I have a love/hate relationship with vacuum cleaners.  Actually, let me clarify that.  I have a "willing to acknowledge"/hate relationship.  I am willing to acknowledge their usefulness, but it isn't like I get a lot of joy out of them.  On the other hand, vacuums probably have a hate/hate relationship with me.  Because I kill vacuum cleaners.  We're talking smoke-and-sparks-and-fire kill.  I am a vacuum destroying goddess. 

It doesn't really make sense, though.  I'm generally good with gadgets.  And I once read that vacuum cleaners were the single most important factor in freeing women from traditional gender roles, so you would think I'd appreciate them more.  (I have also read that it was birth control that freed women- I guess we are to assume that the modern woman is a sex fiend with sparkling floors).  But I don't appreciate them that much, and that is probably where the trouble lies.  Read More »