Gadgets and Fads

I'll admit that I am intrigued by new inventions and gadgets. In fact, I'm more than "intrigued". I'm an owner of some of the most unique items out there. My family and friends are most likely pretty impressed with my stash. They haven't actually told me but I'm sure they are just wordless with awe. The following are a few of the things I have that I am guessing will not be found in your household.

1. Topless sandals - I saw these a few years ago on TV. The bottoms are brightly printed patterns. They look like flip-flops but there are not tops to them, no thong-toe pain and no "flip", "flip" sound as you walk. I had to get a pair. In fact, I got 2 pairs so my daughter could also enjoy the wind on the top of her foot as well as a full foot-tan. Ingenious! The sandal has a thin layer of paper that you peal off. Under that layer is some glue-like substance that is used to attach the sandal to your foot over and over again. I tried it out around the house and it worked great. I was thinking about the envious stares I would get that night when I met friends at a restaurant. I was cool- but humble.

At the restaurant as expected, the main topic was my sandals. One person liked them so much they wanted to take a picture. I proudly stuck my foot out in front of me so they could get a full view of the bottom. When I happened to look down, I saw a foot - but it wasn't mine. It couldn't be mine. It was swollen like someone had stuffed too much sausage in the casing. I was hearing mummers that sounded like "weird lady" and "elephant foot" or something very close to that. It was the end of the night so I quickly hobbled to my car and pealed the sandals off of my feet. They were not only swollen, but red and blotchy (my feet not the sandals but the sandals did have some red in them). The disappointment set in - my new sandal glue must have caused a severe allergic reaction - they would have to go. The only good thing is that my friend has a picture of me wearing them, but my foot will need to be photo-shopped a little so that the sandals show. My daughter decided she wasn't cool enough to wear hers.

2. Solar-powered mosquito repeller - This is something I really did need due to all of the insects that are trying to snatch a bit of my sugar-filled blood when I go outside. I either needed to dress from head-to-toe in a bee-keepers hat (yes, I have one) and painter's garb - or I needed a way to repel those blood-suckers. Luckily I came across this solution. It is a little black square box on a key ring. It has a small solar panel on one side. The directions say that you put it in direct sun for 8 hours, turn it on and like magic, the mosquitoes avoid you like you were a big fly swatter.

After charging it up, I headed to the backyard with my life-changing find. No longer would I have red, itchy bumps all over my body (and how to they even get to some of those hidden body places?). I sat in my lawn chair while firmly gripping my solar key chain. I was mentally calling those pests to me. It would be like I was in a large invisible box. They would smell their dinner(me), rapidly fly my way and would be jerked to a stop by "the repeller". I couldn't wait to see it.

After a few minutes, I felt my first bite. But to be fair, it was on my foot and the box was in my hand. I then lowered the repeller to my legs and I felt a bite on my neck. I finally waved the box around like I was leading some kind of secret religious ceremony trying to keep the mosquitoes from my whole body. But the repeller is only about 2 inches square and I wasn't quick enough to scan it over my whole body before the mosquitoes found a different place to attack. I do think it worked within a circumference of about 12 inches. I'm not giving up on this one. The next time I'm going to try crouching (comfortably) in the yard so there will be less body mass to protect. I think that is the key.

3. A non-battery powered, crank-handled flashlight - Being in to solar and energy conservation, this was just what I needed. The flashlight is ready any time you need it; no need to worry if the batteries are still good. This is sooo me.

It wasn't long before I had to chance to test it. One night, I needed to get something out of my shed. I couldn't find any of my other flashlights but remembered I had this one. I cranked it for about a minute and a faint light began to shine. Feeling confident I headed to my dark shed. The light lasted a matter of seconds but once I started cranking, it lit again. Unfortunately, it pretty much only works if you are rapidly twirling the crank. I found it difficult to do things like open the shed door, hold anything in my hands since they were both taken with the flashlight (one to hold the flashlight and one to crank), or breath. I was obviously out of shape and cranking made it worse. The sweat began to run down my face, blocking the view from the faint light of the flashlight. I began to feel around with my hands and when I came to an object, I'd quickly crank that handle so I could see what I had found. Sometimes I discovered things I wish I hadn't touched. This went on for about 5 minutes and I never did find what I was looking for.

I decided that my crank-light needed to go with my exercise equipment and I needed to replace it in my kitchen drawer with another non-electric light source - a candle. Again, I'm not giving up on it because some day it might come in handy - after I get my strength back.