Sigh.

The washer repair people came out this morning to fix the washer. They were in and out in about ten minutes. They replaced the hot and cold water valves, declared victory, and headed on their way.

Feeling optimistic, I told Alexis to throw a load of laundry in to make sure everything was working.

And what does the washer do?

The exact. Same. Error.

The very same error it’s been throwing for the past week. Apparently, it didn’t get the memo about the repair.

So I had to call them back, and now I’m sitting here waiting for them to call me after they talk to the technician. Round two, I guess.

Meanwhile, I’ve accomplished approximately nothing today. I spent a solid half hour tearing the house apart looking for a micro USB cable so I could charge Kel’s headphones, who, by the way, kept saying the headphones use a C cable. They don’t. Only for Tommy to casually tell me exactly where a micro USB cable was. Apparently, he’s been hiding this critical information all along.

So today’s résumé now includes:

* Professional washer tester.
* Customer service hold enthusiast.
* Micro USB archaeologist.
* Dog photographer, because Chris wanted a picture of Everest.
* Full-time manager of appliances that refuse to acknowledge they’ve been fixed.

At this point, I’m pretty sure the washer and I are in a long-term toxic relationship.

I’m just sitting here now, waiting for the technician to call me back. I know he has other jobs to get to, so I’m trying to be patient… emphasis on trying. At what point does “waiting patiently” turn into “maybe I should call the appliance place again?” There has to be an official timeline somewhere. I’m pretty sure I’m approaching it.

It’s 85 degrees outside, so naturally I’m wearing shorts. But inside? I’m wrapped up in a blanket like it’s the middle of winter because the swamp cooler has decided to transform the house into the Arctic. My outfit is giving “confused weather forecast.” I’m simultaneously dressed for a barbecue and a snow day.

It’s almost 1:00, and I’ve officially reached the point where I can’t stare at my phone any longer, hoping it will ring. I think I’m going to call the appliance company back.

Well… I called.

We’re scheduled for Thursday for the washer. They’re going to come out and diagnose it again before deciding what to do next. I understand why they have to diagnose it again; it makes sense from their perspective. From my perspective, though, it feels like we’re trapped in the world’s least exciting sequel: The Broken Washer 2: The Re-Diagnosis. I have a feeling Thursday’s appointment is just going to earn us another appointment to actually fix it. At this rate, the washer and I are going to know each other on a first-name basis.

Right now I’m completely lost. I’m just sitting here staring at my laptop screen like it’s supposed to tell me what to do next. It hasn’t volunteered any helpful suggestions yet.

I really should study. My Security+ exam isn’t going to pass itself, no matter how intensely I glare at my notes. Maybe my laptop is waiting for me to make the first move.

Meanwhile, I’m also playing mission control for Karissa’s cruise preparations. I’ve been gently, okay, maybe not so gently, reminding her to order a charger from Amazon so she’ll actually have one on the ship. She also needs packing cubes and wants more socks, so she’s shopping for those now. Alexis already bought her charger and has packing cubes, so she’s ahead of the game. She’s basically the overachiever of the travel group.

The girls are planning to go to the mall on Sunday to pick up any last-minute things they still need. And Sunday is extra special because we’re celebrating my birthday! We’re keeping it simple with tacos and cake, which sounds like a pretty fantastic combination. If there’s one thing that can temporarily make me forget about a broken washer, it’s tacos. Cake certainly doesn’t hurt either.

So that’s where today stands: the washer is still broken, I’m bundled up in a blanket while wearing shorts, my study motivation has wandered off without leaving a forwarding address, and I’m counting down the days until tacos, cake, and hopefully a functioning washing machine.

This coming Friday is pretty busy too. The car has an appointment; I think it’s just for an oil change, but I’m not completely sure. It’s on the calendar. Then Tom and Chris have an appointment at the suit store. They’re going to drop me off at Costco for my hearing aid appointment before they head over to the suit store. So Wednesday and Saturday are the only days we don’t have any plans. Tomorrow I really need to study, and honestly, I should probably be studying right now too.

Maybe Friday night or sometime on Saturday, we could put my new desk together in the office? Then I can start putting all my stuff away. I’m really excited about my new desk!

Oh! Tommy said we will probably put the desk into the office sooner to see how it looks and if the cabinets are sufficient stands, but not use the desk until Friday. So I get to see how it will look!

It’s four now, and I’m going to read The High King before everyone comes home. My laptop battery is dying and needs to be put back on the charger. I’ve been charging my stuff in the kitchen while I’m waiting for my desk. Yes, the kids have asked me about this and wanted to know how long I’m charging my things in the kitchen. Till Friday when I can use my new charger on my desk.

Oh, my psychiatrist wants me to get lab work done for my medication management, so I scheduled an appointment at the lab where she sent the orders. The earliest they had was 3 p.m. on a Friday because, apparently, everyone else also decided Friday was Lab Day. Not this Friday, because they’re closed, but next Friday.

The real tragedy? I have to fast beforehand. So I’ll basically be spending the day slowly transforming into the world’s least pleasant person until they finally let me eat after 3 p.m.

Ok, off to read now.