One Good Push

I looked at the dishwasher in the middle of the kitchen and like Popeye the Sailorman I couldn't stands it no more. Yesterday was the day the dishwasher issue was solved – preferably by successfully getting it under the countertop. Michelle was on a call outside and although she was going to help, I could no longer wait. I gave the floor and bottom of the dishwasher a cursory wipe-down, then got down to business. Some wiggles, a little walking the dishwasher back – then a giant shove and my Hyundai dishwasher (I didn't know they made them, but I figured their cars are good and trust them more than a lot of brands they sell here) slid about 3/4 of the way into its space. This was a mini-victory unto itself – I had gone further than the contractor and appliance service man had made it.

Just as I thought I smelled blood and wanted to finish it off, I realized the old dishwasher stuck out about the same amount. I suddenly considered as so many famous generals have, that in the end total victory might not be an option. So I started examining closely the top of the dishwasher which remained sticking out. I noticed the top corners had two plastic triangle pieces that looked like with just the right pressure, they might give just enough to clear the underside of the marble countertop. So I applied careful pressure on them and pushed the dishwasher just a little. As hoped, the plastic gave just enough to go lower beneath the countertop line and move a couple of centimeters. 

As the son of a Lamaze childbirth educator and a two-time father, I knew once the baby's head clears the pelvic bone – unless the cord is wrapped – you're in the home stretch. We just needed one good final push. So I breathed and then threw my entire body weight against the dishwasher which popped back into its spot exactly even with the cabinetry. The dishwasher was fully and finally delivered and I was elated.

Besides bragging to Michelle, there was only one thing to do: run a load. I took the few glasses and utensils in the sink, put them in, injected finishing rinse, poured in dishwashing detergent, closed it up and knelt down to figure out the icon-based control menu. I believe I chose a full-length normal heated dry program and hit the start button. All the right noises began and I was self-congratulatory. For four minutes until an error code came up and the dishwasher's healthy hum halted. Then it was panic at the disco.

I opened the dishwasher. No water. That made sense, I hadn't turned on the water valve under the sink. A leftward twist to open the valve and I started the dishwasher back up – again to happy sounds. Again there was rejoicing. For six minutes when an error code again appeared. I looked it up – nothing was draining. But the real problem was there was nothing to drain – the dishwasher still had no water.

Michelle and I looked under and behind the dishwasher – the inbound water and outbound drainage hoses appeared present and functioning. The water valve under the sink that leads to the dishwasher was open – although it wasn't clear if water was coming through. One more try and the same error code. We were both stumped. I decided to use a lifeline and texted Mohammad the contractor with a photo and explanation. Mohammad's English is not perfect and I think he sometimes uses a translator that doesn't always hit the mark.

"Yes, I will come tomorrow to call the water. You did a good job!"

Apparently, Mohammad was unsurprised about the lack of water and moreover, like Moses, he could call it. I felt reassured and had only to wait for him to stop by when he can.

So I moved on to my next most-irksome household task – bringing my Fire Stick TV back online. It worked fine last year, but I have since switched routers and the Fire Stick needed updating. Only, I didn't realize the Fire Stick couldn't completely update if the Samsung smart TV it was attached to didn't update first. As I hit an inexplicable wall, I decided to restore the Fire Stick to factory settings and walk through the setup wizard from scratch.

It was one of those smart ideas gone stupid. I didn't consider that the recent change to the universal remote control – Mohammad's fix to the missing remotes – would needs its proper Amazon remote to walk through a new setup. Amazon support was helpful, but said there was no viable path forward without an actual Fire Stick remote.

Then it hit me – everything about developing my house on Patmos has been two steps forward, one step back. There are no quick, easy gains – but continued, long and patient steps. Despite my victory, the dishwasher was ALMOST there, but would still rely on someone else with minimal time to give. The Fire Stick was almost more complicated because while it's a cheap and easy product to order at home, Fire Sticks are not only unavailable in Greece but Amazon France (I could also choose Germany or Italy, but French is accessible to me, plus Amazon France is so much more polite) – which seems happy to send just about anything else I want within the EU as part of their Prime will not send one to Greece. Just as I was about to fall into despair and see if I could get someone at home to send me a Fire Stick – or maybe just wait four weeks and grab one when I head home mid-July to get the kids, thereby losing my movie-watching opportunities with Michelle – it occurred to me that people in Greece must stream to their TV's.

A quick stop at the electronics and appliance store this morning solved my issue. Xiaomei, a Chinese company makes a similar product that uses the Google Android platform. Of course, not every member of the staff even understood what I was talking about or was aware of the technology. Luckily the manager was and I bought the only device they kept in stock. At first I wondered if Xiaomei would really be as good as Amazon or Apple, but then I realized – those products are also made in China, possibly in the same factories and at least Xiaomei can always remind me of Xiaomai (aka Shiu Mai). Now we're back in business.

Today I also was determined to kill off the remaining odds and ends of the bathroom – namely a mirror with lighting fixture to replace the old, less attractive one and a toilet paper holder. I went to the plumbing, tile and fixtures store – kind of like spinning off one section of Home Depot into its own business – and after much discussion, a visit to the attic, a lot of frowning from the man helping me, sharing some photographs of the mirror and lights that used to be in the bathroom and the suggestion of an wholly unsuitable wooden medicine chest and it was determine that there was ONE mirror and bathroom light set that could work. Thankfully, it was simple, clean and would go well in my minimalist cement and sculpted plaster bathroom. The frowning man who assisted me also seemed mildly pleased. Now – as with the dishwasher – I wait for Mohammad to come and install the new fixture.

Pleased that my situation was looking up and that the ball is in Mohammad's court to finish up, I was sitting at Stelio's Gelateria writing when Michaelis who owns the laundry came walking up to welcome me and catch up. 

"And what about the front yard? Have you made the garden yet?"

"No, I just got the inside good. I haven't dealt with the outside."

"You must because your house can get a lot of water when it rains and you need to take care of the garden" – AKA, "You need to landscape, buddy".

I already knew this – but had chosen the path of temporary denial. It began after my friend Conlan said the same thing in a more refined American way and I both knew he was right and felt overwhelmed at the thought of another summer chasing people down to get simple things done. My front yard is a lot of grass – maybe needing some new seed – but not unsightly. It leaves enough room to kick the can down the road for at least another summer.

Ever helpful Michaelis who tends to find the positive side of everything said that he recently did his own yard with flagstone and pebbles that he claims look good and are quite cheap. He's sending me his guy's information and said on Patmos, simple drought-friendly, low maintenance landscaping is the way to go (in not so many words). I'm encouraged by his suggestion, though worried that just as I get through one set of lingering projects, I'll end up in the mire of something else that appears easier than it turns out to be.

Of course Patmos or no Patmos, that's home ownership. There's always something and if you're lucky it's not unexpected or too costly. I'm grateful for what I have, how much I've been able to get done and all the friends and family who have supported me along the way. I relied heavily on the eyes and creativity of others who were kind enough to come along for the ride and the memories will be all the richer for it.