Journal Entry #66

Only 6 hours after I wrote a lovingly assertive letter to the powers that be regarding our NOT COLD fridge, Tim called King and State (while he was in Italy) and actually got through to talk to a live person.  (Refer to entry #64.) Yes, they received my letter.  Yes, they would immediately have an instore credit waiting for us at The Brick where the NOT COLD fridge was originally bought from.  No, it would not be for the full value, because we had used it for almost 2 years.  They gave us a pro-rated credit of $2100.  Not enough to replace what we had, but at least there was a resolution in sight.

A woman from The Brick called to tell me that they had received the credit and I was welcome to come in at my convenience to pick out a new fridge.  “Wonderful!” I exclaimed.  “I will be down first thing in the morning to pick out a new fridge.”

Then the ball dropped.

“I’m sorry, ma’am.  But the warranty is in Tim’s name, and he has to be here in person with photo ID, in order to use the credit.” She explained.

Normally, this wouldn’t be a problem.  But Tim had been in Italy for a few days already, and he wasn’t home until late Sunday night!  In the end, we would wait another week for a fridge.

6 weeks to the day of our fridge dying, we ventured out in the first snow storm of the year.  Nuts, right?  At this point we were desperate.  The kids were sick of pizza.  I mean, who gets sick of pizza?!  So, down to The Brick we went.  Where as fate would have it, we were greeted by the exact salesman who sold us our appliances, two years ago, in a snowstorm!

What are the chances?

Turns out the best time to shop for furniture and appliances is during a snowstorm.  He walked us through our options for the size and dimensions that we require to fit in our kitchen.  But lo, and behold, once we bought a new fridge it would be another 4-6 weeks for delivery.

Are you kidding me???

I looked at Tim and he knew I couldn’t do another 4-6 weeks like this.  It was bad enough not having a fridge for Thanksgiving, but to not have one for the Christmas season too?  Not happening.  So Tim, calmly asked what other options there were.

As luck would have it, the newer model of our very fridge, although slightly bigger was on sale as a floor model.  I had done a lot of research and after lengthy conversations with the repair man, had decided that LG was indeed the model we wanted to look for.

Fingers crossed that this one wasn’t a lemon too!

They wrapped it up as Tim completed the paperwork.  A $4200 fridge that had been discounted to $2900 with taxes in and a new 4 year warranty was loaded in the back of our truck and we were on our way.  It was a slow drive because of the load we carried and also because the roads were so slick and snow covered.  On the way home at 9pm, we texted a few friends that we knew were home, and Bevin and Mark came to meet us to bring the new beast into the house.

From here it was a comedy of errors.

It took three men and Canyon to get it out of the truck and up the stairs and to our main door after shoveling the foot of snow we had already gotten.  Only to realize that it wouldn’t fit in the door.  It would fit however, if we took the doors of the fridge off.  Tools out, door half off, we realized that because it has a water and ice dispenser in the door, it wasn’t a clean process and much more complicated than we bargained for.

Think.  Think.  Think.

The last appliances arrived in good weather, and we brought them in through the French doors on the other side of the house.  We groaned and then laughed.  Canyon quickly took to shoveling the pathway to the front yard and the front deck as Faith and I disassembled the sliding screen door and opened the French doors.  Again, the three men and Canyon carried and slid the fridge down the stairs, off the deck, around to the front of the house, up the stairs, across the deck and into the house.

We all wondered who does this kind of thing in the middle of a snowstorm?

At 10pm, we closed up the house, sent the kids to bed and cuddled to get warm.  With all that jostling, the fridge would have to sit for 24 hours to settle.  Nothing more could be done.

The next night, Tuesday, we rolled the old one out and the new one in.  Tim hooked up the water and we plugged the new beauty in.  And oh,  did she purr!  I realized that I have trust issues where refrigeration is concerned, so to be sure, I decided to wait until morning to begin putting things in the fridge.

First thing this morning (Wednesday)  the kids checked the fridge…and it was COLD!

Halleluiah!

Finally cold!

I was able to shop today and prepare a meal tonight for my family!

Tonight, I am going to sleep in gratitude!

Xo Juli