Merry Christmas to me and Happy New Year to you

My gift to me. It's white and it's about 5' tall. It's round and sits on the ground. Wanna hear the story?

Christmas week, I was doing some laundry. Now, my washer and dryer are in my garage. (I didn't design this house, so no offense taken at your raised eyebrows.) Anywho...I noticed water coming out from under the washing machine. Being the diligent homeowner that I am (and having piles and piles of laundry to do) I called the repairman.

Two young fellows showed up, removed the cosmetics of my Whirlpool and started a small ghost load of laundry. After a bit, I went to check on the fellas and they were scratching their heads. Then they decided to run a large load of ghost laundry. Still nothing. No spillage, no leakage, no problemo. HUH?

One young fella said, "Is your water heater in that closet?" to which I replied "Oh, the closet that backs up to the washer and dryer? Indeed. That would be where the water heater is." I opened the closet to see rusty, leaking water all around the 15 year old water heater.

I paid the young men for their hard work. Uh huh. A $70 service charge. Then I got on the horn with a local plumber. We struck up a deal and within 2 hours I had my Christmas present to me.

I do so spoil myself, don't I?

David and I will be in east Texas this long weekend. New Year's Eve, we plan to boot scoot our way into 2010 at Sacred Spur Ranch outside of Gladewater. Anyone wanna join us?

Happy New Year!
~Mindy