Now comes the time for\u00a0getting acquainted with our new products.\u00a0 Assembly instructions.\u00a0 Operating manuals.\u00a0\u00a0 Warranties.\u00a0 Oh my. It’s not just the digital camera, the cell phone, the hand steamer, the\u00a0bagless vacuum with three different filters,\u00a0it’s also the computer which had to be replaced in an ill-timed holiday rush.<\/p>\n
Because of gifts received and necessary purchases and\u00a0appliances that broke and even\u00a0furniture (good old Ikea) there’s a stack of booklets on the table screaming,\u00a0“Read me.”\u00a0 I\u00a0say,\u00a0\u00a0“Fat chance”\u00a0 and keep walking.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The simplest gadget of all – the hand-held steamer\u00a0 – \u00a0is the one so far that refuses\u00a0to cooperate.\u00a0 It has two\u00a0attachments – a brush and a lint thingy –\u00a0meant to keep the steam a safe distance away from delicate fabrics.\u00a0The attachments won’t attach.\u00a0\u00a0We resorted to reading the three page\u00a0booklet\u00a0-obviously translated from another language.\u00a0 It says, specifically, “Slide the attachment into place.”\u00a0 There’s no possible way to “slide” anything.\u00a0 If it’s going on there, it’d be more of a “snapping” into place.\u00a0\u00a0 We tried snapping.\u00a0 Then forcing.\u00a0\u00a0The parts don’t fit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So I filled the reservoir and steamed away without attachments,\u00a0carefully keeping\u00a0it away from the silk blouse I need to wear immediately.\u00a0It spat at me.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
At this point I’m farther along with the new computer than the so-simple-a-child-can-do-it hand steamer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Top of To Do List before the new year:\u00a0 Must sit down and read all instructions. Yeah, that’s gonna happen.<\/p>\n