advice!

yesterday, I worked my very last day of working at a minimum-wage job. it feels really good to be done. the next time i have a job, it will something that's really worth doing (and i'll be making more money in an hour than what i made all morning at the post office. ha!). not that helping people figure out how to mail their international student study permits (and listening to them stumble over the words "xpresspost envelope") or their grad school applications isn't important, because to them at that point in time, it's very important. but selling stamps to people who get angry at me for making the price of stamps go up every year or get upset that i can't get their valentine delivered to a small town in newfoundland by tonight... don't get me wrong - it was wonderful to have a job on campus for the last 3 years. they were so flexible with the schedule, working around my classes, and the people were great. but it sure feels wonderful to know that my university days are almost over.

on a totally different note, i need advice. the latest development with The House is that we are trying to figure out if we want to get the appliances that "come with the house", or do we want to buy our own. they are "lower-end" frigidaire and westinghouse, so they're still good brand names. it's not like they're "e-z-kleen" or something. but they have no bells or whistles.

so.... i want to know. no, i need to know. what do you like about your appliances? what do you hate?

1) fridge?

2) stove? (coils? glass top? will a very old cast iron pan scratch it? convection oven? self-cleaning?)

3) washer? (we are pretty sure that we want front-loading to save energy, water and detergent. but do you really need to use special detergent?)

4) dryer? (stackable washer/dryer? does it matter?)

5) dishwasher? (any opinion?)

advice, people! i need advice!