Dryer dryer, light on fire

I really don't want it to light on fire but I really want it to work.  Last Wednesday, just before I left for a three day work stint in Rock Springs my dryer decided not to heat.  I spent three days looking at used dryers, refurbished dryers and new dryers.  I just really don't want to spend any money on that right now.  I've made huge headway into my debt crisis and even though I have money in savings I really didn't want to invest in a new washer/dryer or even just a dryer right now.  

I decided to look at my best friend You Tube and see if maybe I could at least find out how much it would cost to get fixed.  After I was done I decided that this would be a cinch to fix!

After watching many videos about Kenmore dryers that don't heat I saw this one.

So I decided to clean it out, because how much could that hurt?

  

Clean!  You can see the vacuum attachment marks.

This little gem was the key to getting things cleaned up.

Kinda gross.  Not as gross as I thought it would be but that dirt pile was pretty solid.  That's a lot of pocket sand.

I also unplugged the dryer first and reset the breakers.

After I cleaned it, I plugged it in to see if that fixed the heat problem.  No go.

I wanted to test all the thermostat stuff plus the heating element so I knew exactly what part I was working on.  I had to go buy an ohm tester, or a multimeter.  

Home depot run!

10 dollars!

With the smallest instruction booklet ever...

I watched this You Tube.

I liked her the best.  She reminds me of me when I had young kids.  She actually leaves the video to get one of her kidlets out of the road.  You can't beat that kind of smart.

I tested everything and it is the heating element.  I am just waiting for the morning to go get the part and see how it works.  If successful I will have not only fixed the dryer for the price of the part (approx. 65 dollars) but I cleaned it up good to give it a few more years....hopefully.  Getting the lint out also decreases the odds of a dryer fire.  It happens, my Aunt and Uncle lost their house to one. 

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I couldn't post this without an ending.

Of course you can't buy dryer parts on a Sunday.  So Monday I got up at around 10 (it's been a busy week) and picked up the part. I took in the old heating element to make sure I didn't have to make 2 trips.  

Spot for the heating element and the new heating element in the box.

Goes HERE.

Really easy to slide in.  I had to make sure I placed the thermostat on the new part correctly and hooked it up. (Red wires on the bottom)

After that..........

BOOM CHAKA!

We have heat!  We have heat!

I did it.  I can hardly believe it myself.  It was the same feeling I had when I fixed the Honda and it actually started.  I have no idea how much I saved but the dryer runs like a dream.  She's clean and ready party.  It dries a lot faster then it use to.  I'm thinking that cleaning it out every year may be the ticket to a longer life.  Of course now the washer is jealous and the dishwasher has heard the rumors.  I don't have a lot of time, but I have more time then money so maybe between the two jobs and trying to finish my office I can do a deep clean/service on the washer and dishwasher.

Shut up Furnace and get back in the basement!!!

This blog post is dedicated to my dad.  In his wise words, "If you can't fix it with duct tape it ain't worth fixin".

My dad has always fixed things around the house.  

Still does.

Last Christmas

When I was little I followed my dad around to see what he was up to.  Guess that genetic ability to watch YouTube and figure out how to fix the dryer came straight from my dad.  My thrifty nature...my mom. 

Other updates.

Work.

Yes and lots.

A couple of scene calls that makes it all worth doing!

Running.

Awesome 12 miler with my buddy Tera (no pics!  GASP) last week. I felt amazing at one point.  I am signed up to run the Park City Trail half on Saturday.  I also tried putting together a better running plan because lets face it, the last few months I have sucked at it.  At a lot of things, but especially the running.  Which I LOVE!

Fix your own stuff?  

Your favorite basic running schedule when your not training?

Blog on...............

Past Life?

So my nephew is going on a mission.

I went to my sisters house to support him as he opened his calling papers. He's going to Paraguay. Sweet, another Spanish speaking family member.

My sister also posted a picture of me in my younger years with a Farrah Fawcett hair-do and a BYU T-shirt.

It all starts up and feels black and white instead of kinda grey. That little line of what I thought and what I was and what I am and how I think is very intricate. All night at work I have felt like I had to explain myself to people when I really didn't have to.

"My nephew is going on a mission, but I'm not Mormon."

I couldn't help myself. It just tumbled out EVERY time. I tried not to say it and I couldn't stop it. Of course I was working at my 2nd job and people there don't know me too well. They don't know about (whispering) BYU and all that stuff. I'm super proud of the decisions I've made over the course of the last 15 years and how I have stayed true to myself and my heart. I feel this inner peace/calm that is amazing. I know exactly what I believe.

Then everything clashes and although I don't change what I believe, I start feeling this righteous indignation about my childhood. As time goes on and I raise my own kids, the feeling gets stronger. Seriously? My childhood was fantastic. My parents made me go to church. I can think of worse problems. That's is what they thought was the very best and it is still what they think is the very best. I think they are still scratching their heads about where things went wrong.

My parents were exceptional in that I was allowed to play with kids of all religions and I never heard them judge. My grandma and great grandma were super gossipers and I never remember my mom gossiping. Very loving, family oriented and hard working parents.

They are awesome, don't forget that.

So are my kids.

I guess I did OK. So far.

Sorry to get your hopes up if you thought this was a "coming back to the fold" post. That would be funny though. I wonder what my husband would do?

My kids would kill me.

Is religious beliefs, family and being right a proper blog subject??

....maybe.....

Unfortunately I can't make this picture any bigger on the blog. Look at those eyebrows! My sister LeAnn taught me those skills! Perfect feather hairdo. I love the trivets and the salad spoons on the wall!!! Makes me giggle.

Blog on!!!

A public announcement

I’d like to thank my parents for the following:

Teaching me to;

SWIM

DRIVE A STICK SHIFT

COOK

DO LAUNDRY

SEW

CHANGE A TIRE

DRIVE A MOTOR HOME THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS TO JACKSON HOLE WHEN I WAS 16

TAKE CARE OF BABIES

GARDEN

FREEZE/CAN/BOTTLE

MANAGE MY MONEY

FIX IT WITH DUCT TAPE

REPAIR ELECTRICAL WIRES – although not necessarily safely

WATER SKI

DRIVE A BOAT

SNOWMOBILE

SKI

CAMP

NOT DRINK SODA – special thanks for using coke syrup when I was nauseated.

I’m sure there is more that I missed, but for today I am especially grateful for these things.

Cookie Day

Every year we meet at my mom's house and have "Cookie Day". We decorate sugar cookies, dip pretzels in chocolate and decorate gingerbread houses. It's a great day and downright delicious!

Austin, Daniel and Sami

Emily and Sami

Sami and my sister Caroline

Jack, the pirate!

My mom

Nephew Matthew

My brother Joe and my dad.

Me and Jake

Daniel and his friend Evan.

Daniel

My Dad

My sister in law, Christie.

Nephew Alec and Austin


It was a great day and I love spending time with my nieces and nephews and my siblings!

Lake Powell, June 09

Whew!
It only took me a good week on the computer getting these pictures together! Once I had the ones I wanted and edited, I couldn't get them to download. Thankfully, that problem resolved itself and today I was successful!

There is actually about 4 blog posts to cover the whole trip. We had such a great time. Sami and Daniel left Monday morning early with most of my family. Jake, Matt and I along with my brother Mark showed up on Thursday morning. We had to work and Mark had to take a test for school.

Unfortunately we were unable to spend time with my brother, Brad and his family. They left just before we showed up on Thursday. They only had a few days at the beginning of the week to be there. We joined my mom and dad, Cari and Cody and their kids, Dylan, Alec, Emily and Matthew. Marks wife Christie was already there with their two kids Abby and Jack.

It was a great time. Although my activities were limited with my foot hurting, I read the first two books in the Twilight series while I was there. I had promised Sami I would read them and I did. I finished the last two within a couple of weeks.

There was a lot of time spent boating, tubing, wake boarding, fishing, playing games, reading and EATING!

Big thanks to my sister Cari and her husband Cody for letting us come spend time on their houseboat. Really big thanks to my dad for footing most of the cash for our food and gas!



Here is pics of Emily and Sami tubing. They loved it! I got these pics while I was standing on the houseboat watching. I try to avoid going on the boat when they are pulling the tubes, it makes me puke. Next time I will suck it up so I can get pics of Daniel too. Jake was prohibited from any shenanigans - with his knees and all.





Matt brought along his "tackle box" and a couple of poles and enjoyed some fishing off the back. I think just about everyone tried it. Jack LOVED running onto the back to see whatever fish anyone caught. He even touched one! One of the fish had the teeth of Jaws!! It's kinda creepy when you think about it!

RANDOM PICS!


Matt and Daniel on the back of the houseboat fishing.

Jack showing me his shells while supervising the fishing.

I was just hanging out with the boys, watching and reading.

Sami, texting. Does it ever end?

Daniel and the hair do I came up with to keep his hair out of his face. Looking really cool in Cody/Cari's boat. I can't wait until it's long enough we can just pull it back.

Matt chilin on the boat.

A small example of the foodstuff set out for one meal. We didn't starve, by any stretch of the imagination. It was delicious too!

Princess "always first in line" Sami. Daniel, I think he's annoyed there.

Model-esqe don't you think?

Fun pics with my family!!! Just before bed, hangin out!

Sami just after her bath. Weirdos! All of us.

Ohhh...he's a hottie!

Classic attitude!

Jake and Dylan on the back fishing!

Sami and cousin Emily.

Blog on....

Ode to the Eliminator!

Over 25 years ago my dad bought this Eliminator ski boat. I would guess that one would "ode" something because it was now gone. I am "ode"ing the Eliminator because it is still here! My dad and my brothers have put a lot of man hours and love into this boat. They even through in a tower. I still love the way it looks on the water and the way it runs like a kitten. I don't know if my dad would agree about this post. He is the one putting all the sweat and KACHING!! into it. I know it has had at least one new motor. But, it has been loved and well taken care of. Most of the interior and all the paint is original (exception is the occasional touch up). The colors have even gone out of style and back in! Goes to show you, taking care of something can make it last for a long time OR as my dad use to say (about my car), "a clean car lasts longer then dirty one".

Big thanks to my brothers and especially my dad. My dad has taught me so much about life. I am honored to be his daughter. His generosity and hard work are unmatched, even at his age. As long as he stays off ladders, roofs and general high spots that he is not safely restrained from falling off of, I am a happy happy daughter.

I guess I should have called it "Ode to Bob".

My dad getting ready to take pictures, while my brother Mark drives and his son Jack rides shotgun.

I love the way it looks coming around a corner!
All my kids took their first boat rides in it when they were just babies.

Some day I will scan all my old pics and have a montage of pics instead of having only recent ones from.

Bahahaha.........maybe.

Thanks MATT for taking these great pics!

Blog on.........