About 6 weeks ago, I tried to turn on my lamp in my living room and it shorted out. Of course, being the intelligent person that I am, I immediately attempted to turn the other lamp on that is in my living room, and for some reason it just wouldn't work. I now suspect that the light bulb was burned out, but that's entirely irrelevant.
The furniture that I have in my living room, I inherited from my mother when she died. My father, who never asked me for a thing in his life, asked me to move me (and my family) into the house with him because he couldn't stand being alone. In return for moving in, I received the deed (which I didn't expect.) But.........let's get back to those lamps.
For some reason, the lamp issue simply irritated me that day. So, like any good homemaker, I went out to purchase brand new lamps. I could rationalize buying them. The lamps were old, I knew they were at least more than 15 years old; so off shopping I went.
The day was wonderful. The sun was shining. The warm wind in my face made me feel like I had a soft glow around me. And..........I was buying new lamps. What could be better?
Being the thrifty shopper that I am not, I went to LazBoy and started to look at lamps.....and sofas.........and love seats.........and rockers.........and end tables. Come on, I couldn't help it. My furniture, that I hand NOT picked out was.....well, it was getting a little old. I mean, it hadn't outlived it's usefulness. It wasn't broken. The end tables were a bit scratched from my dog getting up on it to look out the window, but it could have survived, I didn't need new furniture. I was strong. I looked at the lamps.
In the end, being the strong woman that I am. I picked out two fine looking lamps; tall, lean, antiqued brass. Oh, they are nice looking. I also picked out a fine looking sleeper sofa, sleeper chair and a half, a rocker, and two end tables. I called hubby from my cell phone (from LazBoy) and asked how he was doing, made some little chit chat; a fine conversation. Then the bomb hit, he asked me...... "What are you doing? You generally don't call me in the middle of my work day to talk about little things." I told him I had bought some lamps. He thought that was a good idea, that we had needed them for a long time. Then.........I told him about the furniture. I could see his eyes roll even through the phone. He made a little sigh and said, "I'm surprised you waited this long, you've hated that furniture since we moved in, and it was starting to wear, so I suppose you did fine. I trust your opinion."
Yes! Yes, yes, yes! How exciting. In preparation for the new furniture, my husband and I spent our Monday evening delivering the "old" furniture to the Family Mission (my personal favorite charity.) They were ecstatic to receive the fine quality merchandise. I was even asked, "Are you sure you want to give this away.....this is real leather ma'am." My reply, "Yes, I know it is, but it's yours now."
After we finished delivering the furniture, I took a deep breath and told my husband how good that felt.....just giving that furniture away. He agreed. Of course, until Saturday my living room is void of any place to sit and I'm just too non flexible to watch TV from the floor.
Now comes the advice:
Yesterday, while at work, I was boring everyone with my furniture story when one woman pops up and says. I hate LazBoy, I hate their furniture, and I will never deal with them again. Of course, I asked what happened and she told me "the story." I asked if she had gotten the extra guard on the furniture that covers burns, stains, children slicing the furniture with knives, etc.... she said she had and they don't stand by their guarantee.
I was sick at heart until one of the guys I work with said he bought a LazBoy recliner about a year ago and he loves it.
Now, I know everyone has horror stories, I even have one about Dell, complete with 8x10 photos, letters to the BBB and a personalized letter from Michael Dell's secretary, etc, etc, etc. In the end, I won, I'm a happy camper and I don't think Dell will ever sell anything to me ever again. But there are those fortunate ones that never have problems with Dell.....or LazBoy....or whom ever and I say kudos to them.
Oh yeah, back to the advice thing. Why does advice always come afterwards?
Now, I ask you this. Why is it....if something tastes terrible, everyone wants you to "just taste it?" But...........if it's good......all you get is...... "that was the best thing I've ever eaten?"
About 6 weeks ago, I tried to turn on my lamp in my living room and it shorted out. Of course, being the intelligent person that I am, I immediately attempted to turn the other lamp on that is in my living room, and for some reason it just wouldn't work. I now suspect that the light bulb was burned out, but that's entirely irrelevant.
The furniture that I have in my living room, I inherited from my mother when she died. My father, who never asked me for a thing in his life, asked me to move me (and my family) into the house with him because he couldn't stand being alone. In return for moving in, I received the deed (which I didn't expect.) But.........let's get back to those lamps.
For some reason, the lamp issue simply irritated me that day. So, like any good homemaker, I went out to purchase brand new lamps. I could rationalize buying them. The lamps were old, I knew they were at least more than 15 years old; so off shopping I went.
The day was wonderful. The sun was shining. The warm wind in my face made me feel like I had a soft glow around me. And..........I was buying new lamps. What could be better?
Being the thrifty shopper that I am not, I went to LazBoy and started to look at lamps.....and sofas.........and love seats.........and rockers.........and end tables. Come on, I couldn't help it. My furniture, that I hand NOT picked out was.....well, it was getting a little old. I mean, it hadn't outlived it's usefulness. It wasn't broken. The end tables were a bit scratched from my dog getting up on it to look out the window, but it could have survived, I didn't need new furniture. I was strong. I looked at the lamps.
In the end, being the strong woman that I am. I picked out two fine looking lamps; tall, lean, antiqued brass. Oh, they are nice looking. I also picked out a fine looking sleeper sofa, sleeper chair and a half, a rocker, and two end tables. I called hubby from my cell phone (from LazBoy) and asked how he was doing, made some little chit chat; a fine conversation. Then the bomb hit, he asked me...... "What are you doing? You generally don't call me in the middle of my work day to talk about little things." I told him I had bought some lamps. He thought that was a good idea, that we had needed them for a long time. Then.........I told him about the furniture. I could see his eyes roll even through the phone. He made a little sigh and said, "I'm surprised you waited this long, you've hated that furniture since we moved in, and it was starting to wear, so I suppose you did fine. I trust your opinion."
Yes! Yes, yes, yes! How exciting. In preparation for the new furniture, my husband and I spent our Monday evening delivering the "old" furniture to the Family Mission (my personal favorite charity.) They were ecstatic to receive the fine quality merchandise. I was even asked, "Are you sure you want to give this away.....this is real leather ma'am." My reply, "Yes, I know it is, but it's yours now."
After we finished delivering the furniture, I took a deep breath and told my husband how good that felt.....just giving that furniture away. He agreed. Of course, until Saturday my living room is void of any place to sit and I'm just too non flexible to watch TV from the floor.
Now comes the advice:
Yesterday, while at work, I was boring everyone with my furniture story when one woman pops up and says. I hate LazBoy, I hate their furniture, and I will never deal with them again. Of course, I asked what happened and she told me "the story." I asked if she had gotten the extra guard on the furniture that covers burns, stains, children slicing the furniture with knives, etc.... she said she had and they don't stand by their guarantee.
I was sick at heart until one of the guys I work with said he bought a LazBoy recliner about a year ago and he loves it.
Now, I know everyone has horror stories, I even have one about Dell, complete with 8x10 photos, letters to the BBB and a personalized letter from Michael Dell's secretary, etc, etc, etc. In the end, I won, I'm a happy camper and I don't think Dell will ever sell anything to me ever again. But there are those fortunate ones that never have problems with Dell.....or LazBoy....or whom ever and I say kudos to them.
Oh yeah, back to the advice thing. Why does advice always come afterwards?
Now, I ask you this. Why is it....if something tastes terrible, everyone wants you to "just taste it?" But...........if it's good......all you get is...... "that was the best thing I've ever eaten?"