Our Dryer's Heating Element

So, when you saw this photo did you know exactly what this was? I wouldn't have.

This week our dryer decided to stop working. Did it do it right after I had finished the laundry at least? No, actually, I found out right after I had finished the first load of 10 that I needed to wash. And with perfect timing that only my little Emily can have, she said, "Hey, Mom, did you know you have a lot of laundry to do?"

I took a deep breath, was tempted to call the dryer some very inappropriate names, and may have thrown some clothes at it. Or maybe I just remained calm and collected—the latter sure does sound better. After a few minutes of dealing with the brief flash of intense emotion, my brain started to work again. Then I did what any girl would do that has a wonderfully smart husband; I called my father. ;)

Greg is truly brilliant with most things that would be labeled technological, but being "handy" is not what I would label him at this point in our lives. Ha. (Although he does get an A for effort.) My father, on the other hand—and Greg's father too, as a matter of fact—is incredibly good at figuring things out and fixin' what breaks. So, I called my father, and sure enough, he figured it out and had it fixed in no time at all. And what had been the pain in my gluteal region, albeit temporarily? A wire coil! That's right, one broken coil stopped my dryer's clothes drying magic. It is funny how something that weighs less then a pound can really put a crimp in my life.

So, today, I am thankful for electric dryers and wonderful daddies. :)