Last friday, before we left for Toronto, we were cleaning up a little when the wife told me that the dishwasher was smoking like crazy... we new it was going to go soon, we have hardwater and no softener (that works) so we figure we'd have to replace our appliances eventually until we can get a new softener.

So, yesterday, after we got back, the wife decided to try cleaning the element with vinager that appeared to be crusted with gunk from the water. Tried the dishwaher again, and seems to be working for now... so I've jumped on the internet, found a couple of people giving away a few dishwashers due to some upgrades. Figure it'll be a temp fix until we replace the softener. Picked one up today and getting another on the way to work tomorrow. Good to have a couple on hand, just in case. Good thing we have the space to store it.

On the way back from the one pick up today, my wife texted me to ask if the guy happened to also be giving away a stove.... not a good sign.

I called her back to ask why and was informed that there was a large crack in the glasstop stove we have... sheesh, not cheap to fix that, almost as much as replacing it... sigh, it never ends.

We left saturday morning for Toronto. Tank full of gas, $30 in the bank, $25 in my pocket. Cooler filled with sandwiches and drinks. I had no idea how were were going to manage to get gas for the next 10 days with no money.... Lord will provide a way I suppose.

We made reasonably good time, arrived at the brother-in-law's place after a somewhat pleasant drive with 1 pit-stop to pee and another for lunch. Left at 8, got there at about 2. Rang the bell, and no one was home. Go figure. I don't begrudge him at all. He was at the hospital, having some blood work done on the baby as she was jaundiced.. Don't worry, baby's fine. But knowing we were coming down that day, and would be arriving between 1 and 3, you'd think he would've called to say hey, we're at the hospital, or something, but no, thought never crossed his mind. We even talked to him the night before and it was all a go. He wanted us to stay at his place for the night rather than drive to my in-laws, but plans were already firm with my inlaws for dinner, so we declined the invitation.

Anwway, after much deliberating and trying to figure something out, we drove to the hospital to meet the baby, and then we drove him and his family home (they have no car). We arrived back at their place at a little after 4 to which my sister-in-law promptly announced that she had to log on to the internet and webchat with her parents to introduce the baby right at that monent. I was dumbfounded, we just drove 6 hours to see the baby, arrived to an empty house, met them somewhere else and drive them home and now this???? WTF is wrong with them??? whatever, so he then asks while she's upstairs, what time are you leaving? are you sure you can't stay? when we said we'd be leaving in about 20 min so that we can drive to their parent's place (my inlaws) about 45-60 min away, he was crestfallen, "but you just got here" to which I bit my tongue when I wanted to say "no, we didn't just get here, we got here 3 hours ago you twit" But I didn't, just to keep the peace.... I just shrugged and mumbled, well, you know your mother, she's got dinner planned and you know what'll happen if we don't show up.... His wife, when she finally came down, also said the same thing to which I repeated, blah blah blah

Ain't family grand

A few weeks ago the van started acting up again, I knew it was the exhaust... great more repairs we can't afford. One day there was a very loud ratlle like the whole exhaust was going to let go so I crawled underneat and saw some flimsy metal sheet, probably a heat shield, with large wholes rusted out around where the rivets would have been holding it place. So with a couple of self tapping screws and some large washers, I screwed it back in place into the frame.

I noticed while under there that the place where the pipe from the catalytic converter is attached to the pipe going to the muffler was missing 2 of 3 bolts and can clealy see the gasket between the two missing large chunks... started the van and that's where the loud engine moise was coming from. I figured I should be able to undo the last bolt and replace the gasket myself... yeah right.

A trip to crappy tire resulted in a spiffy new gasket and 3 shiny new bolts... So last wed, I go back under to see what I could do... that sucker was on tighter than I don't know what and one good shove on the wrench resulted in my arm getting all scratched to hell when the fitting came loose. That nut would not budge. I talked to a neighbour to see if he could torch the sucker off and he agreed to do it the next night. Had to be done as we were going to Toronto to meet my brother in law's new baby (1st time for him).

Took about an hour, but we manged to get it done... I was amazed that nothing bad happened. Go figure.