Don't Breaker My Heart

"Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you." -Matthew 5:48 (MSG)

Ok whoa! Speaking of adjusting to a slightly different way of life over here, here's a good story.

So a new dryer was purchased for us right before we arrived in this apartment and both Amy and I were very excited to have soft, warm clothes (she had previously been hanging everything to dry). A couple nights ago we attempted to wash the towels and sheets that had accumulated, so after figuring out the washing machine (which was a feat in itself) and Amy realizing she had "washed" her clothes earlier that week in only fabric softener (she says she thought it looked like soap..?) I transferred the wet clothes into the new dryer. We had been warned that the wiring wasn't that great in the basement and although Amy hadn't had luck drying her newly softened(?) clothes a few days earlier, I was certain I could get it to work. So I closed the dryer door, adjusted the timer, and voila! It was working! For like 3 seconds. Then all the lights and sounds in the already creepy basement went out, and I was stuck, by myself, with only a cell phone for light (which, for the record isn't that great-!). Uhh it was a total dilemma and I decided to feel around in the dark and try to make my way to where we were shown the breaker was. So I flipped it back on, and much to my relief the lights came on and I could easily find my way back to the laundry room. Ok, take 2: I unplugged everything save the dryer and I think it might have stayed on for maybe 5 seconds this time before flipping the breaker, leaving me to retrace my steps to turn it back on. Not fun-! I finally decided to just hang the towels and sheets and started coming to grips that we may never have soft towels here in Germany and that was how it was going to be.

So that was a couple nights ago and I'm proud to say that last night I re-attempted to conquer the dryer situation and was this time armed with my trusty maglite (to dispell the darkness should it come). I brought a book and a blanket, and sat in the cold basement until all loads of towels and now also my clothes were washed and dryed. I didn't want it to blow the breaker as soon as I headed back upstairs or anything-! And keep in mind that the washer and dryer can't ever run at the same time. Or even be plugged in at the same time-! I think what I figured out is that it will never be figured out, and I should never count on dryer-dried clothes. Do Germans live like this all the time? I guess this is what adapting means...

(so if anyone wonders what I am doing with my time, chances are it's probably laundry...) :)