As Seen on TV . . . .

Last fall, Annie, Bill and I spent the better part of a day traveling around the Las Vegas area, geocaching and playing tourist at designated cache sites, all following the same theme:  As Seen on TV.

We went to Pawn Stars, home of Corey, Rick, Old Man and Chumlee who were not "home" at the time.  As we strolled through the store, we saw plenty of Chumlee dolls and other memorabilia associated with the show,  available for purchase.

Our day included the restoration place, a few eateries (where, yes, we did try something at each venue) and the venue where Animal Planet's "Tanked" is produced.  "The General" sat behind the reception desk and happily posed for pictures before we took our tour. 

It was quite a day and the visits enlivened interest to get back home and turn on the boob tube to see the places we'd seen on TV but had never seen in person.  

Seeing them on TV now added a whole new dimension in our minds.

Well, this week I've had the experience of getting acquainted with another "As Seen on TV," and I'm liking the real thing in my real life of growing flowers and keeping my garden moist.

I am now the proud owner of three "pocket hoses." Just call me the "happy waterer."  

My sister Laurie told me a while back, "Marianne, we have one of those hoses, and they actually work."  

I tucked Laurie's comment in the back of my mind at the time, thinking I'd have to look into the possibility of replacing my hose fleet, where some spray most of the water from below the nozzle at the hydrant, others spit geysers into the air (always far away from anything that needs watering) and others have kinked up so many times that if they were a horse they'd die of a twisted intestine. 

Plus, they weigh a ton because, of course, the assortment needs to reach nearly half a mile to get from the hydrants to spots I want to water. 

In short, my hoses do what vacuum cleaners do (figuratively).  They suck. 

This definitely is the replacement year for hoses and Big Blue swimming pools and lawnmowers. By the way, I bought another lawnmower this week. 

I told Tony, my lawnmower aficionado who sees "green" every time he hears my voice or sees me coming,  I needed one that could do the little jobs---a cheap, push mower.  He led me to a beautiful polished green mower with a bag. 

"It smokes a little when you start it up, but it works," he said. 

I took one look at the lovely Lawnboy  and simply spit out, "I want a CHEAP mower."

"Howz 50 bucks?" Tony asked.

"Sold," I said, having planned to hand over at least $100 for a cheap used mower. 

So, the cheap green mower will arrive here tomorrow when Tony comes by to change the oil in my orange Husqyvarna Zero-Turn deluxe model.  

By that time, I'll have my pocket hose fleet up and squirting,  and I'll most likely be in yardwork Heaven with two new mowers with specialized duties and light watering hoses that don't kink and actually have a full stream of water at the end where they're supposed to water the posies and the peas. 

Plus, like my Husquvarna Zero Turn mower which can simulate a carnival ride somewhat like the bumper cars, the new hoses will offer great entertainment value in that both humans and the Border Collie Nation, who love their hose time, will delight when the accordian-style features load up and empty out.  

It's sorta like the hose comes to life as water flows through and then withers away when it empties.  Great fun to watch. 

So, I'm gonna be able to enjoy my own collection of "As Seen on TV" stuff, and I can now say with confidence that the "Pocket Hose" is definitely not a hunk of junk. Instead, it's another placebo of sorts which makes me think I'm really loving my outdoor duties. 

Can't beat that, and IF by any chance, you've never seen the commercial for the pocket hose, I'm supplying it for you today.  And, I can tell you firsthand that our local Co-Op Country Store is ordering more now that I bought the last two and verified that this hose is the real deal. 

Happy Wednesday.