Junk

In today's disposable world, we seem to be inundated with junk everywhere we turn. It started off with our brand new t.v. After nearly 20 years, we gave up our old CRT TV for one of those new fangled flat screen televisions with part of our tax return. We got one of those killer deals just before the super bowl. It was really nice...for all of 4 months. Then the screen went bad and we had this stripe of missing info down the middle of the screen. It was a day or two before the kids last day of school. They usually have a crazy movie marathon all night on their last day of school. They were not able to use our t.v. Luckily they still have an old CRT that we got from some friends of ours in their play room and were able to watch it in there.

Nearly a week later, we got the repairmen to come and replace the screen. They installed it and turned it on. It seemed mostly fine, but as they were walking back to their truck, we noticed that the color was off in another vertical stripe down the middle of the screen. The problem only showed up in certain situations with certain colors. We were lucky to catch it so quickly. So we called them back in and they said that the screen was bad as well and ordered us yet another one.

Another week went by before they were able to finally get it replaced as well. So far, it appears to be working, but I'm not going to hold my breath at this point. Plus they said that the warranty for the replaced parts does not start over but continues with the rest of the components with the original warranty, so in another 7 months or so, we are SOL if anything goes wrong at that point. And basically, the part they replaced is so expensive, that it would be cheaper or the same price to just go out and buy a new one.

The kids got a fun water toy at the end of the school year as part of their reward for all the hard work they put in during the school year. It was one of those sprinkler attachments that has these wiggly nozzles that is supposed to wiggle around and spray everywhere. We didn't get to use it until last week since it wasn't that hot at the beginning of their summer break. It was the saddest toy I ever saw. At least half of the sprinklers just pointed straight into the grass and the remaining ones shot out but would get stuck if even a single blade of grass obstructed it's way. The girls were so disappointed. What's more, they had a friend over for the purpose of playing with said toy. We ended up shutting it off and turning on the regular sprinkler for them.

Luckily, we were able to return it and get something else for them. We ended up with a cheap slip and slide and a couple of squirt guns.

We had to restrict the water going to the end bumper though because so much water dumped out of it that the grass was flooded in that spot after only 5 minutes of use. Emily's squirt gun didn't last to the end of the day.

Next on the list o' crap is the ceiling fan in our dining room. We splurged on a fancy new ceiling fan after we got into the house some 2 and a half years ago. We use the light all the time, but we don't turn on the fan except during the summer months (otherwise, it is quite unbearable)...and only while we are having dinner, so it hasn't gotten that much use. We turned it on for the first time this year last week as it is getting quite warm, and found that the blades barely moved. It is either stuck in the slowest position or the motor is just plain dying. I don't know which. The warranty is only for a year so we are out of luck on that one. I got one of those cheap ceiling fans from my brother for our old house some 10 plus years ago and it wiggles around and isn't quite that nice, but you know what? It still works! I don't know what's up with the streak of absolute junk we've been having to deal with lately but it is more than irritating.