Dear Frigidaire...

We were very proud of our Frigidaire Gallery Series Model CFEF372CB2 Glass Top Range when we got it new on March 21st, 2004. We celebrated spring and our tax refund with our first brand new stove, a $1000 gleaming black gem on sale for $850!

In our 13+ years of marriage we had made do with used $75 stoves, with burner rings that would gather spills and crud and smoke and burn out. The ovens required harsh chemicals to clean them, and they usually lasted 3 or 4 years, with $15 or $20 repairs every now and then.

But no more of those problems now that we have this baby, no siree. The smooth glass top just wipes clean, and the oven is self cleaning, just set it and forget it.

And its a Frigidaire!

Our Frigidaire upright freezer was nearly 50 years old when we replaced it with a new, energy efficient one, and it still worked! We should have many, many years of reliable service from our brand new stove.

Yeah, right.

First off, the glass top is impossible to keep clean, even when using the recommended Cerama Bryte(tm) cleaner.

Then, several months ago, while cooking dinner, the oven control started beeping, flashing "F1" on its display, and the door lock came on, trapping our dinner inside. I had to cut and restore the power to the range in order to release the door. The error code indicated that the oven control required replacing. A check for the part found it was over $300, and we couldn't afford that at the time.

We found if we just didn't set the oven too high, it would still work well enough to cook a meal.

Slowly, the temperature threshold got lower and lower until 350 degrees was the maximum before it would fault.

Tonight it faulted, and will not reset.

The oven and cooktop is dead.

As a doorknob.

Constant beep like a flatline.

5 Years, 6 Months and 1 week old.

R.I.P. (rust in pieces)

Part # 31818530 is US$240 plus shipping, putting it over CAN$300, then labour.

Home Depot has a GE 30" range for $399.

You do the math.

DJW

We are now using a 'modular cook station.'
Two hotplates and a toaster oven.

This is Wonderland?: Support your troops

This is Wonderland?: Support your troops

No, I didn't write this...

No.

In spite of rumors to the opposite, or what you might think, I did NOT write the following headline in this week's Brantford Expositor:

Clean getaway in Pledge, Windex theft

Although I could have.

Would have.


DJW

Another country heard from...: Meet Sammy...

Another country heard from...: Meet Sammy...

Shared via AddThis

This is Wonderland?: Rants for a Monday

This is Wonderland?: Rants for a Monday

An Early Retirement

My eldest offspring, Thing One, has been involved with Canada's best kept secret for over 9 years now.

She has been a Cadet since the age of nine.

First with the Navy League, then with the Sea Cadets.

In both instances, she started at the bottom and progressed steadily through the ranks, eventually becoming Chief of the Corps, the top ranking Cadet.

As a parent, getting her involved with Cadets was an easy choice. It was free to join, taught her skills, and gave her incentive to serve.

I knew what she was in for if she gave it a chance. I had been a Cadet as a young lad. I learned values and made friends there that I still have over 30 years later.

She retires this week, at the ripe old age of 18, passing on her charge to another deserving young person, willing and able to take on a leadership role.

Below is the text of her Farewell Message to her Corps.

On Vigil, November 11th, 2008

Camp, Cadets, and the Real World.

Firstly, I would like to take this time to congratulate all of our camp-bound cadets on an excellent summer. I got a chance to see most of you, teach some of you, and watch you become leaders in your Divisions and in Cadets. Congratulations to MS Johnson on being named top in his Division, and to QPO1 Jackson on earning his watch ticket.

Now, I’ve come to the point in my Cadet career where I can look back and reflect not only on what I have gained from the Cadet Program, but what I could pass on to you, the future leaders not only of our corps but of our camps, our town and our country.

Sounds a bit cheesy or romantic, I’ll admit, but let me explain. Throughout my Cadet career I’ve been presented with unique and fantastic opportunities, from traveling across the country to train at our two coastal SCSTCs, HMCS QUADRA and HMCS ACADIA, to volunteer opportunities through cadets and the Royal Canadian Legion. While the latter part, volunteering, might seem less than thrilling, it’s given me the skills to ‘get ahead’ or survive in what I call the ‘real world’, basically everything outside of your school, home, video game and computer chair. The real world is learning how to survive, how to succeed, how to explore what everyone else has to offer and find yourself in the process.

Have I lost you yet? I hope not. Everything you learn in Cadets: teamwork, initiative, leadership, discipline; down to the little skills like knot tying, orienteering, musicianship and sailing are tools you’re going to use again, unlike in some of your classes in school where you memorize dates and formulae you may never use in your entire life (apologies to Slt Messecar and Lt(N) Downey for that bit, no hard feelings against teachers or historians!). I won’t drag on too much longer, but I want you to remember this: anytime you’re sitting in a class at Cadets and you don’t want to pay attention, you don’t want to tie this knot or work with that person, just do it. Anytime you think “I can’t!” or that something is impossible, just do it. Like a bad Nike commercial, anytime something is difficult and you just can’t face it—you guessed it—just do it.

Trust me on this one.

Well done, Chief.

Bravo Zulu.

DJW aka Daddycab

There are Corps and Squadrons across Canada.

For more information on the Cadet Program, Click here

Really Instant Karma

Here's a news item from The Toronto Sun I thought noteworthy...

A teen armed with a handgun holds up a variety store and robs the proprietor of his hard earned money. While fleeing he runs into the street and gets nailed by a car.

Here is the entire text of the story:

A teen who ran into the path of an on-coming car on Victoria Park Ave. after robbing a North York variety store has died from his injuries in hospital, police said yesterday.

Two young men, including the 17-year-old dead boy, were each armed with handguns when they robbed the R.J. Food Market Convenience, between Lawrence and Eglinton Aves., shortly after 8 p.m. Friday, Toronto Police said.

"Two young teenagers with masks and a gun, one guy with a handgun and the other, some kind of gun" came into the store, shopkeeper Hann Liu, 55, said yesterday.

He said one of the bandits jumped over the counter and grabbed "$150-something" from the till, but he's not absolutely sure.

The duo then fled out of the store, one into heavy traffic on Victoria Park, Liu said.

"So one car hit one guy," he said. "The gun...fell on the road and the police (came)," Liu said. He said he feels bad: "Safety is not very good here." Neither Liu or his wife, 53, were hurt during the heist.

The injured teen apparently suffered head injuries and was taken to Hospital for Sick Children.

The other suspect got away. A pistol was recovered at the scene. Police said although the investigation is continuing, no charges are anticipated against the motorist.

DJ here...my only fear is that some Lawyer will get their slimy paws on this and sue the driver of the car!

Lets hear it for instant karma!

DJW

DJ thinks the best line from Judge Roy Bean is,

"Who the hell are you?"

"Justice, you sons of bitches!"

Watch This Space...

Holy Cow!

It's been over a month since I've blogged.

Some of you may find this refreshing.

It's not because I haven't wanted to, but life and circumstances intervened.

I'm chewing on some stuff that I've yet to fully digest and regurgitate here.

In the coming weeks (hopefully), you will find the closing chapter of The Steel Roof Chronicles (still waiting for the blessings of the Almighty Insurance Company), some stuff on Soldiers and Veterans, and on life in general.

Oh, and the Talk Show Idol thing?

CHML still hasn't gotten back to me. If you want to take it upon yourselves inquire about my status, contact the Program Director here. Or....jstorey@900chml.com

Later this week there will be a column with input from Thing 1.

Watch for it.

And if you look to your left at my profile, you will see an addition. Welcome aboard, Boy Thing! He's happy to be here and we are happy to have him. More about that later.

In the meantime, talk amongst yourselves and keep an eye here.

DJW

DJ apologizes to those who have been holding their breath.
You may now breathe . Thank you for your patience.