sleep AND your blog. Love the sweet pics of Caroline’s first day. DYING at the pic of you from way back when.
You’re delightful and always make me smile. Thank you, friend.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Sunni says:
Funny you should mention that. Today I sat at my house from 2-4 pm for the washer repair man. $100 later, and it’s back to working without leaking, and now I have NO excuse not to do laundry. Totally backfired on me.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
k&c's mom says:
Hot Rollers: I have been using them since the 70s as set after set finally burned out. Went to get new set for the next decade and they have discontinued my brand. Say it ain’t so! Copied my entire email list to see if anyone knew of anyone who knew where they were still sold. (Sometimes small towns in Texas have old stock…) And a friend had a set. Because her college aged daughter bought them and didn’t like them. I’m trying not to type in capitals but: didn’t like them??? And the next best choice would be….?
Re: cafeteria lunches. When my son was in kindergarten he loved cafeteria food. “Mom”, he’d say, “they give you all these CLUMPS of food!” (It was served with ice cream scoops on plastic trays like in prison.)”If you would come, they would give you TWO clumps!” That is quite an offer, isn’t it?
August 28th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Sister says:
Whirlpool Dryer.
20 years young.
August 28th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Lynn says:
I LOVE MY HOT rollers. I hope no one ever takes them off the market. Just in case, I have some stashed under the counter.
As for the dryer dilemma? I have always been a KENMORE girl and had great luck. But, I think I’d love one of the new front loading duets! GO FOR IT.
August 28th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Bailey's Leaf says:
Oh, there are so many anti-clothes lines comments that I read and I didn’t even get to read all of them.
We are in the process of putting a clothes line in our FENCED IN backyard and don’t worry, you won’t be seeing our “drawers flapping in the wind.” I don’t believe that the neighbors need to see bras and underwear. That is what the inside line is for.
I grew up with a clothes line and miss it. With the price of gas going up more and more, line drying is the way to go for me.
August 28th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Laurie says:
Home Depot always has 0% for 12 months available. . . I bought my washer and dryer from them (one year at a time) and paid them off in a year. Using Bill Pay from my checking account. . .
I have the LG front loaders. . . and LOVE them! I also love clean, fresh sheet hung out on the clothesline. . .
August 28th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Kelly says:
I work in an appliance store. Granted, its in Alabama or I’d give you a sweet deal. Most of the major brands these days make all the brands. In other words, if you buy Whirlpool, Maytag, Amana, Kitchenaid, Magic Chef, Jenn Air, Roper they are all probably going to have the same internal parts. The average life of a household appliance is 6-8 years, thank you chinese and mexican manufacturing and shipping and plastic disposable (but $65 each) parts. Anyhoo, I have a GE dryer that has lasted me through a son who played baseball and a daughter who played softball (think multiple uniform washings and dryings in a day.) I would love to have the front loaders but whew! they are high. I’d recommend a Whirlpool or GE product, get one with a super-capacity tub, usually 7.0 cu ft. That’s what we sell the most of.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Kelly says:
oh, p.s. You’ll probably have less headaches down the road if you can find one that suits you WITHOUT the electronic controls. Just your basic knobs or push-buttons. I don’t think they’ve got all the kinks out of that electronic stuff yet. Or at least the ones I’ve sold. Its ok on stoves, microwaves, but we have trouble with dryers.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Flowerpot says:
Dryer: Lg front loader. (Love it!) $999.99
Hot rollers from 1989: $15.99
Remembering the smell of my Aussie hairsprayed, teased, 1990 wedding-day hair: priceless.
August 28th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Cheri says:
It took me a LONG time to forgive the educational system for ruining my mornings too. For years, daughter Jen would crawl into bed with me when husband left (usually at 6am - yikes!) and we’d sleep on till 9am or so. That’s been 24 years ago and I’m still not over it…
As for dryers, I love my Bosch Nexxt Premium. But it is kinda a Porsche among dryers. When you’ve had 3 kids, 3 weddings, 5 grandchildren, moved 17 times and lived in 5 countries, you can have one too.
My kids all have LG Trons and LOVE THEM. They aren’t an arm and a leg and the washer is front loading as well (know you didn’t need the washer but they ARE so cool looking!)
August 28th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
erin says:
Yes. I, too, have witnessed the sushi lunch & snack.
It made me feel like a schmuck, as my kid was eating a Lunchable.
August 29th, 2008 at 8:58 am
Jami says:
Okay, it looks like you’ve gotten plenty of suggestions but I had to get in on the conversation. We bought a new one 3 1/2 years ago and I LOVE it!
It’s a Kenmore 80 series - King Capacity -Quiet Pack. You can fit so much in this thing and it dries it very well!
I’m going through my firstborn in Kindergarten too. Definately a new challenge. Is my daughter the only one who comes home wired??!!
August 29th, 2008 at 3:27 pm