Sometimes, technology stinks.

Our dishwasher's pretty much gone. It's been slowly dying, but over the past couple of weeks, it hasn't been cleaning anything. The water isn't hot enough, and the heating element in the bottom of the thing hasn't been working for a while. Last time I opened it, it was cold inside. Might be an issue between the water heater and the ground water - the weather's been rather nippy lately - but since I always turn the kitchen spigot on hot before turning the dishwasher on, I don't know how this is the case.

We called our usual appliance repairman, and he gave us some surprising advice: buy a new one. Dishwashers are tricky things to repair, it seems, and sometimes require multiple uninstalls/reinstalls to get them working again. Since this machine was in the house when we bought it, back in 2000, it's at least 8 years old, and probably more like 10. A dishwasher's life span isn't what it used to be, it seems. And of course, we've gotten spoiled having one.

So, we got a new one, and have made arrangements for it to be delivered and installed. No date set, yet, but Hubby definitely didn't want to install the thing himself. I hope that whoever they send to put it in is able to deal with the previous owner's less-than-code-compliant electrical and plumbing work.

In the meanwhile, the Girl and both boys are supposed to be working as human dishwashers. I do the laundry; they do the dishes.