Announcing THE HELLHOLE DEAD POOL contest!!!

You know how people do the Dead Pool thing, where they wager on which famous person will be the next to die? My water heater has inspired me to start a new Hellhole contest, complete with valuable prizes (and if you're a veteran reader, you know I give good prizes!) - the Official Hellhole Dead Pool! Sign up for anything, via comments or e-mail, and register your entry as to what will be next to go horribly, expensively awry at The Hellhole! I will give a prize! You can pick anything, but I will tell you a few facts to help you choose. Of course, since we are talking about me and MY luck, the fact that I just recently replaced/repaired a particular appliance could point equally strongly toward it being the last to break - or the next. (dun-dun-DUNNNNN!)

Dishwasher: replaced circa 1992. GE, 5-year warranty, 0 problems, 0 repairs

Hot Water Heater: replaced yesterday, GE, 6 year warranty

Washer/Dryer: Kenmore, purchased new from Sears 2003; 0 problems/repairs on dryer, $215 repair on washer January 2008

Wall oven (double unit): original appliance installed when house was built in 1972, 0 problems, 0 repairs

Stove surface unit: Kenmore, purchased new 2000, 0 problems, 0 repairs

AC/Heat: replaced entirely, including thermostat, August 2003. Two <$100 repairs since then

Plumbing: septic tank pumped October 2004, main drain snaked, some stuff replaced. Drain re-snaked 2007 *just for safety*

Security system: installed sometime before The Hellhole was purchased in 1990. Regular repairs at appallingly regular intervals ever since, generally <$100

Electrical wiring: replaced at considerable cost, April 2008

Entire Hellhole rodentproofed (at similarly considerable cost): April 2008

Roof: replaced/reshingled in entirety summer 2003

Refrigerator: age unknown, here and semi-old when I purchased The Hellhole in 1990, 0 problems, 0 repairs

Television: gift from grandparents sometime around 1998, 0 repairs, often acts wonky

PS2: 2nd generation PS2 purchased new...er, about 2007 but I'm not sure what month that my original PS2-A bought the dust for the 3rd and final time. 0 repairs, sometimes acts temperamentally

DVD player: $50, purchased 2004, 0 warranty, 0 repairs, 0 problems

Alan's car: 2000 Saturn, paid off, 130,000 miles, some maintenance costs, some repairs, was recently (May, I think) certified problem-free and no-repairs-needed by Saturn

My car: 2004 Sebring, paid off, 52,000 miles, couple of $600 - $700 repairs, nothing lately

So cast your votes now, for one of the items listed or another of your choosing! We have two bathrooms, so there are two toilets, two bath drains, two sinks to bet on; the kitchen sink; the garage door; light fixtures - general or room specific; there are Alan's several computers - in general or designate one; the microwave; the satellite dish; two cell phones; the telephone lines - let your only limit be your imagination, and if you are correct, you could be the next LUCKY HELLHOLE CONTEST WINNAH!!!!!