Monday, July 14, 2008

Unnecessary purchase

We own a pressure washer now. We went to Home Depot to get some waterseal for the deck and came home three hundred and fifty dollars poorer. Last year it was a dehumidifier after popping in to get some lightbulbs. Spouse definitely knows how to play me now. I tell him, this is how it starts you know, this slipping into old mandom.

It's not me, mind you, that's purchasing these things, yet nonetheless their utility has warmed me up to them. (Can you say that? Yet nonetheless. I think it's redundant. Kind of sounds like a jazz band.) I'd like to think that I am not like this with people, warming up to them only after they have demonstrated their utility. (I'm no republican.) When I was in my 20's, I'm sure I had no desire for one of these machines. But you should have seen the glee when Serge put it together. "And it has different nozzles!" "And I have TWO kinds of soap!" "This one is much better than my mother's." Here I'll show you.

Really, he's going to use it to clean the deck before we put the sealer down. Then what? He claims that window washing will be done with it. I'll bet it won't be as satisfactory as doing it by hand. I really tried too to talk him out of it. "We can rent a machine if you want. The gas one with the manly sound and smell! That's a lot cheaper." "How many times do you think you'll use it? Twice?" His response to that was, "A year," which of course justifies everything. So we have it now. I have to admit that the dehumidifier from last year is good down in the basement, that thing sucks a gallon a day of water out of the air down there. Maybe I'll come around to the pressure washer, in time.

23 comments:

Lemuel said...

With the look in Spouse's eyes while holding that rifle-looking thingy, we may have to have the committee review the points on his gay card. ;)

Birdie said...

Clearly you've never used one. Those things are GREAT. I'd own one in a shot if I could find a place to put it. (Keep in mind, my last major gift was a Makita jigsaw.)

Clean the sidewalks with it; you'll think you had new concrete put in. Wash the brick siding on the buildings (but be careful with the mortar). On a low setting, you can wash the car. Be real careful: those things can remove skin. Trust me, I know.

RJ March said...

I'm with you on this one. In this household, R has his own bents-- we are on our sixth or 7th coffee maker and maybe the same amount of vacuum cleaners in our 5 year relationship. Yesterday he had his tah-dah! moment, unvailing yet another coffee maker, the second one he's purchased since we moved into this house in March.

Anonymous said...

Owning a power washer is an absolute necessity for every homeowner. From washing windows to cleaning siding to driving unwanted pests from your yard. (Those brats won't be back soon) A thousand uses and the feeling of power, priceless! Ed

Summer said...

For a side job Serge can rent himself and the pressure washer out. I'd hire him, we need our siding cleaned as well as the brick patio. "Have pressure washer, will travel" can be his slogan.

Patricia said...

Seriously, a cool thing to have. I'm with Serge here. We used to be able to borrow one from Chris' old job and I was like a powerwashing fool with the thing. I cleaned the grill til it looked brand new again. I washed the siding on the house. Chris cleaned leaves out of the gutter. I got all the stray grass out of the cracks in the driveway. It is a way cool thing.

A Lewis said...

oh my. precisely why i'm moving to my baby condo this week. i'm SO OVER spending, yardwork, tools, all of that. he does look a little frenzied and crazy.

Lacey said...

it'll destroy the wood of your deck.

GayProf said...

Man, I don't even own a sprinkler for the yard. I just bought a regular hose this past month (after a year without one).

Anonymous said...

Well, I'm pretty sure that picture alone is worth $350.

Butch said...

They do work well on windows. Steve gets on the roof and stands by the solarium and power cleans the glass. It gets off the winter's mess and the pollen/H2O dried on and caked in some areas of the top of the glass. The rest can be done from the ground or with a ladder.

Lacey is correct that it can destroy the wood in the deck. If you are going to use it, make sure you hold the nozzal far enough away from the would so it doesn't start splintering it. ( I know from experience ) ;-(

Congratulations on your new investment.

Greg said...

A dehumidifier is very important to have around...a power washer only slightly less so. You'll have fun keeping your world clean and fabulous looking, once you've learned how it works. And every boy should have something that's better than the one his Mom has!

All that said, he does look a little giddy to use the thing...make sure you're behind him the first time he uses it!!

Rox said...

We have a gas powered one and hubby has used it twice. I was the one who wanted it though but haven't taken the time to learn how to use it.

When I look at that picture of Serge, why do I hear "GHOSTBUSTERS!" in my head?

TED said...

I just want you to take a moment and imagine what I was about to say about that so-called power washer and then be glad that I didn't actually say it.

Java said...

The gleam in Serge's eyes, the glee in his expression; those are worth $350. It's a good purchase.
Do you have a shop-vac? Those things are necessary. We lived together for 20 years without one, finally got one 5 years ago. I don't know how we survived those first 20 years without it. We're on our second one now. Kids broke the first. Grrrr.

Anonymous said...

I bathe with a pressure washer. Here's some free advice: avoid the gonads.

David said...

"You'll shoot your eye out," you should have told him.

They made a whole movie about a boy wanting a water pressure gun. Or was that a BB gun?

He also sort looks like Darth Chaney awaiting to shoot his best friend because a deer crossed his path. Or poop.

Anonymous said...

Never, ever pressure wash while wearing sandals. Or just have more body awareness than I do.

I'm jealous-- I'd love to pressure wash everything in sight here.

Anonymous said...

Look at the wonderful glee in his eyes!! These things can easily be used more than twice a year. They are the bomb! Plus, he's just so damn cute when you let him buy toys!
Devony

Uncle Zoloft said...

May your car should always sparkle, your cement ever gleam. Be careful with the windows ~ if they are double paned you could break the seal, which will cause them to fog in between the glass.

That this is mighty long....

Anonymous said...

You know very well he's just getting back at you for posting a picture that looks like he has his own red light district.
I agree with commenters above, the glee in the power tool photo is worth $350. However, that level of glee is usually accompanied by a zeal that may mean it's time for another long walk when he powers up the Aqua AK-47.
-Gary

Mark in DE said...

Our trips to the home improvement store is the same! Spouse always wants to purchase some gadget he will use once or twice, while I try to disuade him from the purchase by claiming "we have no where to store this", because it sounds nicer than "you'll use this twice and never again".

Ah, wedded bliss!

Mark :-)

S said...

After looking at that pic, all I can think of is Elmer Fudd.

Kill da wabbit. Kill da wabbit...