the microwave
Day by Day October 24th, 2009I held back for a week, before I put this here. But since I’m on the subject of new technology (see here) I can’t help replaying a telephone conversation with my brother.
It all started innocently enough.
me: “What’s new?”
brother: “We’re finally going to replace the flooring in our house. Should start next week.”
me: “Great! How long is that gonna take?”
brother: “Not too long. They are coming in and doing it one room at a time (a good plan I thought, but didn’t say anything) and they move the furniture and everything. (moving the furniture first is even a better plan!)”
me: “Cool – and you’re getting the whole main floor done, right?”
brother: “Yeah – and we got new appliances too”
me: “wow – you’re going all out. All hi-tech stuff I presume”
brother: “Not really – except the microwave.”
(here’s where it happened…)
brother: “Yeah – it’s got push buttons and dials and controls and stuff”
me: “mm hmm” (trying to sound impressed)
brother: “It has a button just for popcorn. You just push it, and the microwave knows it’s popcorn and cooks it. And it’s supposed to taste better than the old way, and doesn’t burn”
me: “Really – wow, that’s some microwave!”
brother: “And the beeper works all the time. Our old one didn’t work when it was cold. It just made a huunn huuun sound, and it wasn’t even doing that all the time.”
me: “And does it have a button for re-heating coffee?”
brother: “yeah, yeah – I think so. And it’s got a turn table thing so that food cooks evenly. The food goes round and round like a merry-go-round!”
me: “So your old one didn’t have that stuff. It must have been really old. I pretty much thought all of that was standard. In fact, I had to replace my old microwave a couple of weeks ago and it had all of that. Even the popcorn button.”
brother: (slightly annoyed) “We’ve had it for a while…”
me: “So, your old one, did it have an electric start or did you have to kick start it?”
brother: CLICK
I never did get to ask him if his new “ice box” actually plugs into the wall, and makes ice, rather than the need to haul ice to store in the bottom compartment to keep things cool.
October 25th, 2009 at 8:30 am
So…mocking me over the phone is not sufficient. Now you have to do it on the web for all to see. I also bought a revolutionary machine so I don’t have to wash my clothes down at the river, but I bet you’ll make fun of that too.
October 25th, 2009 at 9:34 am
So Audie…Does you new stove use coal..or do you still have to to go out and split wood for that?
October 25th, 2009 at 10:36 am
Actually, Sherry, he told me it’s a new modern gas range.
“ya gotta see it. Turn the knob, the fire goes on, turn the knob, the fire goes out, turn the knob, fire goes on, turn the knob, fire goes out, fire on, fire out, fire on, fire out…”
October 27th, 2009 at 2:02 am
Hey – no one’s talking about the washer and dryer . . . what’s up with that???!!! Must not be as important to Audie as the new microwave, gas range and french door, pull out freezer on the bottom!!! Now me, I’m most excited about the new washer and dryer … any comments, Sherry or Lee?
PS – Lee – get your RSVP in for the wedding in Maui- Sherry’s already booked her reservations at the Outrigger Palms at Wailea where Audie and I are staying!!!
October 27th, 2009 at 2:05 am
I just noticed that the last post indicated that it was from “Audie”, but of course you both knew it was from me, Lois, right???!!!
October 27th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
I’d love to go to Hawaii for the wedding. Unfortunately, it’s probably a little beyond my budget at this time.
But then again, I might just show up with a sleeping bag and my little tent. I can’t imagine the beaches being too cold at night time. 
October 27th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
I was looking at those bottom freezer things a couple of years ago. I decided it wasn’t super important to me, despite the salesman’s best efforts. But I know that my new cupboards and cabinets (whenever that happens) are going to have big drawers on the bottom, so I don’t have to take out everything for the pizza pan or roaster that is always at the back!
January 6th, 2010 at 1:20 am
Yeah, Lee, I’m still trying to get Audie to install pull-out drawers in our cupboards, especially since the new gas range has a warming oven on the bottom instead of a pull-out drawer for pots & pans!!! LOL