An expensive way to spend your day off

Monday's in Lent are my day off, instead of Fridays (Stations of the Cross, Good Friday).

Today we had to go to Lowes to get a new washer. The 11 year old Hotpoint washer we bought in Charleroi, PA gave out on Saturday, and this morning the repair guy opened the front to find oil all over the inside - sign of a dead transmission. To replace the transmission would cost more than what we paid for it originally.

Having gone to Lowes with a cheap $350 washer in mind, we gave in and went 'green' and got a water and energy saving front loading machine, which of course cost more. If we save the $150 a year in water/energy as they suggest, it will be worth the extra money soon.

It arrives tomorrow morning to several backed-up loads of clothes to be washed!