Our steam iron quit working the other day. While it still irons, it no longer steams. So, I was instructed to purchase a new one.

When I arrived at Meijer’s (regional grocery chain), I thought that I could just swing by the household section and grab one. But a quick check of the small appliance section was fruitless. Humm, maybe with the vacuum cleaners. Nope. TVs? Not likely. Maybe they no longer carry steam irons.

Certain that the irons had to be in the household section , I began cruising the isles. If I could find the ironing boards, the irons would probably be next to them. Suddenly, as I rounded the corner, there they were, the steam irons.

Now, while they had about a dozen steam irons to choose from, they were all crammed together on a shelf maybe 5 feet long. It certainly was not a tidy display like the toaster ovens in the appliance section, but they were, none the less, the steam irons.

They had some that came in neon designer colors. They were interesting but I couldn’t find any in stock. Besides, no one is going to see it any way.

Some models had digital controls for precise heat. Precise heat? I use two setting, cotton and polyester so digital controls would be a waste for me.

One model in particular had digital controls and came with its own carrying case. I guess the case was so that you could transport it to ironing contests. It was in stock for $29.95. Great! No wait, that was $129.95. I guess that is why it was in stock.

Since it was becoming impossible to match the display models with what was in stock, I decided to use a different approach. Instead of looking at the displays first, I started looking at what was in stock and then looking for the display model.

Finally, I found one for $24.95. No designer colors, no digital display, just a plain ordinary steam iron. Mission accomplished.

Journal 07/14/00  A vision in prayer.

Visiting the Throne Room was pretty much the same as in the past few visits only this time, we went spiraling down into the ground. At first I was concerned that I needed to take leave but I waited. Ultimately, we ended up in the cavern that I had visited the other day. At least I had the throne with me.

I saw an ad on TV this morning. It was comparing a Chevy with a Toyota. After the comparison, the ad stated that the Toyota would go farther on a tank of gas but with the Chevy, you would meet more interesting people.

Well, for starters, I would assume that since the millage on a tank of gas is less, you would need to stop more often for gas. Thus, you would meet more interesting people. But, I am not sure that I would want to meet more “interesting people”.

Aren’t prisons full of interesting people?

I read an article which said that teenage girls in Thailand want braces. Now, it is not that they necessarily want their teeth straightened, they just want the look of braces. So, rather than spend money on dentists, the kids are buying fake braces.

These fake braces have the look of bands and wires but are really just decorations that slip on over the teeth. And while this fad may seem harmless, several girls have choked to death on them. But, given the things that girls will do for the sake of fashion, I guess a couple of deaths is to be expected.

Researchers have discovered that students, who attended safe sex classes, were more likely to have sex than those who attended classes on abstinence.  No duh!

Is it just me or is this discovery a “no brainer”?  I wish I could get a job like that.

About a year ago, Meijer’s (regional grocery chain) installed a Dr. Scholls machine in their health section. By standing on the machine, it analyzes your feet and determines the best inserts for your shoes.

I tried the machine and was pleased with the analysis. Unfortunately, the recommended product was $49.95. OUCH!

Now, for most people, $49.95 is more than they pay for a pair of shoes.  So, I doubted that Meijers would sell many inserts at that price.

Well, the machine is now gone. If it had been a money maker, it would still be there. Buy since it is gone, I guess the people have spoken.

I think that the machine ranks right up there with the $89.00 bottles of wine. Hello? Earth to Meijers….

The other day, I was looking through a womens fashion catalog when I noticed that one of the models had a pronounced space between her two front teeth. This really surprised me since this woman was other wise, gorgeous.

At the time, I thought that maybe if she earns enough money as a model, she can afford to get her teeth fixed. But, then I read an article stating that having a crack between your two front teeth is now fashionable. In fact, women are now asking their dentists to put a crack between their two front teeth.

I guess the idea is to have that “girl next door” look instead of that glamor girl look. I understand their reasoning but I just hope that they don’t get too carried away.

Journal 07/11/00  A vision in prayer.

I visited the Throne Room again and wanted to present my petitions. But, as soon as I knelt down, the throne turned and proceeded to go down behind the platform, so I followed.

As soon as it reached the bottom, the throne moved down a corridor behind the pyramid. At first, it was dark but then I started to see light. Eventually, the corridor had windows and I could see outside. There was blue sky and clouds on either side and we were above ground.

The corridor started winding down to the ground. Slowly at first but then quickly like a slide. Suddenly, I’m on the ground standing in a vast plain next to the throne. I feel that I am suppose to go the the mountains but they are a long ways away and I don’t know how long it will take me to get there.

I start moving forward towards the mountains but I am doing so at a rapid rate. I am there in a matter of seconds.

Once there, I start climbing the mountains to explore them. I find a cave and enter it. It is dark but I am able to see OK. I see an opening in the back of the cave that descends deeper. I climb down and find myself in a large cavern. There is a stream flowing through it. I look around and see the throne. There is a skeleton sitting on the throne looking at me.

At this point, I decided to end the vision.

Banned for many years due to the fear of mad cow disease, it is now legal to import haggis direct from Scotland. For Scotsmen living in the US, the news is a breath of heather in the air. And, while American made haggis has always been available, it just doesn’t compare to the real deal from Scotland.

Of course, if American haggis was that bad, why didn’t some enterprising lad start making and selling the real stuff? I mean, after all, isn’t that what every other nationality did when they came to the US?

After a run in with a nasty virus, I need to get a spyware removal tool on line. Since my web search turned up many free programs, I felt that I should not have any problems removing the offending germ.

Well, to my surprise, even though these programs advertised themselves as being “free”, you still had to send money. The most common approach was a free spyware scan but you had to pay if you want the spyware removed. Some advertised a free spyware removal program but, it came as a part of a package that you needed to purchase.

While I sympathize with the need to make money, lets be fair in the advertising. After all, if the local garage advertised a free oil change, we would expect “oil” to be included. If not, we would consider it to be deceptive advertising.