Atomic Monster Cafe: Had To Happen...

...and political cartoonist Gary Varvel...hit it out of the park.

If you've been living in a cave or under a rock for the past few months and actually do not know what's being referenced above - or if you just want to hear it again - <click here>

Got some good news re: our Philco V-handle:

I mentioned it had been retired for the past year due to its constantly sweating freezer door...

...which caused a minor rainstorm inside.

We tried for several months to use it as our main fridge, but eventually Karen put her foot down and I really couldn't argue.

I asked the folks who refurbished it what they thought, and they said it's just what happens with these old refrigerators.

Yeah...no.

I grew up in that era so I know that ain't right.

But I didn't know what was wrong, and having no ready solution, out to the garage our midcentury marvel went where it languished for months.

Every time I saw it sitting there unused my blood pressure went up, so this spring I sent out the SOS.

#1 son answered the call, rallied the troops (2 of his sons), and helped move it from the garage into our bonus room.

Thus began my serious quest to solve this problem once for all.

It took awhile, but finally hooked up with a FB group devoted to vintage refrigerators...

...and they identified the likely cause:

There's supposed to be a tight gasket seal all the way around the freezer compartment in these old, single door units.

The upside down U formed by the outside door gasket, joins to a horizontal gasket on the inside just below the freezer compartment, and that's supposed to make a tight seal.

Any leaks in that - anywhere - and the freezer door sweats.

One of the group members suggested we put a nylon rope under the outside door gaskets - the upside down U part - to make a tighter seal, which we did.

No dice.

Then the obvious dawned on me:

It's embarrassing to admit I'd missed that!

On the other hand...when I asked the group if they thought closing that gap between the horizontal and vertical gaskets would help, they replied, "probably not".

Hm.

I guess they thought the issue must be leaks in the outside door gasket, letting room temperature air into the freezer compartment area.

They didn't think the cold air from the refrigerator - even though it's above freezing and at least 15 to 20 degrees warmer than the freezer - would make a difference.

We had nothing to lose, so we sealed the gap anyway...

...and guess what?

No more sweating door, no more rainstorm in the refrigerator!

I may look calm on the outside, but inside I'm doing the Happy Dance.

However, even though it's now better, we're still not going to use this as our main refrigerator.

Karen's adamant that it's just too small, and no amount of me preaching that previous generations...

...somehow managed with these classics will change her mind.

I'm reminded of what #1 son told me a while ago on this subject:

"Some people enjoy visiting museums, but that doesn't mean they want to live in one."

Ok, point well taken.

I'm just happy it's working correctly, and we are going to use it in our bonus room now.

In the end I didn't get my way, but it's not like I'm going to stick out my tongue at anyone.

That would be immature.

summer's end

Terry Hare, copyright 2022

in the fading days of august,
near the end of summer's reign,
when melancholy scents the air,
and daylight starts to wane,

with autumn waiting in the wings,
to dance across life's stage,
it's then I long to turn the hands
of time to June again.

delights of summer beckoned yet,
amid the lengthening days,
verdant frolics called to us,
from summer's lazy haze.

a morning reading poolside,
a sunset by the shore,
a carefree forenoon promenade,
a summer evening storm.

but time raced on so quickly,
and days flew by too fast,
the joys that once were future,
soon segued to our past.

and so we greet fair autumn!
possessed of fall delights.
but O! I'll miss those clarion days,
and clement summer nights.

One of those "before summer's completely gone" things we've been meaning to do...well, we done dooded it:

We visited the Root Beer Barrel in Douglas, Michigan.

In the 1950's a husband who knew he was dying wanted his wife to have a means of support, so he purchased the above eatery for her.

He did indeed pass on, and she and her kids ran the Root Beer Barrel successfully for several years, then sold it.

It changed hands a few times through the decades, but eventually fell into disrepair and was closed.

Years later, enter the town of Douglas who spearheaded a campaign to restore it to its former glory, and voila:

The current day version, slinging dogs and beer (root, that is) in fine fashion.

And it's busy...if you go, bring your patience with you. We went midweek and stood in line 30 minutes for our Classic Dog...

onions, ketchup, pickle and mustard (your choice) on an angus beef dog

...a Rhino Dog...

why it's a "rhino dog" I do not know...it's mac and cheese and chili on an angus beef dog

...and a small Sprecher's Root Beer.

Total damage: $12.25.

The food is quite good and both of us enjoyed our meals. I thought the mac and cheese with chili was very tasty (note the supplied knife and fork; there's no way you're going to hold it in your hands to eat it).

And yes, as you probably guessed from the pics, we did eat in our car...they do have a lot of seating there, but the place was jammed, so we cruised to the grocery store parking lot and feasted there.

Judge's decision: not wild about the wait, but the food - and let's face it, the schmaltz factor -