Lloyd bought some beverages for the beverage fridge in the basement, and it turns out that the freezer needed defrosting.
Huh. I made a very similar post about four years ago. (Good grief, this blog is old.)
Whatever. This one has a better ending. See, Lloyd has never defrosted anything in his life, and his solution was to empty the fridge, open the door, then go about his normal business (playing a computer game). I, the one with vast amounts of defrosting experience, got out the mallet and chisel (and a flathead screwdriver for the crevices).
Smack, smack, smack.
Smack, smack, smack.
Smack, smack, smack.
Smack, smack, smack.
Smack, smack, smack.
Smack, smack, smack.
Lloyd (entering basement): Just leave it alone. It’ll be fine.
Lauren: Have you ever done this?
Lloyd: Hmmmph. (Exit)
Smack, smack, smack.
Smack, smack, smack.
Smack, smack, smack.
Smack, smack, smack.
Smack, smack, smack.
Smack, smack, smack.
Lloyd: (enters basement, rummages through the new beers)
Lauren (astoundedly): Really? Really?
Lloyd: Yes. I am going to have a beer, and I’m not even going to feel bad about it.
Lauren: (frosty glare)
Lloyd: Well, I wasn’t – until you gave me that look.
Smack, smack, smack.
Smack, smack, smack.
Smack, smack, smack.
Smack, smack, smack.
Smack, smack, smack.
Smack, smack, smack.
Smack, smack, smack.
Smack, smack, smack.
Smack, smack, smack.
Smack, smack, smack.
Smack, smack, smack.
Smack, smack, smack.
Smack, smack, smack.
Smack, smack, smack.
Smack, smack, smack.
Smack, smack, smack.
Smack, smack, smack.
Smack, smack, smack.
Lloyd (enters basement, and has the gall to look through the beers again): Why don’t you just leave that alone?
Lauren: Have you ever been to a wedding where they have an ice sculpture? That thing lasts all night. Go look in the laundry sink.
Lloyd: (goes to look at the massive amount of ice, comes back abashed) Ok, I am willing to concede that there is way more ice that I thought. Do you want some help?
Lauren: Sure. We’re trying to free the metal. Go pretty slow once you get close to it – I dented the side already. Say, is there coolant running through this thing?
Lloyd: No. (Starts to hammer)
Smack, smack, smack.
Smack, smack, pop!
Refrigerator: Hisssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Lauren: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHAHHA!!!! *gasping for air* HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
Aside from the freon spraying all over and the quick slamming of the door, it was the best, best, best moment of my November.
Brad says
I’m sorry to hear about the passing of your refrigerator.
I used to chip at the ice in our school workroom freezer each morning. It hasn’t iced up for a long time though. I wonder what causes that to happen or not happen…
Lauren says
Apparently it has to do with the seal on your door and if moisture can get in or not. Our seal was non-existent.
Now we have a fridge on our back patio, along with one working grill, one non-working grill, two trash cans, various yard implements, and a cobbled-together stray-cat house. We are really white-trashin’ it up around here.
Lloyd says
For the record, I have defrosted that refrigerator twice in the past. The rest of the story is pretty much accurate. I felt pretty bad to see the old fridge go, we got her at an auction for $15.00.
Peggy says
I’ve never defrosted a refrigerator. But I remember my mother defrosting when I was a kid. It was always a day project.
I’m glad we have frost-free friges now….if not, I’m pretty sure mine would have enough ice in it to build an igloo. Wait…..
Tammy says
I defrosted a freezer in an apartment many years ago. I used a butter knife to chop away -- still have a slight scar on my thumb to show for it.
Christina Rowland says
Lauren…..did your hands get tired of typing “smack, smack, smack”??
Mark says
I’m a bit surprised that you used such a manual approach to defrosting the freezer. I’d have bet a dollar you’d have found a way to use fire to melt the stuff, saving your energy for a more relaxing activity.
And were you laughing at Lloyd, or with Lloyd?
Lauren says
To answer Mark: Yes, fire was involved, as it always should be. Once I had a little of the metal free on the top I put a candle under it. As far as the manual labor part -- it is surprisingly therapeutic. I like to imagine that I’m Michelangelo making a sculpture of a crummy refrigerator.
(Also -- at and with.)
To answer Christina: I have copy-and-paste down pat! 😉