Liberry Air

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Revenge of the Sith

Apparently the repair guy could tell by 8 a.m. that he wasn't going to be able to leave his driveway all day. Glad I got up so I could be out shoveling by 6 to clear our driveway so he could park easily. Still no chilly fridge-issued water and space sucked up by filter-pitcher. So much for the craptacular manufacturer's one year warranty on parts and labor; the warrantee is not thrilled.

Next available date: March 30 at which time we will have owned the fridge for almost a month and a half without full use of its glorious capabilities.

Surprisingly enough, they wanted to be paid for the whole fridge right away.

This is starting to feel like being in one of the old soaps. Stay tuned for the next installment of The Thirsty and The Restless? Open the fridge for the Guiding Light?

Saturday, March 10, 2007

The Empire Strikes Back

The plumber has come and gone; the ice maker is going through the process of making the first of three batches to be dumped (in favor of clean ice).

Why, you ask, this title?

Because the bloody water dispenser doesn't work. Apparently there's a solenoid that doesn't appear to be working - hence the dearth of nifty fridge-supplied drinking water.

Calling the service number (on the nice refrigerator magnet they supply) does provide an opportunity to listen to the worst background music ever. It also lets you practice your skill in getting them to send a service person at a time when you are not normally at work. No, we do not want to take a personal day for this; we want you to recognize that the world works. Service hours should reflect this. I would love to have a job that would allow me to have my days off not on the weekend. Not having to hit the supermarket when Attila and the boys are out shopping too: priceless! Remember, Attila meant something like Scourge of God...and for good reason.

So Dr. A, normally a reasonable guy, got to speak to them. The general feeling was that it would probably not help matters if I started shrieking invective. Probably not.

He 'splained it to them. He suggested that since this was a brand-new fridge, we had a plumber standing next to the phone fuming in frustration, and they had a moral obligation to give us something that works for our money, they should send someone after 5 or on a weekend. And lo! they are!

So next weekend we find out whether the next title shall be The Return of the Jedi...or (ominous music) The Revenge of the Sith.

Meanwhile, it can take up to 48 hours for the ice unit to be fully operational so we're hanging onto the ice cube trays a bit longer. (And every time I hear a little clunk in the freezer, I hop up on my trusty step stool to view the latest little miracle issuing forth from the ice maker. Cool.) (On many levels.)

Sunday, March 04, 2007

Freedom?

Would Peter Zenger have bought a t-shirt saying "Will Rogers never met Ann Coulter"?

Friday, March 02, 2007

Bus duty blues

Last week was Electrical Appliance Failure Week: first the fridge (still no sign of the plumber coming to hook up the new aquatic toys), then the mouse on my year old computer. The replacements are very nice and the credit card bill hasn't come yet, so things seem fine.

This week's Disaster Theme has been the weather. Is this random nastiness? Stochastic weather process? Global warming? Nah. It happens every time my team has bus duty. It has reached the point where some parents groan when they see us on duty. One has asked us to consider taking days off so the weather will improve and she can run errands in relative peace.

So what will next week bring? Blue skies? Happiness? Depends on how you feel about standardized tests. The tests in our state happen to be well-designed and give us good information. However, administering them is a difficult process at best: lots of security measures; a great deal riding on the outcomes. I always have groups of students who have learning difficulties and get more time to complete the tests. The word is out that my room is a nice place to test - partly due, no doubt, to the fact that I provide snacks and a quiet, nonjudgemental atmosphere. I really like the kids who come to me; I'm glad they feel comfortable in my room.

Between the actual testing dates (2 full weeks) and the make-up days, life as we know it will return right in time for April showers - such a heartwarmingly symmetric cycle.