Friday, December 19, 2014

Neato! (The Robot Vacuum Cleaner)

I recently purchased a robot vacuum cleaner after hearing my neighbor talk about hers and how much she loved it.  (I am not being recognized, rewarded, or paid in any manner with regard to this post.)  She had purchased a refurbished robot vacuum cleaner from the Neato! Company via www.woot.com.  I researched the brand and found the item was back in stock on the website.  The price seemed reasonable (around $150) and it had the same warranty as a new one, so I ordered one.  It arrived about a week later, but it sat in the box for at least three weeks before I decided I had enough time and energy to mess with setting it up.  (Did I mention I was a procrastinator?)

The set up was much quicker and considerably less complicated than I had expected.  1) peel off plastic coverings; 2) attach battery; 3) set language and cleaning schedule; 4) set up and plug in the magnetic base with at least three feet of clearance on the front and sides so that it has room to maneuver (finding a good spot was difficult - I finally stuck it under the bed - perfect!); 5) place vacuum against the magnetic base to charge.

I set the vacuum to roam on Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays at 3:00 pm.  This was Tuesday, so I was excited to see the robot in action the next day.  (I am easily amused, obviously.)  At ten minutes til 3:00 on Wednesday,  I was ready.  Then I promptly forgot about it.  At 4:45, I realized the vacuum hadn't moved.  I pulled it out from under the bed and saw  it had somehow turned itself off.  I turned it on,  reset the scheduled cleaning to 5:00, and pushed it back to the base.  I was on the phone when I heard this weird whirring sound, almost like helicopters from a distance.  (I knew it wasn't helicopters because it was raining.)  I set off to discover the source of the sound.  (You have probably realized at this point that I am also easily distracted and somewhat forgetful!) 

It should be noted that I have single-sided deafness, so I don't hear sounds like other people do.  I was not wearing my BAHA (bone-anchored hearing device), so I could not pinpoint the location of the sound.  This resulted in me checking each room until I saw the little robot gliding out from under a bed.   I have to admit it was pretty fascinating watching it go back and forth bumping into things and correcting its path.  I was mesmerized for several minutes before I remembered the whole reason I got the robot was so I could be free to do other things. 

I went to the store and returned to find the robot hung up on the kitchen rug, which is old and faded and thin in spots, but was a housewarming gift from my late grandmother and I can't bear to throw it away.  I removed the rug and emptied the dust bin.  The robot promptly took itself back to the charger.  After an hour, it zipped back out and picked up where it left off (which I was not expecting and scared the beejesus out of me). 

I know technically the robot works through laser beams and measurements and other science-y stuff.  However, it appears to have a mind of its own.  Since it is learning the layout of the house, it doesn't go in what I would consider a logical grid-type pattern (like a crime scene scan).  It goes willy-nilly in and out of rooms repeatedly.  It backs up, scoots forward, and spins about apparently without rhyme or reason.  The only things it has done consistently so far are scare the dog to death and vacuum.   So long as it keeps doing the latter, I can live with the former.  The dog will get used to it, right?

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Day 19: Fire - Oklahoma Women Bloggers Photo Challenge

RISE Mojave - Floating Lantern Festival

"Hope always rises"

Over 20,000 paper lanterns (powered by fire) were lifted into the air over the Mojave Desert.  It was breathtaking!

#owbphotochallenge

Day 18: Earth - Oklahoma Women Bloggers Photo Challenge

Exceptionally over-priced parcel of earth on the Las Vegas Strip

#owbphotochallenge

Friday, October 17, 2014

Day 17: Music - Oklahoma Women Bloggers Photo Challenge

Over-priced painting of Elvis at the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas (of History Channel fame)


#owbphotochallenge

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Day 16: Challenge - Oklahoma Women Bloggers Photo Challenge

The challenge was not gobbling up these beautiful cookies!   The black satin chocolate ghost was filled with white chocolate ganache.  The cookie itself was a bit bland, but the ganache was good.  The pumpkin spice macaron was divine.

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Day 15: Vegetable - Oklahoma Women Bloggers Photo Challenge

Cal-Organic Rainbow Carrots from Sprouts (okay, just orange, yellow, & purple) - and they all just taste like regular carrots, in case you were curious.  

#owbphotochallenge

#Sprouts

Day 14: Hope - Oklahoma Women Bloggers Photo Challenge

Today's post is close to my heart.  My younger sister has a brain tumor.  It took us all by surprise last April, when she had a seizure out of nowhere.  It has been a scary ride that we would love to get off of as soon as possible.

#owbphotochallenge

Monday, October 13, 2014

Day 13: Animal - Oklahoma Women Bloggers Photo Challenge

This is Leiua in her natural state - asleep!   We are enjoying the rainy afternoon cuddled together on the loveseat.

#owbphotochallenge

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Day 12: From a Distance - Oklahoma Women Bloggers Photo Challenge

Tulsa's BOK Tower, built in 1976 by the same person who built the World Trade Center.  It was specifically designed to be a smaller replica of the twin towers.

http://www.omgfacts.com/lists/15156/There-s-a-building-in-Tulsa-that-was-deliberately-designed-to-be-a-miniature-of-one-of-the-World-Trade-Center-Towers

#owbphotochallenge

#boktower

#tulsaoklahoma

#t-town

#worldtradecentertwintowers

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Day 8: Goal - Oklahoma Women Bloggers Photo Challenge

Day 8:  Goal

I still have a few pounds to go, but Ideal Protein and Doxa Radiant Health (Debi Crandall) have helped bring my weight loss goal within reach!

#owbphotochallenge
#idealprotein
#doxaradianthealth

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Monday, October 6, 2014

Day 6: Black & White Oklahoma Women Bloggers Photo Challenge

#owbphotochallenge

Day 6:  Black & White

This beautiful black and white cake was one of the winners at the Oklahoma State Sugar Art Show at the Tulsa State Fair this year.  I am sorry to say I do not know the name of the sugar artist who created it.

#ossas  #tulsastatefair #oklahomastatesugarartshow

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Day 4: Fashion - Oklahoma Women Bloggers Photo Challenge

#owbphotochallenge

Day 4:  Fashion (*Challenged*)

#50shadesofgraytshirts

Okay, only 10, but I am detecting a pattern.

Friday, October 3, 2014

Oklahoma Women Bloggers Photo Challenge Day 3: Love

All You Need is Love ~ Lennon/McCartney

Celebrating our wedding and becoming a family on 10-02-1992, at our reception at the First Baptist Church in Washington, Oklahoma, on 11-14-1992.

#loveknowsnocolor


#owbphotochallenge

Sweet! Oklahoma Women Bloggers Photo Challenge Day 2

#owbphotochallenge

Day 2:  Sweet

This is Leiua, American Pit Bull; the sweetest dog I have ever owned.