Before we bought this refrigerator (GE Side-by-Side), I couldn’t wait to get one like this. Then I got it and ever since, many years ago now, I’ve had plenty of cross words with it. Especially whenever we have company and definitely during preparations for a food holiday, this appliance causes great angst. Just to set the record straight, it has many redeeming qualities like its beverage shelf, but they don’t even offer that feature anymore.

Thanksgiving is a true killer sport. I can either put the turkey in the refrigerator or all the other parts to the meal. We create the Great Compromise: A little like the Great Wall of China as we need to erect a makeshift balancing act to get everything properly into place.

The process is not easy nor is it pleasant. Every time someone wants to add something or take something out prior to putting the bird in the oven, there’s lots of juggling–foods need to come out and then everything gets reconfigured. No one can ever find anything.

This is one piece of equipment that looks great but is a mega source of frustration. This being a holiday week, the fridge and I have already spoken in advance of the Tuesday pick-up of the bird. Then, well, you get it.

You see in order to do this particular holiday with so many people you need to prepare more than just one day’s worth of food. Thus, the space conundrum.

The flip side is that by Saturday, we’ll all wonder why there’s nothing in the fridge.

It’s always a bad sign when you can see the back of the shelf!