On Home Repair

My washing machine broke the other day. Nothing catastrophic, the laundry just wasn't done when I went to check on it. Instead, I found a washer full of water and (of course) wet clothes. After a bit of fiddling, I determined that there's a little switch that detects a closed lid, and permits the washer to run the "dangerous" parts of the cycle.

My switch had broken. I figured this out by fiddling with the switch, and finding that if I held it JUST RIGHT, the washer would run. Running a washing machine by sticking your hand in it is kind of frightening and boring, all at the same time.

I called Sears to try and schedule a repair; they told me they'd be out sometime after another Clinton gets elected president. After a bit of head-scratching (and some encouragement from Planet Facebook), The Wife and I took the washer apart, removed the safety switch, and closed the circuit.

Washer works like a charm now. I called Sears back and told 'em they could keep their appointment.

Gone Fishin'

Get Back

I didn't bike to work this week; not because I didn't want to, but because I couldn't. My back went out on Tuesday, which was bad because it happened right after I got to work. 12 hours on my feet, running around, was not pleasant.

I almost had it under control about 4 hours into the shift when I tried to pick something up and the whole thing clamped down again. Fortunately, ice packs and motrin were readily available and it wasn't a very busy shift. I would not like to have to deal with something like that while having a busy night.

After the shift The Wife drove me and the bike* home. I've been getting some extra sleep and driving to work for the last few days. My back is slowly getting better, but as it improves I can do more so there's a constant (manageable) level of pain as my function gradually improves. Plus I get to deal with my co-workers picking on me for wearing an ice pack tied around my waist.

Enough whining. Time to take some Vagisil and get back in the game.



*Should that be "the bike and me"? It just doesn't seem right to put an inanimate object after a person in a list like that.

On Exercise and Weight Loss

About a month ago, I started riding my bike to work. I figured it was an easy way to include a workout in my daily routine, plus it's kind of fun. It takes me about a half an hour each way, which, if traffic is really bad, is actually faster than driving (traffic usually isn't that bad).

Along with the bicycling, I have been watching what I eat. Counting calories, making healthy choices, limiting the booze, the whole thing. So the weight should just be falling off, right?

Not so much. No significant weight loss, although my times were getting better and my pants looser. With one thing and another, I fell off the wagon last week and started driving to work again, eating whatever, and not tracking my calories at all.

I lost 4 pounds. And when I got on the bike yesterday, I registered a personal best time.

I just don't get it.