You have got to be kidding me! #2

Ohhhh, man! I certainly did not want to start out another blog entitled "You have got to be kidding me!" so soon. Maybe once a month would be really bad. The good news is that J is cooking on the new stove (see first picture) and, yep, there is bad news. After taking apart the outlet to see what prong would be served by the red wire, and carefully calculating how I would need to wire the stove (red on one side, black on the other and white in the middle--not too complicated, Dudley, right?) I proceeded to wire the stove backwards. I forgot that the 220 plugin is upside down. (At least from my perspective). Good news is scarce around here, but I did notice my mistake before throwing the breaker switch. I have to tell you it was with much trepidation when I finally did get around to throwing the breaker switch. I have been startled when the breaker snapped back at me on a 15 amp 110 circuit. I really don't want to experience the snap back on a 50 amp 220 circuit. That may make good blog material--for somebody else. I would read that, but don't want to write it.

After noticing the mistake and calmly (really) rewiring the stove (by this time I am getting reasonably efficient at the process, but my legs are killing me in that cramped position), J and I decide to have another go at the leveling process. After five minutes of that folly, we shove the stove back up against the wall. (note second picture) Oh, the stove still is not level. This is ridiculous. Having shoved the stove as far back as it will go, J asks me a few minutes later if I would shove the stove flush against the wall because the lower cupboard door will not open and one drawer cannot be opened. Oooooops. Uhhh, the stove is as far back as it will go. Of course, the plug is in the way, but J queries why the other stove could fit flush against the wall and this one can't. Hmmm, maybe this stove does not have any concave areas on its back that will allow room for the plug and cord? J's turn for You have got to be kidding me!

We pull the stove out to assess the scope of the problem. There is a concave area that extends up from the floor about nine inches. The plugin is about twelve inches above the floor. The positioning of the plugin was fine for the first two stoves we had, but evidently convection ovens require plugins to be installed closer to the floor. J says that she can live with it for awhile, but she does want her stove to be flush to the wall, not sticking three inches into the kitchen blocking access to a cupboard and a drawer. Unfortunately, her position has an air of reasonableness to it. My thought of calling a contractor, unfortunately, is so unreasonable that I did not even express it being that Uncle Sam thinks we need to pay him another $3450 by the middle of April. (Oh, I am just loving that Bush Tax Break since our taxes jumped about $3500 with the new tax structure, but that is good fodder for another blog sometime.)

I flash back to the time we made the decision to buy a new stove. Armed with Consumer Report data and (did we ever think we were smart) a measurement of the width of the space the stove would have to fit into, we drive off to Sears in Ontario. When I mention our width requirements to the sales lady, she shoots me down with, "Oh, all stoves are of the same width." Now I know that I should have been measuring the heighth of our plugin. I am feeling like a Seattle Mariner--"Born to Lose!"

Thinking of born to lose, I would be fishing today on the Owyhee River, but I read the weather report yesterday calling for rain, possible snow, windy and temps in the forties. At the moment I am typing this it is 10:04 am and as I look out the window, I see a sunny, blue-sky day, no wind and appears to be a very nice day. You have got to be kidding me!

I had a thought awhile back that possibly I could save money, or at least get better value for my money, by having a lawn service do the fertilization, and spraying for critters and weeds. When I call for an estimate the first thing I am asked, "How long does it take to mow your lawn?" And my answer, "I never have timed it. I don't know, maybe a half hour, maybe an hour." Next question is, "How much square footage is your lawn?" "I don't know, maybe 3 or 4 thousand square feet. I usually have some fertilizer left over when I buy a bag that is suppose to cover 5,000 sq. ft." Then I get a quote. Scott Lawn Service gave me a quote, but after going up the chain of command, three links up, I got, "Weiser!" "Yes, I have told you from the time I talked to your sales manager that I live in Weiser." "We don't go to Weiser." Sad to say, that was the best quote. They give senior citizens discount.

My former student, Randy Howard, sent his salesperson out in person to measure the lawn. I have 7,800 sq. ft. of lawn. Almost wish I did not know that, but I liked their offer and will give it a try for a year.

I have already put one application of fertilizer and crab grass killer on so don't have to pay for that application. On Monday we got a free application of fertilizer. At least, I am hoping it is fertilizer. The crop dusting plane flew over and unloaded a load of white pellets all over our house ,yard, and (I am definitely not happy about this) our pond. Ponds don't need fertilizers. It makes the algae grow and I don't need that!

Papa Coyote needs to go out and get some yard work done since it is such a nice day (If I ever see that weatherman, I am going to snip all the barbs off his fishing hooks) and begin to get psychologically prepared to move the outlet for the stove down three inches. This means messing with the wall board and I don't like that job.

Yeeeeeeoooooooowww, Love you all,

Papa Coyote