WHERE THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A RELATIVE!

Did you ever have one of those days, weeks, etc., when everything seems to go wrong? Hey, it's Thanksgiving--count your blessings--right?

Thanksgiving Day; 1:00 PM; time to put Tom in the oven. Flashing light F9 came on the stove. I have had the stove 20 years with nary a complaint. Fortunately, we have a "manual/warranty drawer"; Les checked it out and the instruction was to turn off the power for a short period then return to the power. Les shut off the breaker and after checking several times, the elements in the oven stayed on, glowing fiery red!

I called my brother with the plaintive cry, "Houston, we have a problem," and told him that Gerald could take the turkey, noodles and potatoes to him to cook. I sent detailed instructions regarding the turkey and noodles, but with the potatoes I only sent a large pan, 2 sticks of butter, and a potato masher, with no instructions.

My niece called and said, "I've NEVER mashed potatoes except from a box!" After I gave her some "comforting" words ("WHAT? You've NEVER...? Surely your dad knows how to mash potatoes!") I gave instructions. Les got out 2 Nesco roasters and we fixed the stuffing, sweet potatoes, and corn casserole in those. Oh, NO! What about the rolls? That's my brother's favorite thing. I put away the yeast and went to the store! The only thing resembling a dinner roll were BOLILLOS and croissants ! I grabbed a couple packages and headed back home. Les wrapped them in foil and put them in a Crock Pot to warm.

So, the turkey was delicious, the noodles were the best ever, and Tracey's mashed potatoes were great!

WHERE THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A RELATIVE!

I called the 800 number for Sears repair and I guess my asking the guy, "How's the weather in Mumbai today?" was not a good opening gambit. After a few minutes, he said that there would be a repairman at our house the next day--Black Friday--between the hours of 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

After waiting all day, I told Les, "I'm going to double check at 3:00." When I called, I didn't get my Mumbai native, but another representative said it would be DECEMBER 20th for the repairman. I didn't "screak"--I SCREAMED--"This is patently ridiculous!" (Yes, I actually said "patently"!) The representative said she would continue checking.

While she was checking, Gerald came downstairs and said that he'd received an e-mail showing that it would be December 30 (yes, December thirtieth!) for the repairman to come!

I hung up the phone and called the local Sears store and I was given the name of a local guy; he came in thirty minutes and although he had to order a part, he switched off the oven which allows us to use the burners and microwave and when he receives the part he'll repair the oven!

I called to cancel the appointment with the 800-number people, and I was actually asked WHY I was cancelling the appointment!

Les says the moral of this story is not to piss off a guy from Mumbai!