Suds Galore: I’ve often heard you should never turn on a washer, dryer, or dishwasher and then leave the house or go to bed. It’s tempting to turn them on and let them do their thing, but you never know just what may happen. This story is proof as to why you should follow that advice.
I was in a cleaning mood one day not too long ago. It all started over at the Parish Center kitchen when I went to town with the Clorox wipes and cleaned the refrigerators and microwaves before I loaded the dishwasher. As part of my cleaning mission, I decided to make sure the special Jet-Dry rinse aid compartment in the dishwasher was filled. It’s amazing how well that stuff works to make dishes, especially glasses, come out crystal clean. After I did my magic in the Parish Center kitchen, it was time to head over to my house.
Usually, by the time I get home, it’s pretty late. I do my best to make sure I tackle at least a project or task at my house before I sit in my recliner because once I hit that chair, I’m lucky if I last 10 minutes before I fall asleep. When that happens, which is most often, I’ll be sound asleep until easily midnight or later. I often say the hardest and longest walk of the day is the journey from my recliner up to my bed. After being asleep for a couple of hours in that chair, the walk upstairs and then getting ready for bed is tortuous. This particular day, I decided I would do a similar routine in my own kitchen as I did at the Parish Center. I got out the Clorox wipes and wiped down my microwave and a few other things before I loaded the dishwasher. Much like I did at the Parish Center, I got the Jet-Dry liquid out and filled the special compartment in the dishwasher. As I was filling this special compartment, I overdid it and spilled a bunch of the Jet-Dry liquid all over the front panel door. I figured it was no big deal, so I closed the door, pushed the options I wanted, and “dialed” the dishwasher into action. Given that I was tired, my plan was to get the dishwasher going and head upstairs to bed, but I had to take out the garbage and do a few other chores before making the trek upstairs. When all was said and done (maybe about 15 minutes later), I returned to the kitchen to turn off the lights. As I rounded the corner, all I saw was a bunch of white foam on the floor. When I made it into my kitchen I saw a dishwasher that was spewing white sudsy foam from every conceivable hole and opening. This scene was straight from a movie that had a possessed dishwasher. Suds were coming out from the sides and the bottom and were all over the place. I opened up the dishwasher, and half the machine was filled with suds. I moped up the suds on the floor and attempted to get the dishwasher to drain, but whatever I did made matters worse. I wish I had pictures or a video of this! Eventually, I got it to drain enough so that the suds were no longer coming out from every opening. What a mess! I could only imagine what it would have looked like the next day had I simply turned it on and went to bed. Now I know why they tell you not to turn these things on and leave the house or go to bed. But then again, when you have the luck and personality of a Lucille Ball, Dennis the Menace and Clark Griswold all wrapped up into one person, it doesn’t take much for ANYTHING or EVERYTHING to quickly become a recipe for disaster … even an impromptu cleaning mood.
End of the Year Tax Statements: With the many changes in the tax laws, itemizing deductions do not benefit as many people as in the past. As a result, many people do not need or benefit from the usual end of the year tax statements we generated years ago. Please consult with your tax preparer to determine if you still need a contribution statement from us. If you need a statement of your offertory, capital campaign and/or sponsorship appeal donations for your 2019 income taxes, please complete the online form found at sjascs.org/ taxstatements. We will generate a statement for you toward the end of January. You can also complete the paper form found elsewhere in the bulletin and drop it off at the Parish Center. Statements for contributions to the Catholic Services Appeal are generated separately by the Archdiocese of Detroit.
Catholic Schools Week: This week, we celebrate Catholic Schools Week throughout the United States. This weeklong celebration is an opportunity for us to highlight the great work and ministry being accomplished in our Catholic Schools. Catholic Schools integrate faith and values into every part of the educational experience. Whether in the classroom, on the athletic field, or in church, Catholic School students learn to think and act according to the mind and heart of Christ. Giving students the resources they need to accomplish the task of thinking and acting according to the mind and heart of Christ is so vital in our complex world.
SJA’s celebration of Catholic Schools Week begins bright and early on Monday morning, January 27, with the celebration of mass at 8:30 a.m. I encourage you to attend the liturgy as we thank God for the many wonderful ways St. Joan of Arc School prepares students for the task of thinking and acting according to the mind and heart of Christ. It’s also an opportunity for us to thank God for all the wonderful teachers, staff, volunteers, and parents that help make SJA School a place of excellence. Events will continue throughout the week culminating with our fun-filled Staff vs. Student Volleyball Game on Friday afternoon.
I’d also like to call your attention to the fact that our Open House and Learning Fair will take place on Thursday, January 30, from 6 – 8 p.m. The Open House is a great opportunity for you to see firsthand the great things taking place at our school. The event is also a wonderful opportunity for you to invite a prospective SJA School parent to visit the school. So, please mark your calendars and consider joining us on Thursday, January 30. Please see the flyer elsewhere in the bulletin for more details.