appliance obsessed

Do you ever have it that something you never thought about before – or well – at least rarely – is brought to your attention? Or something that never crossed your mind as a thing to worry about is pointed out? This happened to me recently with regards to leaving appliances running when I leave the house. A couple of weeks ago we picked my daughter, Cayenne up from GEMS camp on Gull Lake, Alberta. As this is near where Darin’s mom lives we decided to have a weekend visit with her and her significant other. Our idea was to meet up with Mom in the town of Sylvan Lake and then have lunch and spend the day the the beach. Mom decided to pass on lunch and the beach as she was busy – as it turned out she just found the weather too hot and she is not a water rat so the beach is not really her thing. A bit disappointed we still had lunch in Sylvan at a little café bistro place and then went in search of beach. The water levels in Sylvan were really high so we toured around the area and then ended up on Aspen beach at Gull Lake. The water is shallow and sandy. The weather was hot and sunny. We spent a beautiful afternoon reconnecting and hearing camp stories. Telling cayenne what we had been up to in her absence – not much really. We splashed around in the water. The kids and Darin had their traditional sand fight and so that I did not feel left out they put blobs of sand on my hair and shoulders and made sure it got pretty much everywhere. I aimlessly tossed sand balls in their general direction and managed to get half a hand full of sand down Darin’s shorts – hahaha! We left the beach tired, thirsty, sandy and happy. We decided that if we were going to the beach the next day we definitely need edt to hang up our bathing suits and towels. When we got to Mom’s we found out she had no such thing as a clothes line out back. she gave us a laundry basket and said she would wash our clothes and dry them so we could go to the beach in the afternoon. Darin decided that we probably wouldn’t go because we had found out that Mom doesn’t like the heat. I was disappointed because one of the things I was looking forward to on the weekend was hanging out on the beach in the hot weather and cooling off in the lake. In the spirit of being accommodating and not a spoiled brat control freak – I did not argue much with this decision. I adopted a wait and see attitude. That night, We had dinner, sat around and chatted and then went to bed. I woke in the morning to yummy breakfast being made and the basket of laundry still sitting outside my door. I got Cayenne to go and “ask Grandma if she forgot about our laundry.” (always send the cute kids to do the awkward stuff). Darin came back and said Mom would do it after she made breakfast. In the spirit of not being a control freak - I let it go and decided to hope for the best. Trying not to think that if I was at home I would have just done this load the night before. But I did let it go and lived in the moment. After Mom was done making the pancakes and eggs, she ran downstairs to throw the stuff in the washing machine so that it could start while we ate- this made me feel better. We ate breakfast and drank weak coffee – like really weak – and then got ready to go. We had to wait until the washing machine was done. I assumed we were waiting until the washer was done so we could throw the stuff in the dryer before we left. You will see in a few paragraphs what assuming does, if you don’t already know. The Farmer’s Market in Bentley was really good. There was a lot of yummy smelling and feeling produce – but we really didn’t need any fruit or vegetables. We looked around at the displayed goods. We ended up with gooey cinnamon buns, debated a pie, bought flavoured honey and apple-butter bbq sauce – one of my favorites – Cayenne and I also refrained from buying any jewelry or these really cuter bugs an spiders that you could hang from a ceiling or a light fixture to freak people out. I actually regret not getting one – they were only around $4 – and they would have been funny. We returned to Rimbey and had lunch at a local diner called Roger’s. the kids had a deliciously loaded Hawaiian pizza, Darin had battered deep fried mushrooms, Darin, Mom and I all had fish and chips, oh and, milkshakes all around - of course. After lunch we drove Mom to to the bank to get out some cash and she suggested that we should get home an dry those towels so we would be able to go to the beach. I said, “I thought we were waiting around for the washer to be done so we could throw the towels in the dryer while we were gone.” “oh no,” says Mom, “I never leave the washer or dryer going while I am not at home.” Something abut this is sounding familiar, and Darin chimes in with, “you see, I come by it honestly.” “right,” I say, knowing I have heard this before, knowing I will hear it again, I ask, “why not?” “because,” Mom explains in a measured tone, “one time, when the kids were young, I stopped by my friend’s house, so-and-so, I think you have heard of her, (un huh) and she was not there but her laundry room was on fire. She had run out for a minute and left the washer running. Her husband had left nails in his overalls pocket and they fell out and got stuck in the holes in the bottom of the basin. They created friction and started a fire.” “wow,” I respond, lamely. Then I think for a few moments and ask, “but that was such a specific set of circumstances that would be hard to recreate, why worry about it?” “I am not going to take the chance, lots of things could happen.” “but what if you are there? Something like that could still happen.” Is my response. “yes, but you can call the fire department.” I know when I have to stop arguing/discussing and just agree to disagree. I make the bold claim that I will continue to leave appliances running in spite of the potential hazards. I do not want to adopt this as a fear. I do not live in a lot of worry – especially not about my stuff – and I really don’t want to start now. It also occurs to me that I really don’t leave the house much – so this is not huge issue for me. But the problem is these types of conversations make me think – have I been mistaken all these years? It brings back all of the times we have left the house with the washer or dryer running and Darin asks me, “are you going to leave that on?” I recall the first year we lived in this house, it was also the first year we had a dish washer. Right before we left to go to California for a week I turned on the dishwasher. Darin was fretting about the safely of doing so on the way to the airport. Finally my mom promised to go over after they dropped us off and make sure it hadn’t leaked all over the floor. I was of the opinion that I had used the appliance for months with no issues – shy would it start now? I suppose not all people have such faith in the continuous smooth function of appliances. I also suppose if you have been raised in house where your mother can’t leave things running when you leave – you get used to that concern. The rest of the weekend was great – after we dropped Mom off we went to the playground. It was hot and dusty and the kids were not having much fun. I was still half trying to convince Darin to drive back to the lake – so were the kids. Darin decided he needed a root beer. We went to corner store – a real corner store – not a chain – I got a Coke 0 because I was in desperate need of caffeine. On the way back to Mom’s we discovered the local out door pool. We raced back to Mom’s to change into our safely washed and dried bathing suits. Grabbed our towels and went swimming for a few hours before dinner. The entire weekend was great – I relinquished my control – I did not demand my own way – etc etc. but I still can’t stop thinking about the washer and dryer issue. I mean honestly - I can not get over sitting around - when you are ready to go – for another 20 minutes because of an appliance and a fear of what it might do if you left it unattended. I did do some googling and found that appliances do cause a lot of house fires. I asked my mom and she said she had heard that is was not a good idea to leave appliances running while away. She had heard from her renovator that he had to do a whole basement because a washer had flooded and caused a lot of damage. I am still stubbornly unconvinced. In the end – I think I will leave appliances running while I am away. I have even had a washer flood on me while I was at home. It was a slowly dying machine and the sensor that told it to stop filling the basin broke and the washer flooded. We lived in a second floor condo at the time and it could have kept on flooding and leaked through the ceiling of the downstairs unit and caused a lot of damage – but it didn’t. I was there and stopped the washer and mopped up the water. Have I ever worried since that that would happen again – honestly - no – it has not even occurred to me until now because that was such a specific set of circumstances. The final thing I will say about this is that the other day the kids and I went for a walk to the grocery store. I brazenly tossed wet clothes in the dryer and turned it on. I proceeded to fill the washing machine with dirty clothes and set it to cleaning them. I put the last few stray dishes in the dish washer, tossed in a cleaning tab and fired that appliance up as well. As a result of a few delays we did not leave before I heard the dryer buzz completion, the washer beep the end of the cycle. The dish washer was still chugging away. So, even if we had left, the washer and dryer would have been fine. When we got home the dishes were all clean and dry. Next time I might start all of those same appliances up and make some dough in the bread maker and some pizza sauce in the crock pot. I would do all this – partly to be rebellious – but also because I don’t want to worry about stuff I can’t control.

introductary Material

Name: Debbie Christine Braaksma Karambowich

Born: January 21, 1969 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada where the rest of it takes place as well…

Baptised: a few weeks after I was born

Got a sister: November 1970

Got a brother: August 1974 - I might mention them again later….

Profession of Faith: June 1986 and partook in Lord’s Supper for the first time

Graduated HS: June 1986

Diagnosed Legally Blind: late 1991. Result of Iritis, autoimmune disease related to arthritis, which I had as a child. Low grade, long term inflammation deteriorated my retina, macula and damaged my optic nerve. Have gradually lost my vision over the past 20 some odd years. Condition was exacerbated by repeated bouts with glaucoma, a normal result of eye drop use and eye disease. In 20’s could see about the first 3 lines on the eye chart, in early 30’s the first line, “E”, , by late 30’s motion detection and light and dark perception. This is where the vision is now. I use screen readers to use my computer and iPhone. I also use a white cane. Have great family support and awesome friends! God is good to me! Ps you can ask more about my eyes – I really don’t mind 

University: Graduated with BA in Linguistics, minor in Psychology November 1996. Almost completed an after degree in Cultural Anthropology but…

Married: December 27, 1998 to Darin Karambowich(it wasn’t his fault that I didn’t finish that after degree – I just ran out of steam and then…

First child: Cayenne, born September 2000

Second child: Quinn, July 2006

Opened Dayhome/out of school care: September 2002 started out with an agency but parted ways when I had Quinn. Am now self employed and still taking care of kids for a living. It is a great way to make money and still be home with and for my own kids. It is not for everyone – but it has worked for us so far. This year - when Quinn goes to grade 1 will be the first year that I have none of my own kids at home.

Started BSF(Bible Study Fellowship): September 2005 and became a group leader in September 2009. Michelle dragged me there and it has been such a blessing in my life.

Darin baptized and profession of faith: September 2010 Darin didn’t not believe in God when we were married – but now he is seeking a personal relationship and it has made a huge difference in our own relationship and that of our family life. He started going to BSF that same year. cayenne has gone with me since 2006 and now Quinn gets to come in the fall – he is excited to be part of the BSF going group as well. Note: my mom and dad – who live across the alley from us – go to BSF as well. I have been blessed to have been raised in a Christian family full of grace and truth.



My sister, Karin is a civil engineer/land developer, married to a civil engineer come at home Dad. They had their daughter Ady one year to the very date after Quinn and Teo was born a year and a hal ago, he has Down’s Syndrome. I took care of Ady in my dayhome until she was about 3 and Ryan became an at home Dad. She still comes at least once a week to hang out.



My brother is Pastor Rich married to his Jur High School sweetheart. They have Jamie, 13 and Jonah, 11. They have recently relocated back to Calgary from Venice, CA. if you know of anyone who wants to buy a coffee shop ministry there – let me know.



Grace and Peace – debbie

blog the first

My BFF has been telling me I should blog for about 3 years now.

I have had this blog name for about 7 or 8 years now.

My husband asked me when I was going to write my book.

I keep looking for an auspicious day to start.

Like today: 4 8 12 or 8 4 `12

I want to be a blogger.

I have two blogs but I didn’t know which one I should use.

When we were camping at Wasa Lake BC this year we went to the nature show - I love the nature show – and it was about echolocation.

I like/mistrust signs like that.

I am not sure what I will BLOG about.

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen.

I have some ideas – I do not know if others will be interested in them.

I do not have a Google reader.

I am just trying tosign up for pinterst.

My computer is getting old.

My software needs upgrading.

I am legally blind – well – really – quite mostly blind.

I have been mostly blind for a few years now.

That is why I like the idea of echolocation.