Ode to General Electric

It's funny that Friday's post was this, because this weekend I would have had the kind of gratitude journal entry that would seem odd to anyone else.

I am grateful that I own a washer and dryer.

Not only that, but I am particularly grateful that it is a front-loading, king-sized capacity washer and dryer with a sanitize cycle.

Woodstock hasn't kept anything but water down all weekend. As a result, I have done four batches of heavily soiled laundry. This was, of course, on top of the six batches of laundry that already needed doing (it was the weekend to wash sheets and towels, and the weekend I re-washed all warm-weather clothes before putting them in storage).

I didn't even complain that the sanitize cycle takes nearly two hours and all the hot water in the house, because I was so grateful that it was a good enough washer to get all the "soiled bits" off the clothing/bedding/odds and ends in one cycle.

I was grateful for the king-sized capacity because it meant that I could wash the sheets and blankets (and clothing) each time Woodstock soiled them, all in one batch (The couch is "draped" with linens because while the washer does have a large capacity, it is not large enough to wash the couch).

I was grateful for the front-loading style, because it meant I could wash her high chair cover, the straps and the stuffed animals that also fell victim to being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Even those that say "hand wash only." As if I would have the stomach capacity to handwash something with little bits stuck to it.

All that makes me grateful for the job I had in Virginia that allowed me to purchase said GE washer (and dryer - I love my dryer too) at contractor's pricing, which meant I could justify said king-sized, front-loading and sanitize features.

Unfortunately, while the washing machine worked near miracles, it could not ensure more than a couple of hours of sleep for Himself or I or a baby that got better.

We may end up having to test the washer's ability to wash car seat covers today, as Woodstock has to go see the doctor when they open.

(Side note: Himself's "gratitude list" would include the fact that we have a clean shower - since Woodstock seemed to have a knack for getting sick on him. She knows her mother has a terribly weak stomach and gave her some pity, I suppose).