Shop Vac. My teen assured me that we needed one after he reformatted my utensil drawer. He then researched Shop-Vacs and concluded that the Ridgid WD1851 would be fine enough for US. He always uses the word us or we then describes whatever we need to buy next, like I’ve wanted one my whole life. Yep, a shop vac is on the top of my Christmas list, said no mom, ever.
Undaunted by my lack of enthusiasm, the teen shopped for the Ridgid WD1851 (described as the strong, silent, shop vac) and found that the sucker cost about $200, which would leave a vacuum in his wallet. He then searched for it on Craigslist and found it for $80. When he called, the seller confirmed that it was a very powerful, in perfect condition and came with a number of useful features. He then went on to say that it had belonged to his grandfather, who only used twice before he died. My teen was sold. Who wouldn’t be?
One of these days, my teen is going to tell me that he’s bought something that can be picked up 15 minutes from home. But not this time. Road trip. The shop vac lived in a garage about an hour outside of Chicago. I didn’t have to go, but did I really want to miss out on buying the finest Shop-Vac ever? Of course, I didn’t. So, together we headed off to Aurora, Illinois. An hour later, we turned into a frightening subdivision.
Every single house, up and down every single street, looked exactly the same. The Toyota Prius was the neighborhood car and could be spotted in most of the driveways. Fortunately, the vacuum deal was concluded swiftly and we could hightail it out of Cloneville
Why on earth would anyone want to live in a subdivision of cookie-cutter houses? And was the Prius offered as an incentive to buy a home? The builder may have lacked imagination, but how did they attract so many like buyers? I checked, and these were not company homes, or townhomes, and it certainly wasn’t low-income housing. Odd. Very Odd.
The shop vac? Love it. It’s filled a huge void in our life. Really.
Odd Loves Company,
P.S. The video of the houses disapeared off my camera…so sad. You’ll have to use your imagination.
Shop vac is a winner. We have one and it hasn’t failed yet. A good one is handy to have around.
I think we call those houses Macmansions. We have one subdivision. I don’t get it. Poorly made, and clones of one another. They look like track housing with a hefty price tag.
Have a good one.
Glad we have your seal of approval. I thought tract housing too. Expensive track housing and I suspect if the big bad wolf comes they are in a world of hurt.
Glad your road trip was successful and that a much-loved (though little used) Shop-Vac now has a forever home!
Congratulate Cole on being a frugal shopper — you rewarded him with a doughnut or something, right?!
As for the homes with the Priuses (Priii??), well, that is very Odd. I’ve never been to Aurora, though, so maybe it’s fashionable there??
Fashionable? Well, maybe. Or a contractor got a good deal on materials.
Doughnuts research takes place M-F. I think we stopped for a shake. 😀
This one made me laugh out loud–literally! Vacuum in his pocket! Too funny. Love your story-telling, Katybeth!
Hugs from Ecuador,
Kathy
Always happy to amuse! Thank you.
Hugs back at ya.
Shop Vacs are sure handy to have around when you need one. I don’t own one & hope I’m never in need. You two are so adventuresome! Interesting area you traveled to. I think someone there needs to break the mold!
Read about the Jag and you’ll find more adventure and intrigue. . .
I agree about breaking the mold. It’s one thing to build a subdivision of like houses but the owners could landscape differently, and a neighborhood with a Prius in every driveway is horrifying according to the teen. Funny aside – a friend drives a Prius and Cole teases her all the time so she threatened him with cutting out the Audi rings and glueing them to the back of her car. Ha.
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