Appliances

2 weeks ago today, Boy 2 and I did some shopping in Willmar. I'd decided I was tired of my little chest freezer that always seemed to have something at the bottom that I'd long since forgotten about - and was way past expiration. Plus, I'd purchased a quarter of beef and it was supposed to be ready by the following Monday, and I didn't have enough room in my little freezer to even squeeze in a 1/2 gallon container of ice cream.

The mission for the trip was to bring home a standing freezer. A large one.

Now, I'm the type of person who likes to do a bit of looking around before I make my purchase. However, I'm not the type of person who wants to wait for something to be shipped to me. So, trailer in tow, we went to Willmar.

If you haven't felt the need to wander through the appliance sections of the stores in your area, you may not have noticed some "alterations" have been made to the functions of the new appliances that differ from what you are currently using.

For example, I'll start with something small...like my toaster.
My new toaster has push button technology and a digital display for the setting.
I really don't see how this is an advancement over the dial type of toaster that we all grew up with. However, I had moved, and I'd forgotten I'd wrapped my last toaster up in several layers of plastic bags and put it inside my tool chest - so I thought I needed a toaster. (Plus, this one was a Herberger's Home Store toaster that started out at $100 and was over half off, and I thought it would be amusing to call those male friends of mine who would in NO WAY care about this news, and tell them I'd just bought a $100 toaster. As anticipated, they mostly simply responded to this news with "You're a gay bitch." so it was worth the effort.)

When I purchased the house, I needed to replace the washer and dryer. For these, I decided to go with LG front-loaders. For an additional $400 I could have gotten a set in red that had touch screen programming, but I thought that was a little unnecessary - the digital displays and push buttons were enough.
I've been very happy with the LG set as they have a few thousand features a signifant other could use if a significant other was present, and yet are still able to be run by a Single guy. (A single guy or his 12 and 14-year-old sons, all of who just throw the clothes in, add some liquids where the liquids go, close the door, and press the start button.)
Now and then, the boys will empty the dryer into a laundry basket and then get sidetracked by a video game. (For clarification, "Now and then" is interchangeable with "Nearly every time I ask them to fold the clothes".) The washing machine has a steam feature that works out wrinkles. This is handy.
The dryer came with a shelf that can be added to be used for sweaters. I haven't used if for that purpose yet, but have found it most helpful for drying soggy kid shoes without having the noise you'd get if they were rolling around and beating against the inside of the dryer. (The shoes. Not the kids. They didn't fit.)

But anyway... back to the freezer.

Boy 2 and I stopped at Sears first. (Bonus! There's an attractive girl working there!) They have a freezer there that I liked but not on hand. This goes against my "instant gratification" policy and would necessitate another trip to Willmar with trailer in tow, so we get the freezer specs and move on.

Next we try Home Depot. The dryer and washing machine are from there. The freezer will be placed next to them. Alas, LG doesn't make a standing freezer. Onward.

We try Menard's next. Notta.

Best Buy? Negative. And not the best buy, either.

Local appliance store? Been a local business for many years and very friendly people on hand. They also service what they sell, but I'm not local so am willing to keep looking.

We finally end up getting one at Cullen's, which is fairly new to the town.
It's white instead of stainless, because it's next to a white washer and dryer.
It has a digital temp display on the front and more push button functions so it doesn't look out of place next to the washer and dryer. Plus, it suctions itself shut when you close it for a solid seal, defrosts itself, has lights warning if the door has been left open for more than 5 minutes, and sounds an alarm if has lost power due to a power outage or such.

I like it.

I've been filling it rapidly as school is out now and therefore I can't rely on school lunches to nourish the Growing Boy Creatures. Along with the beef, breads, veggies, and other frozen foods I add 18 half-gallons of various flavors of ice-cream.

There's milk in ice-cream.
And some have fruits and/or nuts.
See?
Nourishment!

So today when I open the door to take out one of the 18 half gallons of ice-cream, I find that D and T have also added to the the freezer.

I find Dairy Queen cups in the door.
LARGE Dairy Queen cups.
Because the 9 gallons of ice-cream in this freezer, along with the 1/2 gallon or so that's in the 'fridge's freezer - and the two Schwan's ice-cream cakes that are still in the little, newly replaced freezer...well, they're just not enough.

So... sigh, shrug, and back to work I go. For work I must. The Powerball thing didn't come through for me, and my lifelong dream of being the crazy guy that drives around town in a street sweeper must be put on hold.

And I still want to replace the 'fridge.
And stove.
And microwave...