Monday, February 4, 2019

A LOVELY TREAT


Sometimes we are in the middle of something and say to ourselves, "why haven't I been doing this for the past 60 years." It helps to be pretty darn old when you say it.

I have always enjoyed doing things for my vehicles. Such as the picture in my post a few weeks ago of me under my VW bug changing the oil. I also wash, wax, apply Rain X, put on new wipers and vacuum with no distaste and a bit of pride. 

Was I raised by a mechanic?? Nope, just enjoyed helping and learning from my ex-husband and various boyfriends along the way plus never being rich enough to be comfortable  hiring  things done that I could do myself.

But then car manufacturers got sneaky and just changing oil required putting them up on a rack.  The vehicle I quit on was one where I had to go through the wheel well to reach the oil filter. Enough!! Plus I was a little more financially stable so I started shopping out any maintenance.

But I would still wash and wax my vehicles as I usually keep them a long time and want them to look decent. The bucket, sponge and hose were eventually replaced by coins in a slot and wielding a pressure hose and a foam brush. Cheap, quick and did the job.

Then my shoulder got wonky and it really hurt to control the pressure hose so I tried what I had always avoided.  The automatic touchless car wash.

I just put my six dollars in the machine and wait for the prompts. Drive forward, OK. Stop, OK. Then the magic starts. In seconds I can no longer see as my car is sprayed with a thick, sudsy foam.  A thorough  rinse follows and a spot free product is sprayed on.  Finally the prompt tells me to Drive Forward.

It is not only quick and effortless but the results are much better than the shoulder irritating wand. Costs about four dollars more but Oh my, is it worth it. Each time I go through, I wonder where this has been all my life? Yes it is one of those things that makes me smile.

Even though my shoulder is so much better and could probably handle the pressure wand once more, I am sticking with this marvelous invention.

Now I am wondering if I shouldn't hire a house keeper? Rosie the Robot vacuum cleaner doesn't do windows. Once you dip your toe into the easy life, it is tempting to go all in.

Have you ever started using a service or device that you always thought was an extravagance but now love?

45 comments :

  1. I'm with you on the car wash - so convenient to sit in a dirty car and then come out the other end with a sparkling one, without having to lift a finger! I resisted getting a Kindle for a long time a. because I love real books and b. because of the expense. I finally succumbed as when I started working from home I was nowhere near a book shop. Now I wouldn't be without it and have never really got over the fact that I can carry around hundreds of books and read them no matter where I am!
    Around My Kitchen Table

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    1. Around my Kitchen Table,
      Understand your love of Kindle. I am smitten. When you will really appreciate it is if you move and don't have to box up those hundreds of books.

      Delete
  2. After my husband died and I got a good fix of my finances then I hired a house cleaning service. They can do in two hours what was taking me three days to do. I will never go back. I also hired a window cleaning service once a year because I don't do ladders anymore. My husband and I never hired anything done on our houses, rental units and cars and trucks. We did it all including major remodeling projects. So I figure I've earned the right to pick and choose my activities now.

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    1. Jean,
      You are totally selling me on a housekeeper. I had one years ago. She came with the apartment and was part of the rent. Wow, it was wonderful.

      Delete
  3. Oh Patti a cleaning lady is da bomb. I was working my corporate gig. Traveling so much and at the end of the week I'd get home and then spend the weekend cleaning. HATED IT. Both of us traveled so much for work all spare time was cleaning the house. All the neighbors had cleaning people and it was difficult for me to to do this. It seemed like only the rich and famous. But I did. OH MY GOD. It changed my life. Took a few to find the right one. I prefer the same person every week. So for me an independent woman was perfect, not big chain company. Nothing better than coming home from a long week on the road to a home that was neat, clean and smelled marvelous!! I was downsized so now I clean. I miss Olga! If you can do it, go for it. You will definitely say, "why did I wait 60 years to do this?" (I did every 2 weeks because at the time there were only 2 of us and no dog)

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    1. Peggy,
      One of the few things holding me back was finding the right one. You give me hope that if she isn't right, to just keep looking. Think I will do just that.Thanks.

      Delete
  4. Glad you are enjoying the little luxuries like car wash services. There comes a time, as we age, that we have to make these little adjustments. Now in my seventies, I'm still able to switch my summer and snow tires twice a year by myself. I can see that self-help practice slowly coming to an end though as my scrawny, old lady arms lose their strength.

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    1. Out to Pasture,
      Wow, you impress me with the tire thing. I have change a tire before and once had a man come up and stand behind me as I did just that. He said he never saw a woman change a tire and wanted to watch. That was just what he did.

      Delete
  5. I like the automatic car wash, but I screwed up once and went off the rails. Ooops...they weren't happy with me and I never went back. Luckily I didn't do any damage to my car.

    Now that I've retired, I can't see myself hiring a cleaner. But I probably would for big jobs like washing windows.

    Oh, I haven't done it yet but I may soon. We've been getting a fair amount of snow and I'm about ready to hire someone to clear to driveway.

    Eileen

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    1. Eileen,
      The first time I used it, I didn't line up with the arrows and the wand smacked my side mirror. Didn't do damage but I had to get the owner out to reset the machine.
      I didn't realize you had a new blog. Will be over to visit.

      Delete
  6. We mostly do the chores ourselves, but I've been looking at our rain spattered windows lately and wondering if in spring we should finally hire someone to do it. You've inspired me to call someone. Thank you!

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    1. robin,
      I think we have reached a stage when it is OK to spoil ourselves a little and to let someone else do the ugly jobs. Way to go.

      Delete
  7. I have a cleaning team in every 2 weeks and wish I'd started having them years ago
    .

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    1. Mac n' Janet,
      Kudos on caving and enjoying life a bit. Thanks, now I am pretty sure I will also bite the bullet.

      Delete
  8. I used to have someone who collected my ironing and delivered it back all beautifully folded or on hangers. I could never have managed without her. When I retired I felt it was too much of an extravagance and anyway I didn't need to wear neatly ironed clothes everyday and my children had long since stopped wearing school uniforms etc. Employing someone to do my ironing was the best money ever spent.

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    1. Fun60,
      I know. Once when I lived without a washer and dryer, I had a lady at the laundromat wash and dry fold my laundry. Did I ever feel posh.

      Delete
  9. YES! We now have a nursery service to trim the shrubbery, rake up the leaves, and put down fresh pine straw. We have a trash pickup service rather than driving to the recycle center. Most importantly we have a weekly cleaning service. It makes our lives ever so much better.

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    1. Carolyn,
      Ooh, I think I need to get the trash pickup. I have a shed where I store a month's worth of body bags full of trash to take to the recycle center. They are really heavy and perhaps a weekly pick up would do just right. Thanks.

      Delete
  10. Many times I have thought of going to one of the automatic car washes but so far I am still washing the car myself. When I take the care in for service they give me a free wash and that keeps me from having to wash the car so often. I have lawn service that I wish we had long ago. It sure would have been a big help to me while taking care of my shug. It is so nice to not have to rake leaves and mow any longer. Hugs sweet Patti have a great week and I hope your shoulder keeps healing.

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    1. Maggie,
      I too have been looking for a lawn service. I can mow just fine but a lot of the yard work is just too much.
      My shoulder is doing amazing. Hope yours is also.

      Delete
  11. We used a cleaning service after I had some surgery years ago... but I found myself cleaning up for the cleaning service. Was glad to let them go when I recovered. Now a window cleaning service is something I might actually enjoy. May look into that.

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    1. Rian,
      If you do, let us know how good they are or if they missed some spots. I would like to find a housekeeper who does windows.

      Delete
  12. I've leared that it is actually cheaper for me to hire people to do stuff right than for me to do it and screw it up.

    My old VW used to stall from time to time as the gas filter would clog up. I could pull over, remove the filter, blow it out and be good to go in minutes, today's cars take special tools just to open the hood.

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    1. Joeh,
      I remember that VW cure. Don't they have the neatest engines? I have seen more complicated on lawnmowers.

      Delete
  13. We moved to smaller and easier to maintain house. I thought I could keep it all tidy but mid-sixties wouldn't let me. Sooo we now have cleaning service and oh boy it has made a difference.

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    1. Susan,
      Ooh I envy you so and hope to soon join the club.

      Delete
  14. Tom drives the car through the car wash. I don't. I suppose I could if I had too. Sometime ago we were told that the car wash is much better environmentally that washing your own car in your driveway. that worked for us.
    So far we do pretty much everything else non-technical ourselves.

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    1. Linda,
      Thank you. I didn't know it was better for the environment. Now I feel totally justifies.

      Delete
  15. I live in an apartment that only gets a quick vacuum and spit clean occasionally. But that fancy car wash? That's the best, I did it once with a free pass and now happily pay for it myself. :-)

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    1. Djan,
      Ha ha, it is addictive isn't it? I only did it cause my shoulder hurt but now that I am better, I still enjoy the heck out of it.

      Delete
  16. I don't yet use any services, but the temptation is becoming increasingly strong to ask for help with floor cleaning, oven cleaning and washing the one small window that's on view to the public.

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    1. River,
      Me too on floor cleaning. The robot gets some but she doesn't mop and that would be so nice.

      Delete
  17. I take my cars in for service. I wash them myself, but not nearly often enough. The Jeep has a soft top so can't take it to the car wash. What I'm really eyeing though, is that vacuum cleaner you got!

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    1. Inger,
      Take the plunge on the robot. You won't be sorry.

      Delete
  18. I run our vehicles through car washes, G hand waxes them. To save our marriage, G hired a housekeeper. It did save our marriage. Ditto a dishwasher. LOL

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    1. Mage,
      Interesting. This house came with a dishwasher and I have yet to use it. Maybe it is just because it is just me and the animals but I do kind of like washing dishes.
      So glad George hired the marriage saver.

      Delete
  19. Well, you really do make me stop to think. I actually thought I had gone overboard with the robot vacuum cleaner. Now, I am thinking about a lot of new possibilities ~ window cleaners, lawn services... And, we still wash our own cars on the driveway. :~/

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    1. Chip Butter,
      I know, there are so many things we still can do, but do we want to?

      Delete
  20. We don't use any services at the house - still do everything, including window washing and snow plowing ourselves. However, Bob does the bulk of the heavy work. We do run our car through the car wash but not much in winter because our roads are continually sloppy. I couldn't be without my Kindle which was already mentioned. I take it everywhere with me.

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    1. Barb,
      You and me both on Kindle. What a treasure it is for anyone who loves to read. Outside of the Internet, to me the greatest invention of my life time.

      Delete
  21. Yes, we resorted to a gardener some years ago when my husband was no longer able to handle some bldg high hedges and much more. I long ago had resigned from all but fun potted plants and limited gardening. We used to do interior painting, husband even painted exteror of our first house but long since hired others on subsequent houses. If I ever get the interior of the house in order i’ll hire someone to assume regular cleaning responsibilities. We used to clean our cars, too, but gave that up to other systems. I’m thinking, I’m of a mindset now, I might even be able to adjust to a live-in housekeeper, but I wont hold my breath on that happening.

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    1. Joared,
      Ooh, ooh ooh, and if they cooked how good would that be?

      Delete
  22. We finally hired someone to mow our yard two years ago. I hated mowing and dreaded when time came around to do it, but I kept mowing because I thought it was an extravagance to pay someone to do it. Now I count it money well spent and wish I had paid to have it done years ago.

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    1. Snickelfritz,
      That is exactly how I feel about auto car washes. Well spent money.
      Finding someone trustworthy and competent to do our unwanted chores is the key.

      Delete
  23. When I was a teenager, I always washed and waxed my Dad and Mom's car (which they allowed me to drive).. I loved doing it. Once I grew up, especially when I was single again and raising my sons, I LOVED taking my car to the fancy-dancy car wash... SO nice and well worth the money. When I married George, the one thing I quickly learned about him was that he is NOT like many men (who baby their cars and keep them clean).... If it were up to him, he'd only let the rain clean the car for us.... Drives me crazy --but after I bitched a lot, we now go through the car wash.... ha ha

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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