Yes, I’m still drinking from my Mother of the Groom mug! The only way you’ll pry it out of my hands is when it’s time for me to become the Crazy Pumpkin Lady (oh wait- that’s next month!!!) In the meantime, I’m linking up with Coco and Deborah for their Ultimate Coffee Date. If we were having coffee together…
I would tell you that school starts Monday. But it’s not any old first day of school. It’s the…
Yep- after 18 years of back-to-school, my last “baby” is starting her senior year of high school. We’ve already had our final band camp; this year will also be the last football game, last Homecoming, last holiday concert… I feel an existential crisis coming on.
At least the back-to-school vibes have gotten me out of my post-wedding funk. But, you may remember that we had a series of minor house tragedies after we got home- a plumbing leak, broken water heater, and then having to trash a carpet the cats peed on while we were gone. Bad things come in threes, right? WRONG.
Yesterday I was standing in the dining room when I heard a tremendously loud shattering noise from the kitchen. The glass front of our oven door had spontaneously exploded into a thousand shards of glass. It turns out, this is actually a thing:
I had already started to clean ours up when my husband thought to take a photo:
Our oven is (was) a Frigidaire, which it turns out is the most likely brand to have an exploding door, and as a matter of fact they’re being sued by people who were burned or traumatized when their’s exploded. Our oven was pretty old, but as my sister pointed out, if it’s old it should just stop working, not explode. She also had this observation:
Yes! I think this is a sign for me to stop cooking! Well, at least for now, because our new oven won’t be here till Monday. So far I’ve made oatmeal in the microwave and enjoyed a delicious Chipotle dinner. Hmm, maybe this isn’t so bad after all!
The last thing I would share over coffee is, I’m reading this book, which has gotten a lot of buzz this year:
It’s a re-telling of Cinderella from the stepmother’s point of view. I would have said I’m not interested in fairy tale re-tellings, but this is GOOD! I’m really enjoying it.
What would you tell me over coffee? Have you read this book? Any advice for my existential crisis? Has your oven door ever exploded?
48 Responses
The oven door explosion is just wild. Glad no one was hurt. And keep usurping that mug- it brings up happy memories ( and frankly looks like a great size for tea).
Maybe you shouldn’t keep focusing on thr “last” aspect of the school year. Try to put a positive spin on it- you get to have football games again!
Over coffee, I’d tell you that I’ll be teaching two classes a term despite wanting to teach one. A committee keeps trying to force changes to the material covered in one class; they really have no clue what we do cover or how we teach. I’m going to keep doing what I planned- once the semester starts, this committee will forget all about the course anyway.
And I went for another overnight trip to see my granddaughter! My big sister flew out, and we drove up the 6.5 hr drive to get cuddles. The baby is more alert and smiles ( no social smiles really, but we’re pretending she smiled at us). And school starts Wednesday for kids and I’m ready for it. Band camp made it feel like summer was over. At least my son is loving drum major responsibilities.
Enjoy the weekend!
Using, not usurping! My autocorrect is so weird.
Your son is drum major!!? Wow, that is a big responsibility. How exciting- that should make football games more exciting for you. And yes, I’m definitely excited that football is starting again (but I can’t help the twinge of melancholy).
Your situation with the committee sounds frustrating, but familiar. It seems like in every job, there are people trying to set policies who have no idea how the work is actually being done.
OMG on the oven!! That is just WRONG! So glad you were not cooking — that could be so dangerous!
I hope the last first day of school goes well — or at least registers low on the drama scale. Is your daughter excited to be a senior or just too cool for school already? 😉
I think a little of both! She’ll probably be excited the first day, and then too cool. I feel like she already checked out 4th quarter of her junior year, sigh.
sorry about the oven door! that must be scary, glad nobody nor cat were close by.
I have a colleague who’s sending twins to college now, I can see sadness in his face. I can’t imagine how would I be when that day arrives.
ooh- twins would be extra hard! Two kids going at the same time.
Yes, good thing no people or cats were nearby when the door shattered. And it’s lucky it didn’t happen while we were gone, or I would have blamed the cats- “What did you guys do NOW???”
I’m on the wait list for Lady Tremaine. 10 weeks to go (I just checked)!!
Jenny! Why is adulting so… constant? And so expensive. No one warns you about cats peeing on carpets and broken water heaters and exploding oven doors. Sigh. We’re going through something similar with a vehicle now. It’s having a full brake job on Monday, got towed twice in July (for the same issue which in the grand scheme of things wasn’t a huge deal), and NOW HAS A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. But it’s a special windshield so if they can’t repair the crack, the whole windshield will have to be replaced which is normally not a big deal but we have something special and it can be $4,000+
GAHHHHH. I’m hoping they can fix the crack as it’s not huge at this point? But it’s near an edge which Mechanic Google told me could impact the structural integrity of the whole thing. I need to look up our auto insurance and see what coverage we have for glass.
You have so many big life things happening to close together. I’m sure there are mixed feelings about getting to the end of high school. Acknowledge all the feelings, but really lean into anticipating the next chapter, too! You’ve parented well and done the time and put it so much effort and this is a next exciting step for your whole family! (Says the person who is still a few years out from having a kid graduate!)
We drove one car with cracks along the bottom and sides of the windshield foer years. If it’s not impeding your field of vision, could you just let it go for now? When a branch crashed through the back window of the same car, we replaced it of course, but the crack ( about 3ft long with some tendrils) we just kept ignoring.
UGH on the car!!!! That’s more expensive than our oven and water heater put together.
Right now I’m feeling pretty sad about the end of high school. But it’s possible this year could be so difficult that I’ll be glad when it’s over!
WHAT. That would be terrible, and I am glad a new oven is on the way. I loved that book, BTW.
Yes, the book is SO GOOD!!!!! I can tell it’s going to be one of my favorites of the year. New oven arrives Monday- meanwhile we’re making good use of our microwave and air fryer.
The oven door thing is terrifying! It reminds me that I read about someone’s glass shower door shattering out of the blue, and how worried I was showering for a while (even though no one had been using that shower when it shattered–like your oven!). Still, enjoy the break from cooking.
If we were having coffee, I would probably be complaining about our elevator. But I would also tell you that I took yesterday off work, and it was so pleasant. Now just today to get through and it’s the weekend.
That’s weird! I wonder if the glass shower door was the same situation as the oven (something about hairline cracks accumulating over time… I didn’t really understand it). I have to admit, the break from cooking is nice!
What is this about your elevator? I have to stop by your blog to find out.
Omg. I have a Frigidaire oven. Fingers crossed.
One year until empty nest and your own schedule.
That books sounds interesting. On my list.
Uh oh. Well- it’s still not a common thing to have happen. I’m not really sure there’s anything you can do to prevent it, it’s not like there were warning signs. Still, as I said- not common so you’re probably fine.
The book is so good!!!
The oven door explosion sounds so scary! I’m glad you weren’t using it at the time. I have a super old 80s style oven in my apartment that I rarely use (aside from the burners) that doesn’t have a glass door so I guess I’m safe! I’ve heard of this happening with glass shower doors too for some reason but luckily I don’t have one of those either.
I’m sure the last first day of school will be emotional for you, but I hope the new school year goes well!
Yes, someone else mentioned that about shower doors! We don’t have a glass shower door though. And, sounds like you’re safe with your 1980s oven!
That door explosion happened to my mom as well! But hers was a relatively new and very expensive oven. I think it was a Wolf or something like that. But she was actually cooking, it is wild that yours exploded just…randomly. And your sister is right, it should just stop working! Not explode!
I enjoyed Lady Tremaine! We have book overlap!
That’s weird that it happened with a new oven! I guess your mom didn’t get hurt at all or you would have mentioned that. I’m sure it was scary though.
We have more and more book overlap these days!
Wow! I have not ever heard of oven doors just exploding! That is crazy! So glad that you were nowhere near it when it happened. The last year of the first day of school!?
Yes, it was lucky no one was near, and also lucky we were home- otherwise I would have blamed the cats. As it is, I was close enough to know that it just exploded on its own.
WHAT THE FRICK???????? Exploding oven doors are a thing???????? When you’re not even using the oven?????????? On the positive side, your sister is a genius. NO MORE COOKING!!!! DOWN WITH COOKING!!!
My solution to your existential crisis is to give you a big hug. Happy last first day of school, happy next phase of life.
Thank you Birchie! And yes- I really shouldn’t cook anymore. It’s not safe!
We drove one car with cracks along the bottom and sides of the windshield foer years. If it’s not impeding your field of vision, could you just let it go for now? When a branch crashed through the back window of the same car, we replaced it of course, but the crack ( about 3ft long with some tendrils) we just kept ignoring.
Oh wow… that exploding glass door is freaky! At least you weee home when it happened, so you could clean it up before any of your cats got into it. Glass half full, LOL.
Yes, it’s true- as it was the cats were very curious about all that glass on the floor and we had to get them away so they didn’t cut themselves.
That oven door is just crazy….and scary! With all the sourdough I’m baking I’d be really pissed. Must be a defect in the glass? But why first now??
Congrats on your son’s wedding! Looks like I missed the whole thing! That sure came up fast! I’m intrigued by that book!
Yes, he got engaged in January and now they’re married! It was fast.
You really need your oven! I would say this is pretty rare, so I think you’re good.
So now oven doors are randomly exploding? What is going on in this world!! I am so glad no one was hurt and you weren’t baking anything as it seems like it would be extra bad if something was in the oven. Yikes!!
Last firsts can be so bittersweet! You’ll get through this but it’s an end of an era for sure. But the empty nest stage can be pretty special I think. Plus you’ll be able to leave Florida if you want to (I think you were researching options?). But endings can be so emotional.
Nothing has exploded in my life but it was not a good week. The screen of my laptop cracked rendering it useless, we found out Paul’s piano teacher isn’t teaching anymore so I need to find a new teacher and worst of all, my return flight got canceled last night so I had to spend an extra day in DC and the earliest I could get out was a 12:15 flight so I will get home around 3. And today was supposed to be my day off. Sigh.
Yes, I read your blog post- sounds like a pretty challenging week! It was just one thing after another for you. Well- I hope the weekend goes well. I think you sid in the comments of your post that you’re taking next Friday off instead? At least that’s good!
Yes, we’re definitely thinking of moving away from Florida, but it won’t be for several years. We got a little distracted with the wedding this summer, but now i’m back to researching options!
I’m so sorry to hear that your oven door exploded, but you seem to have a good attitude toward it. Thank goodness no one in your family or one of the cats was nearby when your oven door exploded!
I like it when you’re “crazy pumpkin lady” – it inspires me to get my fall stuff out and enjoy the season!
Your family has an exciting year ahead. I hope your daughter has a fantastic senior year!
Yes, I guess I have a good attitude because it could have been so much worse. No one was hurt. It was a pain to clean up, but now we get a new oven, which we were going to need soon anyway.
It’s true- this year will be exciting. And, less than a month till Crazy Pumpkin Lady time!
OMG!!!! I’m so glad you’re ok and that no one got hurt! How scary!
I hate when things go wrong with the house. I’ve come to the conclusion that home ownership is really just a big scam in a lot of ways. You pay all this money, so that you can …. continue spending all this money. Makes renting sound so much more appealing!
I love your mug. Hold on, tight!
I know people who rent, and they love it. I agree that it’s always something, and it’s always an expensive something. Grr.
OMG the oven door thing is so scary! Esp since our oven is always on, and my kids are always in the kitchen near it. Wow, so glad you’re ok. Was it only your brand or others too?
I just read Lady Tremaine! I hope you enjoy it. I thought I wouldn’t like it because I know “how it ends” — but she did a good job 🙂
Yes, I’m sure she makes the ending good. I’m REALLY enjoying it.
I know other brands of ovens have had this issue, but frigidaire is the most common one. But it’s not likely to happen whatever kind of oven you have, so you’re probably pretty safe.
I haven’t heard of that book, and generally would say I’m not interested, but if you’re loving it, I will give it a try.
ACK on the oven door exploding! I need to run downstairs and find out if ours is a Frigidaire. It’s gas, I don’t know if that’s a factor. Terrifying. I’m so glad that no one was in the kitchen when it happened. Maybe none of us should ever cook again.
As Birchie said, Down With Cooking!!! And- I think you would like the book.
And I just purchased a Frigidaire oven!! My sister has one, I should let her know it’s a possibility. What did you replace it with?
Very glad no one was hurt!
We got a Whirlpool. The thing is- even if you have a Frigidaire, this is still a very rare occurrence. I wouldn’t worry about it!
Hi Jenny. Long-time reader, but rare commentator. My twins are going into Senior year too. I burst into tears yesterday because we got the BTS email from the principal talking about all of the activities. Their high school does Senior Sunrise on the first day. They pack the football field and watch together. And on the “last day” (graduation), the go out on a boat(s) for Senior Sunset. Also, one of my kids is in marching band too. I am throwing myself into ALL of the band activities this year.
Me too!!!!! I’m going to every single football game, every concert, etc. And, our seniors did a “senior sunrise” at the beach this morning. i’m wondering if you have younger kids, or if ALL your “babies” are graduating at the same time??? This is going to be quite a year for us. Thank you for commenting!
That the exploding appliance is a Frigidaire does NOT surprise me. Every Frigidaire appliance we had turned out to be a lemon, and that company is the devil to work with when trying to get satisfaction. And your sister is wise, wise, wise.
Congratulations on being much closer to an empty nest with only yourself and husband to truly consider. Perhaps being a high school teacher made my sons’ transitions much easier–I was constantly saying goodbye to kids, some I dearly loved almost as my own. Besides, if you have a pet or pets, you’ll still be Momming, right?
Well yes- thank goodness for the cats! And, in the article about exploding oven doors it tells the story of a woman who was burned when her Frigidaire exploded. When she complained to the company, they offered her 10% off a new oven door… so now she’s suing them. Yes, I guess they are a difficult company!
this oven door thing is so scary. That could’ve been a total disaster. The oven wasn’t even being used?! Yowza. No, my oven door has never exploded. We did have the handle of a microwave melt. Not nearly as dangerous, but sort of dumb as it was positioned above the stovetop. If we were having coffee, I’d talk about how hectic life is getting a couple kids packed and ready to go to college back to back trips in different directions, and how great my closet clean out is going.
Yes, I’ll bet your life is pretty crazy right now! And no, the oven was not being used when it happened. It was bizarre.
Omg, the oven! I’m glad it happened when it wasn’t being used, at least there’s that! But what a nightmare. A good excuse for lots of Chipotle. 🙂