Random Thoughts

I know it's a day early, but I find myself in a great writing mood. So why stop at one blog, right? Just as the hiatus from the blog ended last week, now the hiatus for Friday's Random Topic also ends, too. It's the return of my Random Thoughts blog!

Mowing Grass

Mowing the lawn of my great aunt and uncle's yard has become somewhat of a summer tradition for me. I finished the last mowing of the season for them this past Tuesday and I began thinking how long I've been doing this chore for them. Honestly, I would say it's been nearly ten years of mowing for them, ever since they officially moved to the Upper Peninsula to stay since living downstate. It's not a physically taxing job and does provide a good workout for me. Plus it's a little added money for me. But the big advantage for me in doing this job is getting the chance to visit with my aunt and uncle, who are getting up in age and have physical disabilities. You just don't know how much longer they will be around and it's always a pleasure to see how they are doing. I look forward to continuing the tradition again next summer.

Small Town News

Do you ever get tired of hearing of the gloom and doom that typically headlines the news nationally and in bigger cities in the country? I would be surprised if there were people out there who actually liked hearing the negative news going on. That's one advantage to living in an area with a small area population. It's very rare to hear news about murders in the Upper Peninsula. Don't get me wrong, there are a few that happen from time to time, but nothing like in bigger cities. A lot of times the major crime stories that headline the news in the U.P. are burglaries, drug and alcohol-related crimes, and sex-related crimes. Those are certainly bad enough, but they aren't in as high number as in higher populated areas. And more often than not, the news typically switches from the doom and gloom to informational and uplifting stories. It certainly presents a nice change of pace.

Re-Building Laptop

I've had this laptop computer laying around for awhile that's basically been dead in the water. It's been over three years since it was last operational and I decided to try and get it working again. It's an R40 Thinkpad once made by IBM. I remember when I last had the laptop working, it was working rather sluggishly. All signs pointed to a faulty hard drive, but I never really did anything with it until earlier this month. So I went on-line and purchased a new motherboard for it. I removed the old one and once I got the "new" one in the mail, I put it back together. I powered the laptop up - and much to my chagrin, it did the exact same thing with the old motherboard. I say it's a "new" motherboard because it was actually a used one that I bought. Could it be that I purchased another faulty motherboard or is there something else wrong with it? I am kind of at a loss as to what to do next, but I plan on doing some more research on the problem and see if I can officially get it running again. I haven't given up yet.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend. See you again on "Luke's Ponderings" next week.

The Other Side of Down

My favorite American Idol alum has a new CD coming out! David Archuleta's new CD titled, "The Other Side of Down" will be officially released on Tuesday, October 5. But for those of you who may not be able to wait, you can get a sneak peek of what David's new album sounds like by visiting AOL Music, where the entire album and every song from it is currently being streamed. However, when his album does get released in early October, don't forget to buy your copy! It sounds like this CD will be his best yet.

David has different sounding songs from the others on this latest album. You may have already heard it on the radio where you live or just happened to find it on-line, but his first official released track "Something 'Bout Love" is definitely radio friendly. I know I already discussed it on the blog when the song was first released, but how can you not love the beat of the song, along with the melody, and the message that the song presents. I believe it's a song we can all relate to. I am a bit surprised that the song has not charted higher than it has - but here's hoping that once the CD drops, the song may rise up the charts more. It definitely has the potential to be a big hit.

Another song from the album that I am absolutely loving is called "Things Are Gonna Get Better". If you happened to be watching the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon over the Labor Day weekend, you may have caught David singing this song for the very first time. It's a very uplifting song with a heartfelt message. It's right up David's alley as far as being inspirational and positive. It's a song with the message that despite all the negativity and sadness that may be going on in your life, that things are going to get better. It's only a matter of time.

A song titled "Elevator" is another gem from "The Other Side of Down." When I first heard it, I wasn't quite all that into it. However, it's a song that grows on you and it's become another favorite of mine from the album. It's quirky, unique, and one that you'll soon find yourself singing along to. Who knew a song about elevators could end up being so intriguing? It's a fun, upbeat ditty that I am sure many other Archie fans have fallen in love with.

The majority of the other songs from the album are still pretty new for me, so I have not yet developed a significant opinion of them. But I must say I like the sound of "Stomping the Roses" and "Parachutes Airplanes". As I continue listening to the album, I am sure many of the other songs on there will grow on me. And I am hoping at some point to do a complete CD review of "The Other Side of Down." But as of now, this is just a minor preview of the CD. All I can say is that if you are a David Archuleta fan like I am, you should be very happy with the way the CD sounds. I think it's a definite plus for David and I am hoping for big success from it.

Deadliest Catch No More?

Unsettling news came out yesterday for fans of the hit Discovery reality series "Deadliest Catch" when it was announced that Captain's Johnathan and Andy Hillstrand of the F/V Time Bandit and Captain Sig Hansen of the F/V Northwestern will not participate in the upcoming seventh season of the series. There is currently ongoing litigation between the Hillstrand's and Discovery Channel that appears to have created tension between the two parties. Both captains and the crew of the Time Bandit have yet to be signed for the seventh season of "Deadliest Catch." As a show of solidarity, Sig Hansen would also not be participating it the new season, and Discovery has yet to sign on the F/V Northwestern. So if there is in fact a new season of the "Deadliest Catch," it will involve a whole slew of new boats. And I honestly doubt the show will have the same feel as it has the past few seasons.

The crew of the Northwestern has been part of the show since the very first season. As for the Time Bandit, they've been featured on the show since season two. So you can imagine their absence will leave a big hole in the series. They are two of the more popular boats along with the Cornelia Marie whom have loyal fanbases. This will provide a devastating blow to the series if Discovery cannot come to an agreement between the Hillstrands and Sig Hansen. The show will have a completely different look, especially if all we'll have left is the F/V Wizard. It seems likely that the Cornelia Marie will be back, but as we all know, Captain Phil won't be there. So we will have to get used to the fact of someone else captaining that boat.

The litigation between Discovery and the Hillstrands' involve a spin-off series that Discovery created of the brothers away from the crab fishing grounds. They are suing the Hillstrands for $3 million because they feel the brothers did not properly finish filming the series - thus causing a breech in contract. I honestly had no idea there was a spin-off series in the works and do not feel it was absolutely necessary. I mean, don't get me wrong, the Hillstrands are very entertaining people and have a tremendous fan following. But just the popularity of "Deadliest Catch" alone was enough to carry the show through the downtime when the crabbing seasons shut down and thus, no "Deadliest Catch." Now, Discovery is facing the loss of three of its biggest stars on the show and I am sure are scrambling to find replacements, otherwise the show may be done.

I remain hopeful that Discovery can come to some sort of agreement with the Hillstrands and Sig Hansen to allow them to keep participating in the series, although it appears they have a very short window in which to reach an agreement. The boats head out from port on October 15, to start the first crab season. It's been a difficult year as it is with Phil Harris passing. Now, possibly being without the Hillstrands and Sig Hanson on the show would deal a very devastating blow to the series, one that it may not recover from. I just do not find Keith Colburn and the Wizard crew all that intriguing, although this could give Captain Wild Bill and the F/V Kodiak more exposure if they agree to return this season. As for the F/V Cornelia Marie, it remains to be seen just how well things will go without Captain Phil. How will the new captain mesh with the existing crew? A lot of questions exist the film crews begin preparing to shoot a new season of "Deadliest Catch", if there will even be a new season after all.

UPDATE: On October 8, it was announced that Discovery has reached a settlement with the Hillstrand brothers regarding their spin-off series, which will allow them and Sig Hansen to return to "Deadliest Catch." The are currently filming the latest season of the series out in the Bearing Sea.

Go-Carts and Mini-Bikes

Back when I was a kid, one of my favorite places to go in the summer time was to my uncle's garage. Needless to say, it wasn't a typical garage. There are a couple of buildings situated on a plot of land and in those buildings are stored a variety of things. One of the most enjoyable activities myself and my cousins were able to do there is to ride go-carts and mini-bikes. My uncle had two different go-carts, one was a larger, yellow two-person go cart and the other was a smaller, black one-person go-cart. And then, if there were even more people out riding, there were a couple mini-bikes to ride, which were basically small, motorized dirt bikes.

My cousins and I would go riding all over - but we never went exceptionally far away and weren't overly reckless either. But that's not to say that we didn't have a problem arise. I was riding with my cousin Craig in the yellow go-cart, him driving and I riding behind him. We were driving along a gravel road when I began to notice the go-cart slowly drifting towards the edge of the road. I think my cousin was looking at something off to the side of the road and became distracted. By the time I alerted him to what was happening, the go-cart drove off the road and stopped part-way down an embankment, just above a river. How fortunate we were that the go-cart didn't continue down into the river or even flipped over when we went into the brush. We were startled at the situation but thankful it wasn't more serious. My other cousin was riding in the black go-cart and noticed that we disappeared. He soon found us and helped us retrieve the go-cart from the embankment. I don't even remember anymore how we actually go it out of there. All I know is that we pretended like nothing ever happened and never told my uncle about it.

We had other relatives in the area that would come up during the summer time and stay. The old family homestead was mostly vacant, but served as a location for family to use when they liked coming up for vacation purposes. Uncle Norman and Aunt Dorothy would come up every summer, usually around the time of the local Homecoming Celebration. My cousins and I would often ride the go-carts and mini-bikes over there to visit when they arrived. On one such occurrence, Uncle Norman offered us gas for the mini-vehicles. Just the way he said it, is something I will never forget. "Want some gas?" He smoked for years and it gave him that rough sounding voice that's common for smokers. I don't have a lot of memories of that man, but at least I have that one in particular that I can remember him by.

Needless to say, we're much too old for go-carts and mini-bikes now and they quietly sit in storage in my uncle's garages. However, now my nephew gets to ride one of them now that he's old enough and when my dad is able to take him over there. A new generation of children are getting the chance to enjoy the things we used to like as kids. It's amazing how that works and how fast time flies, isn't it? Hopefully someday in the not too distant future, I'll have kids of my own doing the same things that I did as a kid.

Fall Colors

Another reason that makes the Upper Peninsula so special is the ability to enjoy and experience the four seasons that mother nature has to offer. I mean sure, anyone can live in Florida and California and experience summer-like conditions year round. But I'd think that would get old after awhile. The Upper Peninsula is embarking on its most glamorous and spectacular season in autumn. Actually we already are in the midst of fall, but the reason why it can be so spectacular is already underway - the fall colors from the leaves changing are now close to peak viewing conditions.

As of now, the fall colors are at their peak in western interior areas of the U.P. with the rest of the peninsula following suit as this week progresses. Even despite last week's nasty wind storm, the leaves are looking especially pretty this year. However, another raw, windy day appears to be on the horizon in the next few days, so the colors may not last all that long. So if you're looking to get out and view the colors while they are still around, you had better to do it fast.

As a general rule of thumb, the peak for fall colors in the U.P. is usually during the last week of September into the first few weeks of October. Last year was later for the peak because of a warm month of September that seemed to delay the leaf changing process a tad. This year we are right on schedule. There are a variety of great locations to view the leaves in both the western and central Upper Peninsula. In the central areas, between Munising and Marquette offers some excellent leaf peeping. Approximately five miles west of Munising on M-94, the roadway descends down a steep hill and atop of that hill, you're able to see the rolling hills of maple trees in a vibrant red, yellow, and orange. And I mean honestly, you can see trees for miles around and it's a spectacular view. It's no surprise to see people parked along side of the highway to capture this beautiful view.

So if you're in and around the Upper Peninsula in the next few days, be sure and take in the fall colors. Obviously where ever you go, you'll be sure to experience the fall colors at their best. And in a matter of weeks, most of the trees will be bare and they'll be prepared to experience another long, U.P. winter, just like the rest of us.

Songs I Dig - 19

It's finally time for the latest edition of the Songs I Dig and in this edition, we feature all upbeat, fun songs! That's likely to be a first, isn't it? Well, I don't exactly have the facts to back that statement up at the moment, but I'm sure it's been a pretty rare feat in the history of the SID blog. Usually there's one or two slower ballads featured. That just means we don't always have to be so serious. These three songs are currently making big waves on adult contemporary radio stations across the country and I'm sure you'll be hearing them for awhile. So let's get this edition of the Songs I Dig underway!

Katy Perry - "Teenage Dream" : There's one female artist I never get tired of hearing, and that's Katy Perry. She's a bit controversial and is surely not afraid to speak her mind. She's even marrying a raunchy British comedian, however, she has a great singing voice and has already put together an incredible list of hit songs. "California Gurls" exploded into a huge summer hit across the United States and "Teenage Dream" has already followed suit. I found "California Gurls" to be much more campy and silly, while "Teenage Dream" is more serious, yet still upbeat and fun in its own way. I think we can all relate to the song in different ways, looking back on our teenage years regarding crushes or relationships that we had during that time. It's another fun song to sing along to and I'm sure this isn't the last we've heard of Katy Perry.

Sara Bareilles - "King of Anything" : Here is one singer that I am glad to see having continued success in the music industry after her major-label debut album did well. Well know for "Love Song" in 2008, which went double platinum, Sara has followed it up with a new album titled "Kaleidoscope Heart" released earlier this month, with the first song from that album being "King of Anything." It's a song that wasn't a favorite for me in the beginning, but now find it to be quite enjoyable. There's some talk on the internet about the song being a man-bashing anthem, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Sara has written it in relation to her experiences being in the music industry. It's a well written, fun song that anybody can sing along to. I can sense that Sara has a great talent for writing exceptional upbeat songs and I look forward to hearing more of her songs in the future.

Neon Trees - "Animal" : I am sure many of you out there first heard this song on the television before you heard it on the radio. The song was featured in an advertisement for Las Vegas vacations and aired quite frequently during the late summer months. The song's popularity quickly gained traction and soon enough, it began showing up on radio station's across the country. Now, it's currently one of America's favorite hit songs. Right from the very start, the song grabs you and never lets go. It's got a catchy beat and lyrics you'll find yourself singing along to, especially the chorus. Although this is Neon Trees' first major album, they're not exactly new to the music scene as they've been the opening act for The Killers. They've been active as a group since 2005 and the next song from their album titled "Habits" will be called, simply "1983." It will be interesting to see if the next song will have as much success as "Animal."

That wraps it up for this edition of "The Songs I Dig." Be sure to keep tabs of "Luke's Ponderings" for a new edition and a whole slew of new songs I find myself enjoying. I have a bit of catching up to do, so I'm sure you'll see a wide selection of new music featured on this blog for awhile to come.

America's Got Talent

So earlier in the summer, I talked about America's Got Talent and how I found the audition-portion of the show to be rather tedious and boring, especially when they dragged out for so long. I still hold that opinion, but once the voting rounds began, the show became very intriguing to watch. In fact, the season of America's Got Talent that just concluded may be the best in the history of the show. There was such a wide variety of acts this year that it really made the show entertaining and there were many that I could see as the winning act. Unfortunately there's only one winner, however, America picked a decent choice this season.

Michael Grimm was declared the winner of America's Got Talent a few weeks back and he was one of my favorites early on. He's a very bluesy, soulful singer and it's easy to see why he quickly became a favorite. I don't ever recall him being off pitch - even when he was very sick during an episode prior to top four week. He's a great talent and will most likely fare better than season four's winner, Kevin Skinner. I honestly don't even know what he's up to these days, if he's still singing. I do believe that Micheal will fare much better than Kevin did.

As for the remaining three finalists of America's Got Talent, they all have great future's ahead of them. Fighting Gravity, the group of college-aged individuals who perfected their act with black lights, could easily be considered the more deserving winner of America's Got Talent, considering they have a variety act that would fit perfectly in with a Las Vegas show. I mean, does a singing act always have to win? However, no matter the outcome of this season, I honestly believe Fighting Gravity will be fine and will end up with a show in Vegas regardless. Coming in second was probably the best-case scenario for 10-year-old Opera singer Jackie Evancho. I don't necessarily believe having a show in Vegas at such a young age would have benefited her like the three other finalists. She needs to enjoy the rest of her childhood - even though that will likely be difficult despite the fact that she didn't win. She has become a very famous girl with an incredible voice. As for Prince Poppycock, I had a feeling he wouldn't end up winning. He's just too different for mainstream America. He's a true showman and really puts together some entertaining acts. I also believe he'll do quite well where ever he ends up. He's already ended up being on the Tonight Show.

And there we have it, another season of America's Got Talent is in the books. We can all look forward to the new season beginning at the start of next summer. I really enjoy the panel of judges and host Nick Cannon is entertaining and meshes well with everyone. Honestly, I think the producers have it perfect there. I also liked the addition of a YouTube show where acts can audition on YouTube and could wind up appearing during the voting rounds of the show. That's exactly where Jackie Evancho came from and look how far she went. It'll be interesting to see if any changes will be made to the show next year. As long as they are small and make the show even more interesting than it already is, I'm all for it. It's definitely the best and top rated show during the summer, and it's easy to see why.

Hiatus Over

I am sure the regular visitors to "Luke's Ponderings" noticed that things were pretty quiet around here during the past few weeks. I was having such a struggle staying motivated and thinking up new topics to write about, that I decided it was time to shut down and enjoy a little downtime for the blog. One week became two weeks, and thus, that was the period of time without any postings. So, apologies for those regular visitors who were looking for something to read here during that time. I feel refreshed and ready to devote my time to the blog again. If you noticed, 2010 has already became the year with the highest amount of blog topics written within it. That's all thanks to my specific theme topics during the week, which started during the summer.

I feel there is one new development that has happened in my life while I was away from the blog. I have been in contact with a girl whom I have gotten to know in a short period of time and is someone who has made me very happy. We have the potential to form a real close relationship - something I have been longing for. Right now, we are in the early stages of our relationship so I won't jinx things and say we are an item. We have a few hurdles before we get to that point. But I feel a real spark between us and I can't wait to get to know her more. She has truly made me feel happy and makes me smile every time I talk to her. Right now, I enjoy spending those kind of moments with her.

It has gotten exceptionally chilly in the Upper Peninsula ever since the calendar flipped the page to September. The 70's and 80's we experienced for much of the summer has quickly been replaced by 50's and 60's. We have gotten quite a bit of rain recently, too. It's amazing how big of a rainfall deficit we were in during the month of May. Ever since then, the floodgates have opened (well, not literally, but almost). We now have a rainfall surplus that will likely stand until the end of the year. I'd have to say that farmers in the U.P. had an exceptional summer season for growing crops. The warm, humid days and nights surely helped that cause. And now some are wondering whether we'll be in for one doozy of a winter all thanks to the warmer-than-usual Lake Superior waters. I think that all depends on how cold we get to start the season. If we get cold, Arctic air so early in the season then yes, we could get a lot of snow this year. But it's hard to say yet exactly what will happen.

So there you have it, just a minor update of what I've been up to these past few months and just to let you know that new topics will be appearing regularly again here on "Luke's Ponderings." Every now and again I need to wind down and recharge my batteries when it comes to writing. And I thought that September was as good a time as any for it. I hope everyone is enjoying this autumn season and I'll see you around again soon here on the blog.

Laughing Whitefish Falls

The Upper Peninsula is home to waterfalls; many waterfalls in fact. Unofficially, there are as many as 300 different waterfalls peninsula-wide. Some are small and off the beaten-path, while others are large and impressive. Out of the entire state of Michigan, all but one waterfall is located in the U.P. Honestly, how amazing is that? It's just one more thing that makes the Upper Peninsula all the more special.

While growing up in Alger County, I was close by to many of Upper Michigan's most spectacular waterfalls. One of them is the Laughing Whitefish Falls in western Alger County, near the community of Sundell. It is located along the Laughing Whitefish River and provides for spectacular picture-taking opportunities. For those wishing to view this particular falls, if you're traveling along M-94 in western Alger County, watch for the large brown signs pointing you in the right direction. You'll then travel along North Sundell Road for approximately five to ten miles until you reach the end of the paved portion of roadway. Continue traveling straight on the now gravel section of road until you see the entry sign to the Laughing Whitefish Falls. You'll travel a bit more until you reach the parking area to the falls.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has gradually improved the area around the trailhead to the falls over the years. The trail itself has also been greatly improved, with a firmer gravel surface and better bridges going across small streams and rivers. The trail is approximately a mile to the top view of the falls. From the top view, you can view the river as it gradually meanders to the edge of the river before it transcends down a steep ledge. It also provides a great view of the Laughing Whitefish Falls Valley, which is a great spot to view fall colors when they're at peak conditions.

The view from the bottom of the falls is just as fascinating as from the top. After a heavy rainfall or the spring runoff, the falls can be rushing downwards into the river valley. The viewing platform at the bottom does not provide for a lot of room if you have a big crowd, so one group could check out the bottom view of the falls while the other group takes a peak at the top. The stairway from the top of the falls to the bottom is comprised of many steps. There are benches and platforms along the way to take a breather if you need one. All in all, the Laughing Whitefish Falls is only one of the U.P.'s most spectacular waterfalls. If you're in the area of Western Alger County, be sure and check it out.

Final Season of Little People, Big World

I haven't been doing a very good job of keeping up with the blog lately - and I've got some catching up to do. So apologies in advance for the lack of posts lately.

News came out about a week ago regarding the fate of the reality series "Little People, Big World" on TLC. The show's upcoming sixth season will be its last. To be honest, this news does not surprise me. Ratings for the past season were down sharply and the series seems to have lost its edge. I think a large part of that is because the kids are growing up and the novelty of little people seems to be wearing off. I mean, TLC has developed a few other reality series recently revolving around little people, such as "The Little Couple" and "The Little Chocoloatiers." And I honestly believe the story of the Roloffs have been written.

One of my biggest gripes about the series lately involves the multitude of trips the Roloffs have taken. They've been to Hawaii, the Bahamas, driven across the United States, and last season - went to Europe. The Europe trip bored me to tears. What about the drama involving the kids? Or what's going on at the farm? I think that has largely been missing from the series lately. There has been some drama regarding the Roloffs marriage and the potential of divorce between Matt and Amy, but I think that was overly hyped up by TLC and their marriage is as solid as can be. And last season ended with a dramatic cliff-hanger, where Matt collapsed to the floor and appeared to suffer a heart attack. Well, don't read what I have to say next if you don't want to be surprised - but Matt is perfectly fine. He simply suffered from vertigo and received medication for it. Just a method TLC used to drum up increased ratings for the season finale of the show.

There are rumors about a potential spin-off involving the twins, Jeremy and Zach. However, they simply are just rumors and there's been no official word that a new series has been green-lit. Honestly, how interesting are these two? Sure, they're twins, yet their physical profiles are so different because Jeremy is normal-sized and Zach is a little person. Yet, we've already seen that on display during the current show. Yes, they are in college, yet they still live at home while attending college. How much more different would the new series be than what's currently on air with "Little People, Big World"? If a spin-off series were to succeed, I think producers would need Jeremy and Zach to move out and live on their own and to experience completely new situations us viewers aren't accustomed to them doing.

So it'll be interesting to see exactly what comes of the Roloffs' future once the show goes off the air. They are heavily involved in speaking engagements which will likely continue if not expand. I honestly believe Molly and Jacob will be thrilled to be away from the TV spotlight and will return to living the life of normal children. However, I believe they'll miss it in certain ways - as will the rest of the family. The children have not embraced their celebrity status as well as their parents. And I don't entirely believe their life will completely return to normal because they'll always be known as a reality TV family. They still have their farm, which continues to be enormously popular, with or without a TV series. They'll lose income from having a TV show, yet they have other means of bringing in the dough. In the end, the Roloffs will be fine regardless of a spin-off series or not.

Refrigerator Repairs

Ever since I moved into my house last summer, I've had trouble with my refrigerator. Even when I first moved in, the freezer was awfully warm. Anything I bought frozen seemed to get all mushy and the temperature hovered around 30 degrees, no matter how high the thermostat was set. After talking to my dad about it, he suggested defrosting the freezer, as it appeared to be full of ice. Well, he was right. The coils in the back of the freezer were covered solid with frost and ice. After thawing it that first time, the freezer seemed to stay cold for awhile - but eventually it would start to warm up and the ice again formed on the back of the wall. This has been ongoing for quite awhile and I've probably thawed out the freezer about five or six different times now.

Needless to say, the process of thawing the freezer out is getting to be quite tiresome. Each time, I've been gradually emptying the freezer out, then when it's nearly or entirely empty, I unplug the fridge, take off the back panel of the freezer, and use a hair dryer and direct it at the ice in the back. In all, it probably takes an hour to an hour in a half to fully thaw the freezer out. The freezer typically stays cool enough for two to three months before the process starts all over again. Well, hopefully I bought the right parts to fix the problem.

Once again, the internet proves to be a wonderful resource in locating parts for appliances and well, anything else, too. And it's also a great resource tool in finding information about these kinds of problems. There's appliance manuals, parts lists, and appliance parts websites out there that gets you everything you need to repair your failing appliances. Last fall, I bought a new timer for my washing machine that was giving me issues, and it's been trouble-free ever since. Today, I purchased a couple of parts for my refrigerator that should stop the freezer from icing up. After doing a great deal of research on the issues plaguing my fridge, I do believe I have the right parts to correct the issue. Now, all I have to do is wait for the parts to come!

It just goes to show you that appliances and electronics today just aren't made as well as they used to be. I know my parents had a Montgomery Ward refrigerator that lasted them a good 20 years before they decided to buy a new one to match their newly-remodeled kitchen. Well, that new fridge barely lasted 10 years before they experienced a similar problem that I'm having with my fridge. They opted to buy a new fridge instead of fixing the problem. I'm hoping to save a great deal of money by trying to fix the issue myself. And if all else fails, I'll go out and buy a new fridge. I'd hate to do that, but it'll be my last resort if I have to. We'll see what happens once those parts come.