...cuz my washing machine dun broke on me.  :) 

Yesterday, while home with Julia, I did Patrick's wash, then Julia's wash, and then when I opened up the washer to take out Rob's and my wash, the clothes were soaking wet.  The tub was empty, but the clothes were soaked.  So, I set it for another spin cycle and sure enough, nothing happened.  Something must have broken so it not longer agitates or spins.  The tub fills with water, soaks the clothes, then drains the water, but no spinning, so no cleaning or drying.  Ick.  Rob and I wrang out the clothes by hand and hung them on the line.  They'll need to be rewashed, because I had bibs in there and there is still food stuck to them and now to other clothes as well.  Ick, again.

This washing machine was a wedding gift from my parents, so it's lasted almost 9 years.  Rob and I checked Consumer Reports online and apparently at 9 years, you are almost better off buying a new machine than getting the old one repaired.  So, my father-in-law is going to take a look at it and see if he can fix it, and if not, we may be off to Sears to buy a new one.  Luckily, we do have the "house account" where we've been saving for the new bathroom.  Of course, this will wipe out almost everything in that account, but a washing machine is a luxury that, for me, is a must have.  I'm just not washing my clothes by hand, nor am I taking them all to the laundromat.  One of the things that shocked me was how expensive washing machines are these days!  It's ridiculous!  Again, though...a necessity for me.