Friday, August 1, 2008

Another Story from the OCD Files

I may have mentioned once or twice (or 652 billion times) that my sister has organizational issues.  ISSUES.  She reads organizing blogs for fun.  Not that she really needs to as order is her best friend and constant companion.

Anyway, because she is such a wonderful person I do try to restrain from airing all of her perfectly clean, folded and colour coded laundry (with socks matched according to wear on the bottom) out on the internet.

However, this latest story is much too good to let go by.  

When they moved into their new house she and her hubby (who is also slightly obsessed with perfection) needed to buy new appliances.  On the advice of our sister-in-law and myself they decided to buy a smooth-top stove.  We assured them they were much easier to clean and looked so good, they would never turn back.  

We did not factor the OCD into this advice.

For the past three weeks my sister has lived a nightmare.  She is obsessed about harming her stove.  She cleans it with the cleanser several times a day, keeps it covered with a dishcloth when not using it and has a minor coronary every time a pot slides around on it.  

I had never heard someone curse out a major appliance before.  Have now. 

It got to the point that family members were getting concerned.  It takes a lot to get us concerned.    She stores her kid's plastic glasses in the cupboard in the exact colour order that they come in from Ikea.  We are rather used to her kind of crazy.   

So this week she and her husband took action.  They called Sears and took advantage of the 60 day satisfaction guarantee.  They were anything but satisfied.  They may be the first couple in the history of modern appliances to return a smooth-top for a coil stove but my sister had a ring in her voice today that has been absent since the arrival of the "stove from hell."  (Her words, not mine.)  

Order has been returned to their corner of the world.  

And that's a good thing.

11 comments:

momofthecrazies said...

It's only fitting that I get to be the first one to comment on this post. I love my new stove and I won't have to waste time polishing that dumb protector on it every time I clean my stovetop.

One of the salesmen we talked with attempted to scratch the top with a loonie to show us how tough these stovetops are. He didn't scratch it, but somehow in the month I had the stove, I managed to get a few tiny scratches. I don't know how it happened - I was so careful! Oh well, now I don't have to stress over making dinner anymore. Yea!!!

momofthecrazies said...

By the way, it's not just the Ikea glasses I store "in order", it's the plates and bowls too. This way my cupboard looks nice and pretty. I may be crazy, but at least it's a happy crazy.

KnittinChick said...

HG-I think that Momofthecrazies takes after all the aunties in a manner that you may not. Remember, she's just living out what she was taught.

Children learn what they live. Too bad it didn't stick with the rest of us... or at least with varying degrees of success.

a Tonggu Momma said...

I alphabetize my spices. I don't know that I would fret about a smooth top stove (we have coils), but I can't say that I wouldn't, so... I think I'll remain mum. :)

Kelly @ Love Well said...

You mean, everyone doesn't keep their plastic IKEA dishes in rainbow order?!?

Bargainista said...

Sorry HG, but i'm with your sister on this one...the organization i mean.
Thought i might like a smooth top stove when ours dies, but i will consult your sister first when the time comes.

happygeek said...

OK, I have nothing against organization, it helps my day run a lot smoother.
I just fail to see how rainbow order of cups makes my day run smoother.
But that's just me.

Tez said...

I have a smooth top. I love it cause I don't have to take out the stupid burner wells and scrub them. That was my least favorite job....after laundry...and maybe dishes, and well cleaning the bathroom hmmmm maybe your sister could come visit me once a week for coffee, she would really hate the mess and would offer to clean it for me....that'd be nice! ;p

Anonymous said...

Hey You

Stop your wineing. I have lived with your mother for 39yrs and she taught your sister very well

Love ya
Your kid's pa pa

Anonymous said...

My wife is a bit odd with things like that. She likes to keep things in their original boxes and not use them for ages - she didn't start to use any of her hristmas presents until about March.

I thought, when I married her, that this would mean she was tidy and organised. I was wrong.....

The Broken Man

http://theblogofabrokenman.blogspot.com/

Alyson said...

Baaaa Haaaa Haaaa Haaaa Haaaaaa.
We had a stove like that in Kingston. I liked it though.