The Closet Professor

I had a plan for today. I was going to get up around 5:30 am, have breakfast, shower, get dressed and be out the door in time to be at the grocery store shortly after it opened. None of the grocery stores had everything on my list, so I planned to go to one grocery then go to a second one that had the rest of what I needed. Then, my plan was to go to a few stores that were in the same shopping center as the second grocery store. The plan was to come home and put up the groceries in my now working refrigerator. Then, I was going to finish my shopping in West Lebanon, NH. (Most major stores are either in Burlington or West Lebanon. I prefer West Lebanon because there is no sales tax in New Hampshire.) I have already put in orders at Petsmart and Target to just drive up and pick up. Then, I had a few things I am looking for at HomeGoods, one of my favorite stores. Im sure I’d have lunch down in West Lebanon before heading home and getting some rest.

But…as the saying goes “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” First off the bat, my refrigerator did not get fixed nor did I get a replacement yesterday. I called to get an update, but never got called back. So, now I have to wait until I can get in touch with someone to know what the hell is going on and to emphasize how imperative it is that I have a refrigerator today. So, I won’t be doing my shopping early and getting it out of the way before the crowds get too crazy.

This morning didn’t start out too well. I woke up at 3 am (no fault of Isabella’s) and could not go back to sleep. So I finally got up and made some tea. I waited until at least 4 am before feeding Isabella, who, surprisingly, seemed okay with that. With the way this morning is going, I’m afraid my plans are going to be even more derailed than I expected. 

Best laid plans…

Quick Update: They just finished installing my brand new refrigerator, and it looks great and is quickly cooling. Now, two hours later than I had planned, I’m going to start my shopping trip.

There’s not a lot to say this morning. 

Fingers Crossed 🤞 I have a working refrigerator when I get home from work today.

It’s my last day at work for 2023. Our holiday break starts next week. The holiday break is one of the best perks of working at a university. The museum (and campus) will be closed from December 22 to January 2. I won’t actually go back to work until January 5 because I’m taking some time off after the first of the year. All of my coworkers took time off this week, and since I wasn’t going anywhere for Christmas, I didn’t mind having the museum to myself for a few days.

Lastly, it’s the first day of winter. It feels like it, too, at least temperature wise. Right now, it’s 22 degrees. However, it doesn’t look like winter. With the rain and moderate temperatures earlier in the week, there’s very little snow on the ground. While it’s cold today (our high will only be 27 degrees), it’s going to be 42 degrees on Christmas Day. It feels like I’m in the movie White Christmas, which took place in Vermont where there was no snow. Unlike White Christmas, I don’t think we’ll get any snow at the last minute to make a picture perfect movie.

When I called about my refrigerator no longer cooling, I was told to unplug it, wait 15 minutes, and plug it back in that sometimes that works to reset the refrigerator, and it will begin cooling again. It did not work, so I called back and let my maintenance guy know. He called me back (albeit the next morning) to say he would remove my old refrigerator and put a new one in. Then, several hours later, he called back to say that the owner of my complex had overruled him and said they’d have an appliance repair person come in to look at it. Grrr! It’s even more aggravating (and thoroughly pissed me off) that the repair guy can’t come until Thursday. I stressed that I needed a working refrigerator by Friday. I explained, though I really shouldn’t need to, that I had people coming for Christmas and I had to have a refrigerator so I could stock it back with what I needed to cook for my guests. My maintenance guy, who is very nice and I like a lot, said he would make sure my landlord knew that I had to have a working refrigerator before the end of the day on Thursday. If it could not be easily fixed, then they would switch mine out for a working one. 

What I think they should do (or have already done) is to go ahead and switch it out for a working one and then have someone repair my old one. If I do not have a working refrigerator after the repair guy leaves, and there is any problem getting a replacement, I will call and talk to my landlord myself. I will abide by the decision to wait on a repair person, but I will have either my refrigerator working or a replacement refrigerator by the end of the day on Thursday. 

Sadly, I can’t be at my apartment when the repair person comes. I am the only person at the museum today and tomorrow as everyone else is taking time off for Christmas (I’ll be taking two days after New Year’s). I trust my maintenance guy to be at my apartment when the repair person comes. He said they would not be left in my apartment alone.

…it’s another. Why can’t things just go smoothly? Last night, I noticed that my refrigerator and freezer had quit cooling, instead it’s blowing warm air. Ugh! Several things spoiled and left a bad odor. I called my maintenance person this morning and left a message, but I am still waiting to hear back from him. I hope it can either be fixed simply and quickly or that I can get a replacement. 

I am hosting a Christmas lunch on Christmas Day, which is only a week away. I have the menu all planned:

• Roasted Chicken with Croutons
• Cornbread Dressing
• Collard Greens
• Corn Casserole
• Sautéed Green Beans with Garlic
• Cranberry Apple Jello Salad
• Coconut Custard Pie

How am I going to get this meal prepared without a refrigerator? I’m looking forward to having friends over for Christmas and getting to cook. I love cooking, and it will be nice to host my own little Christmas party since I am not going anywhere for Christmas this year.

If it’s not one thing, it’s another. *🤞fingers crossed 🤞* Nothing else will go wrong. (Famous last words…I know.)