Parents of the HS Class of 2009 - Page 1732

RochesterMom · 05-31-2012, 07:54 PM

Not staying away. Just not a lot of news. Very busy at woek lately. I read but have 't posted much lately. May have more news once D co.es home tomorrow. At home been busy getting g the flower garden s ready for Sumner. Just lots to do.

NorthMinnesota · 05-31-2012, 11:43 PM

Had a great time at Happy Hour at friend's house...although it was more of an entire evening affair! The theme was 3M (local company joke)...martinis, manicures and massages! Fun! I had a chair massage that was heavenly! (and a few martinis! )

Now I am wide awake after having a martini made with Kahula and some other caffeine source...I don't drink coffee, tea or pop so I am wired!

RM...I am so behind on my flower garden I am thinking of not planting any annuals this year! Just have been so busy with the cabin plans that I am afraid we won't be here much to take care of things. I think I need to give myself permission to take a year off.

kmcmom13 · 06-01-2012, 06:38 AM

Well if you won't, mn, I will: I grant the permission to take a year off.
In fact, I grant you permission to take many years off if you like perennials.

Can ya tell I don't do annuals? That said, perennials can be a little deceiving because in truth they occasionally whine for a wee bit of attention. Or shout.

I do, however, get the biggest mandeville you can find every year for my Buddha arbor and let it go wild. But that's only an annual insofar as I live in Michigan. If I lived south, it too would be perennial. I also get a couple of fuscia planters for some color in the shade and call it done.

sabaray · 06-01-2012, 07:57 AM

NM, I'd be mortified if you saw my flower beds. I think I should just rename them protected "wildflower" sanctuaries. The happy hour sounds like a lot of fun! Glad you got to treat yourself.

I love all the wedding discussions. I'll admit to watching all the shows about finding the perfect gown and looking at all the Pinterest boards about weddings. I'm hoping that D wants a big elaborate wedding when the time comes.

MP, how's the weather in your neck of the woods? A friend was flying out of Austin and had some significant delays yesterday. Of course we had major storms here Tuesday when D was making her first "solo" trip to the big city. Was I anxious until I heard she had arrived? You bet.

RochesterMom · 06-01-2012, 08:09 AM

Caution: Rant ahead....

So 14 months ago we bought a new washer and dryer. A matched pair -- we haven't had one of those since we were first married. The last month the washer hasn't been spinning the clothes as dry and we noticed bits of plastic in the clothes. At first I just thought that something was in someones pocket but now. The washer was desinigrating. So we called the company. Well they said that they would sell us a extended warranty for $300 and that would cover the fixing or replacement. Well the service guy came out and the bearings (is that how you spell it when used in this context) were gone and that the washer would need to be replaced. We would receive a call in 3-5 business days for a replacement. Well they called yesterday and they are going to give us $600. Let's see the washer originally cost $750 a year ago. We spent another $300 for the warranty so we are now into it for $1050. We went last night to look at a similar washer and wanted a different brand however since we have the base (front load) it seems like we are stuck with this brand or another brand that the same company makes. The comperable washer is now $1100. So what they are giving us is NOTHING basically. I would love to not by a "W" and buy another brand! I can't believe how poorly they are treating this. Not standing behind themselves. That being said when we went to look last night we went back to the same appliance store. Looks like the owner of the appliance store may do something for us. We need to talk to him agian today. I don't blame him at all. Not the appliance stores fault but unbelievable that the company doesn't stand behind their product. I know that it is 2 months out of warranty but it's not like it has been over used. Just H and I in the house most of the time.

Sorry. Rant over!

missypie · 06-01-2012, 08:17 AM

RM, so sorry! So frustrating. My first washer and dryer lasted something like 17 years. The next ones have lasted more like 5.

Glad we didn't sneak into graduation to hear the choir, because the school administrators skipped over the song I wanted to hear them sing (the one I suggested). The select choir was standing there, all ready, and they just started reading the names of the grads. This always ticks us off because H sings at lots of memorial services and the officiant will skip over the song on occasion. He always has to figure out a way to work the song in, because the family asked him to be there, they or the deceased carefully chose the song....then the minister doesn't read the program. Oh well, at least at the graduation, they were probably glad the thing was 3 minutes shorter.

The next few days will be crazy, but I'm the one who wanted the room painted.

ellemenope · 06-01-2012, 09:06 AM

Yikes, RM...our washer is 30 years old and I know we'll have to replace at some point in time. Reliability is key for me. Looks like we should stay away from the W brand...

NorthMinnesota · 06-01-2012, 10:03 AM

I am also in need of a new washer and dryer. Have been babying the dryer along with our monthly service plan through our gas company. It is a good deal if you have older appliances. They have kept our older dryer and furnace going for a few years. There is no extra charge for service or parts, just the monthly charge that has been less than what we would have paid for service. My dilemma is that our laundry room is narrow and has a door at the end that exits to the deck. The newer front loading appliances are too deep (depth wise) and would block the exit door! Trying to figure out the solution is driving me crazy!

I have a very large wooded backyard filled with perennials but I like to put container/pots throughout for pops of color. I usually do 5 large hanging baskets and this year I only have 3 that were given to me for Mother's Day. I usually have about 8 different large containers on the deck and around the firepit. In the front I usually have 5 large urns around the entry and garage. None have been planted yet!!!

Thanks for the permission kmc! I am addicted to hostas! I bet I have over 50 types of different hosta that add texture and various colors. The bleeding heart, hydrangea, lungwort, coral bells, plumonaria and blue bells add a bit of color. I love when the sweet woodruff is blooming and adds a carpet of tiny white flowers. I also have some white Canadian violets that are clustered for maximum effect in my shady yard. Oh well...after having the yard and flowers in top shape for last summer's wedding I guess it is ok to take a year off and regroup!

peonies · 06-01-2012, 10:07 AM

Happy June, everyone! Congratulations to all the graduates and everyone else who is finishing another year of school/college! We have one impending hs graduation here (Sunday - yay!) and our '13 college student will be arriving home (finally) this weekend for a week or so before heading out west for an internship. It'll be nice to have everyone together this weekend for the first time since the Christmas holidays. These kids of ours are growing up too fast.

On the washer/dryer front, we have Fisher and Paykel machines after years of reliable Maytag ones. So far so good with the F & P machines.

Best wishes to all for a relaxing and fun weekend!

woody · 06-01-2012, 11:51 AM

OOHH!!
northminn - That sounds utterly Monet-ish!

arabrab · 06-01-2012, 12:14 PM

RM -- We have a 15 y.o. washer that the repair guy (who we use for everything, and who isn't shy about telling us that something just needs to be replaced) says is one of the last made with metal parts, and that they're tremendously more reliable than the new ones. Told me that the new ones have plastic parts, lots more electronics, and a number of things that can't be fixed.

Did you by chance buy the new set using your Amex card? If so, might the extended warranty kick in?

RochesterMom · 06-01-2012, 12:36 PM

Bought it on Mastercard. Seems like if we had gone down that road it might have been better but since we called the company and got the service agreement then I guess it's not covered. I don't understand all the ins and outs -- just what my H said.

shawbridge · 06-01-2012, 01:18 PM

We have had incredible success with Amex. It tacks on an extra year for all warranties. Our TV from Costco had a one year warranty but Costco added a 2nd year. It broke toward the end of the third year, but that was covered by Amex, which paid us for the full purchase price we paid. We bought another bigger, TV for the same price. A cappucino maker died after 1.5 years. Again, Amex covered it. Also, there is a 90 day breakage/theft policy. I spilled coffee on a new Macbook Air after 30 days or so and they covered it. My partner had his iphone stolen from a hotel after a week and they paid to replace that as well. [You need to use Amex Platinum for the breakage policy -- all Amex cards have it but the non-Platinum ones limit payment to $1K per incident and X per year while the Platinum is $10K per incident and I think $50K per year]. We now buy all products for the office or home on Amex cards.

kmcmom13 · 06-01-2012, 01:38 PM

^Lol, Shaw, remind me not to lend you any fancy gadgets without insuring them first

^NM, I take back my permission to slack. I've decided instead you need to have a cyberfriend garden cocktail party next weekend, so get planting, woman

^RM, I would be seething too. I had heard this from other people (about new things breaking fast) and watched that happen first hand with my new convection/microwave oven (whereas my last one had lasted 25 YEARS). So when we moved I bought the OLDEST second hand washer and dryer I could find...and they're working great

Gotta run and get back to work. Cheers, all.

NorthMinnesota · 06-01-2012, 02:01 PM

Darn it kmc!!! Revoking my permission to slack off this year is tough to take!

Ok...maybe I will get planting next week. The entertaining on the deck is what makes me reconsider not planting as we do that quite often.

woody...I wish it was Monet-ish! I do like the lime green and blue tones from various hostas and the crisp whites from different plants. I will try to remember to post a pic on fb when the yard is in shape!