Our freezer and fridge failed the night before last.   We believe the main control board failed, which costs $100 on eBay but $200 from an overnight source, and $300+ if you pay a repair person to come install it.  However, it costs $5 + shipping if you can identify and replace the part on the board that failed as my husband is attempting to do.  He’s not sure it’s the MCB; it could be the compressor in which case it’s $500+, so we’d probably buy a new fridge.  So much for environmentally friendly.   We actually really like our fridge.  It came with the house, and is a higher end fridge than I’d ever had the opportunity to own / rent before.  It includes an ice-maker and also dispenses water, which is actually quite convenient.  Anyway, at best we’ll get the part we need tomorrow, so it’s convenient that the temperature outside today is 36 with a high of 39.  Perfect weather for the fridge-less.

Just the other day I was having a conversation with my Dad about the appliances he lacked as a kid.  He remarked on how hard washing clothes by hand is and how he never realized it until he moved away from home.  Apparently his stepdad bought his Mom and washer at one point, but they couldn’t make the payments, so it was repossessed.  They also didn’t have a refrigerator.  My Mom remembers having an icebox as a child, but in Ire.land, they didn’t have iceboxes either, because unlike upstate-NY, there was no easy access to ice.  Of course, the weather there is cool most of the year, but still.  Finally, they didn’t have a modern cooker.  Apparently his Mom cooked over some type of turf-powered stove which also heated the house.  Crazy!  I love modern, wealthy life.  Even being without a fridge for a few days is annoying.