Friday, February 08, 2008

Life intrudes

Broken camera. Broken computer. Broken refrigerator.

What better time to leave $20 in Walmart purchases in the shopping cart? The bag was gone before I had time to loop around the row.

I think I'll take the day off and do something fun. Here are some interesting places to visit:

Anyone have advice about living from a cooler for the next few days?

41 comments:

Jennifer said...

I hope your day gets better!

Anonymous said...

Were you able to get the fridge fixed? Did you lose a lot of food?

I'm sorry!

Cherie

Meredith said...

I was able to have a repairman come out, but it will take until at least Monday for the new motor to arrive.

Unfortunately the refrigerator had been cycling on/off for a couple of days (unbeknownst to me), so all the food was a total loss. Even the turkey and ham I was defrosting for Sunday.

I thought about tryint to salvage more of it, but when you have food poisoning, you pretty much think you would have paid anything not to be sick like that again. So I thought I'd err on the side of caution.

Mrs. Fussy Fussypants said...

Oh, Meredith. I'm sorry!


Come to my house to do some blogging & have some food! ;) My door is open. Mi Casa es Su Casa!

Oh, almost forgot, thank you for mentioning my sites. My sitemeter is going crazy. Mwah.

ps- I really mean that about coming over this weekend!

Love, Alli

Anonymous said...

I wish I was close to your house. I have extra fridge room. I have nice camera I got for Christmas I do not know how to use, and I would give you a wonderful glass of tea (or cup of coffee) and a muffin while we decided what to do till the fridge gets fixed.
I am sorry that you are having a rough time. I sure hope it turns around soon. Roxie

Kelli said...

I'm with you. The washer and dryer went out three weeks or so ago, and the revolt continues. Our 4 year old fridge died two days ago, while we were out, so I came back to a full fridge of dead food. Sigh ...

Quilter Mom said...

Dear Meredith,

We were without our refrigerator for almost two weeks, waiting for a warranty repair. We did borrow a dorm-size one from the attic, but obviously you find out quickly what's really essential and what's not. Also, you'll have a really spacious refrigerator when it does get fixed, from throwing out all those bottles in the door!

Anonymous said...

(((Meredith))) I'm so sorry! Let me know if I can anything!

Shannon said...

Meredith - oh, honey, what a bad day! I really wish we lived closer - times like this are the downside to internet-friendships, huh? I think it was very wise to be extra-cautious about the food in the fridge. I'm the same way - better safe than sorry when it comes to food poisoning, espcially with littles. This'll be a great time to make some pantry meals:)

Anonymous said...

I can tell you right now that the lemonade I would make from this lemon is ENJOYING every meal out this weekend. Why stress out over a cooler and trying to prepare meals? Think of it as an unexpected mini vacation. You deserve it and you will feel less frazzled when the fridge is working again and you have to run around like crazy restocking it. I do feel bad that everything seemed to happen at once. Isn't that always the way!

TJ said...

What a terrible way to start the weekend! So sorry to hear that. My thoughts are with you!

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry! Seems like bad things do come in threes, but now something good will happen.

Hope that you are able to do something fun.

Hugs,
Kathy

Anonymous said...

Neredith, I feel for you...My Mom is going thru the same thing with her refrigerator. It decided to die right around Christmas, right after the one year warranty. An $1100+ Whirlpool number. They have been eating out more than they would care to. Some nice person did send someone out to fix it and it died again. Living out of a cooler cannot be any fun. Sorry you are having to also.
Elise

Catherine at Frugal Homemaker Plus said...

No fun! I've lived out of a cooler before and it's not easy.

I would do a lot of meals that don't require much fridge time. Peanut Butter sandwiches and the like are good.

This is also a good time to use that powdered milk. If you drink milk, make just enough for everybody the night before (so it will be very cold.) Less to worry about going bad!

Making small meals is good as well, so you don't have to deal with leftovers.

I wish you a speedy fridge recovery!

Beth said...

I will pray for a cold snap for your area. I'm serious! We have done without a fridge before by being able to put things in laundry baskets and totes on the patio.

A friend of mine keeps a huge cooler full of food cold for a whole week of camping by using dry ice. I don't know where you get such a thing, but maybe it would be worth looking into?

Praying for peace, practical solutions, and a reasonable repairman for you.

Anonymous said...

ak - as a sister in frugality, my first thought was, oh no, your budget!!! The fridge motor, the food, the Walmart groceries! So I am turning my thoughts away from that and I pray you can too - and you can enjoy the "camping" aspect of the cooler or every meal that you eat out until your fridge is fixed.

Andrea said...

Meredith, what happened with the WalMart groceries? Did you forget them at the store? Did they get stolen? I couldn't quite get that (Friday brain fog).

Oh dear! I'm sorry for your many troubles!! Good thing you're frugal anyway!

pinklogican said...

I know you've probably thought of this, but did you call the WalMart and ask if the groceries had been brought in? I once left an expensive (to me!) floor lamp on the bottom of a cart in a Target parking lot and - lo and behold - when I called a couple hours later (I blame it on the new mommy brain!), someone had turned it in and I was able to pick it up. Anyway, some good soul may have grabbed your bag right away and taken it in to the service desk.

It's worth a shot to just call!

Anonymous said...

SORRY Meredith! Esp. the WalMart coup de grace.

Wish you could have some of our cold climate for outside storage.

Since you only have to make it 3 days, I'd try living out of the pantry and letting your little Boxcar Children figure out a solution!

Looking forward to a creative post following this dilemma...

deb meyers

Amanda said...

So sorry you lost your purchases -- how disappointing!

Meredith said...

I loaded the baby and unwrapped a snack from one bag, then got in myself and drove a few yards down the parking lot before realizing I had forgotten the big bag of groceries.

I was in a busy section with people loading and unloading. In less than two minutes--the time it took me to round the bend and come back down that aisle of the parking lot--the bag was gone.

I checked inside but no one had returned them. I left my name but no call yet.

My fault for leaving a bag in the cart, but it just adds insult to injury!

Lose the groceries in the fridge, lose the groceries I bought to replace them over the weekend, and now I have to buy them a third time!

Anyway, I'm feeling better about it now. Just kicking myself for my own stupidity.

Barb said...

I'm so sorry to hear about your day! We had a bunch of things break on us last year, including the computer. Very expensive year!

Relax, enjoy the weekend!

Maggie said...

So sorry, we went through that not to long ago and it was not fun.

Anonymous said...

Meredith, I'm sorry. I guess we can count our blessings anyway, right? It could have been that tornado. Regarding refrigerators here's a hint that might help someone. It is vitally important to regularly vacuum the coils underneath. On ours, we pull off the white plastic thing near the floor in front. Then we vacuum - about once a month. It keeps the motor from overworking. After having the frig for about six years we thought it was "dead" b/c the temp wouldn't stay down. My husband took it out to get rid of it but then noticed all the dust. He blew the dust out with a shopvac and - what do you know? - it was able to cool down properly!! Your motor might be shot but maybe it's not. Best wishes. You have a great attitude!!
Vicky

Anne Marie@Married to the Empire said...

I'm so sorry. What a frustrating day for you!

I think we can probably all sympathize about the groceries that were left behind. I know I've done that before. As for all the stuff you lost from the fridge and freezer, well, again, it could happen to any of us. That's life, and it's not your fault. And truly, the fact that you can replace it means you are quite blessed.

I hope the rest of your weekend goes more smoothly!

Anonymous said...

About a year or so ago I was returning a basket to the basket drop off 'thing' and there was a purse in the basket in front of my basket...I took the purse home with me..I did not take it into the store, I honestly don't know why, I just took it home. Got the wallet and looked for the person in the phone book...no name...so then I put my thinking cap on...there are other things in the purse..I finally find a small note book with some numbers in it. I called one of those numbers. Got the number for the person and called them. There was money in that wallet, credit cards, and all kinds of ID but no phone numbers...
As a reward she brought me a big plate of fudge and offered me some cash...I took the fudge and told her to give the cash to her church. I hope that someone turns in your bag. You have had a rough day. Hope the weekend is better. Roxie

Southerner said...

Sending hugs your way. Just remember that it is all God's money and you are just managing everything for Him and try not to let it make you feel bad. Maybe the person needed the food more than you and we can pray they get food poisoning if they didn't. Be a witness through this to the repairman and grocery store and even your kiddos by your life. But, it really stinks~!

Miranda said...

Thoughts and prayers are with you! I do hope your weekend gets better.

Anonymous said...

You coud move to Michigan. It is only 13 degrees here right now. Your food would keep quite nicey outside. Of course, it would be frozen solid!
I hope you can get it fixed quickly.

PM said...

Hope everything works out soon !

Anonymous said...

Here's what we do when we're camping: Use solid blocks of ice instead of cubes and, if you can, have one cooler for often used things and one for things like meat. Cover them with a blanket for extra insulation. If you can't find the blocks, maybe you could ask someone to freeze some for you in milk or juice cartons (don't fill to the top or they'll burst:)

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry to hear all that Meredith! I say accept Alli's offer and go enjoy some good company over there to cheer up and have a good distraction. When you're home, pretend you're camping. Bake potatoes (or potato wedges, yum), warm up some chili to pour over them, and if you can get some cornbread, that would be really nice on the side.

Cherish the Home said...

Oh no, I'm so sorry! But I agree, I've had food poisoning and it's TERRIBLE!! I wouldn't want to risk having it again.

Thanks for posting the links I enjoyed looking at some new-to-me blogs. (o:

I hope things get better soon,
~Mrs.B

Anonymous said...

My advise is, consider it as "fasting" from using a refrigerator. Then count it joy, and praise God, each time you open the cooler that He is working to make you perfect and complete. Oooh, the one who seeks to kill and destroy does NOT like it when we turn trials into praise!
Rita

Anonymous said...

Frozen gallons or half gallons of water. Ask a neighbor or relative to freeze one for you. Put it into the cooler and it will keep it cool and also provide cool drinking water as it melts....

Karla Porter Archer said...

ACK! I'm so sorry to hear this!

Lots of good ideas in comments (as usual)

Blessings,
Karla

LynnMarie said...

Oh my how terrible for you? Time to live out of the pantry for a few days. Since it's warm down your way how about a BBQ Summer in the Winter Party. Invite some close friends, you make the salad and have the bread or rolls and let other bring the hot dogs and hamburgers. The powdered milk will come in handy with cereal. And lunch time sandwiches will help you make to it Monday. Think of this as extreme camping at home!

TracyMichele said...

OH MEREDITH! I'm sorry you are/were having a rough one! Too bad we couldn't have synchronized our life's little interruptions. You could have brought over all your frozen goods and stored them in my livingroom during our heat crisis. *giggle*. I hope things are looking up!

Martha A. said...

i lived without a refridgerator for 4 years on purpose. We lived in MN, so in the winter we used the corners of our houses as fridges, I had eggs freeze one time inside the house in the corner, to let you know that it was cold enough! But I second using a block of ice in a cooler in a cool place, like your garage maybe. It will keep things pretty cold! You can keep a thermometer in there, but you know a good thing is that if there is some bacteria that builds you will get used to it slowly and then it starts to not make you sick! It sounds gross i know!
Anyhow, we could keep milk cold with a clock of ice, we also had a flowing artesian well that was 40 degree water which helped us, not really you though!

Amy said...

I hope things get better, Meredith. There is no worse feeling than losing all of your food in your fridge and then to lose your food in the cart too! I feel for you!

I have done this before and it is the worst feeling. Our supermarket let me come back and basically buy it again for free. It really stunk though!

Hugs to you!

Kimberly said...

Ugh! How frustrating! Hope everything gets up and running for you tomorrow.