Dishwashing Woes

Our dishwasher started growling yesterday. No, not the one that is also the chauffer, nurse maid, nanny, nurse, etc and has had little sleep due to a nursing baby and sick kids. It's the one that works off water and electricity, the portable one that gives me counter space to work on (because there is NO OTHER counter space), and gets dishes clean and sanitized.

We called the landlord. He can't replace it, and doesn't really want to, but might (if it can't be fixed) if we are going to stay here another year, but he doesn't know when he can afford to replace it.

I guess I'll be washing the dishes by hand.

I know, I know. It isn't all that bad. I have many families in our area/ward who don't have a dishwashing machine. I washed dishes all through my teenage years (my dad refused to fix or replace our dishwasher when we lived in Washington).

But, I like my amenities, and this was a deal breaker on many of the places I looked at renting.

And yet, washing dishes adds character, gives time for reflexion, is soothing, is like threading beads on an un-knotted string.

What's your favorite work about chores? or washing dishes in particular?