I got a $1100 washer/dryer combo for $200 on craigslist today. It's one of these European style deal-ies where you put the clothes in, and it washes then dries them in the same drum without any human intervention, all the while conserving energy and water.

Why haven't you heard of this God's gift to appliances, you ask? Well, for one thing it's expensive (unless you're a shrewd shopper such as myself), and the 2-3 punch is, it takes fucking 4EVER to finish a load of laundry, and only works on small loads unless you line dry.

So right there you've lost the American audience. I admit, I wrote it off too when I read you could wash up to 22 lbs, but could only dry up to 11 lbs of laundry at a time. (Like I even know what 11 lbs of laundry is.) But the killer for me was it could take up to 5 hours to wash & dry one load. That's crazy!

So I nixed the idea, only to return to it later. Anyway, long story short, when I found this one on craigslist for $200 ($1100 new 4 years ago), and realized I can plug it into a standard 115V outlet and attach it to my kitchen faucet for now, then plumb it permanently into my new kitchen upstairs later if I like it, I decided to give it a whirl.

Damn thing better work, since I need these clothes for work tomorrow!

Oh yeah, the price was actually $254, since I had to find someone to move the damn thing for me. I was going to go with 2 gals and a truck for $60, but had to leave a message. So then I called one guy with a truck for $40. He answered the phone and was ready to go. He asked if there would be anyone else to help him. I said I could open the door. (Hey! I don't like moving appliances! That's why I'm looking for 2 gals or 1 guy and a truck!) But since this thing is the size of a dishwasher, seems like one guy should be able to handle it. I have no idea. I read him the specs - dimensions and weight - he says he can do it.

Anyway, already too long story not so short. I end up helping him lift the damn thing down from his pickup truck (smashing my finger in the process). Then he can't get it up my front stairs. So he asks if I have a blanket to slide it up on. I don't have a blanket, but I do have the sleeping bag I've been sleeping under the past 10 months. So I get that. The thing is too heavy to slide up the stairs. So he flips it upside down to get it on the hand-truck and the two of us heave-ho it step-by-step up my stairs.

It was quite the spectacle. Good thing you guys weren't here to see it, haha. Then to top it off, I give him a $10 tip anyway. This thing better be worth it!

p.s. - Jean (of Dad & Jean fame) is very excited about my trip to Buffalo. I had a moment's pause before I told Dad during our weekly phone call that next Sunday when he calls I'll be in Buffalo. Turns out the company Jean used to work for, Rich-Seapak, is (or was) based in Buffalo. Even though she worked for the division on St. Simon's Island, she made frequent trips to the company headquarters in Buffalo. She says Buffalo is beautiful this time of year. I look forward to seeing it.