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August 7, 2006
Technological Wonders
How did I ever survive without this stuff?
First of all, I must give a hearty, LC welcome to our guest chick, Joshilyn Jackson. If you haven’t read her first novel, Gods in Alabama, run, do not walk, to your nearest bookstore/library/online purveyor. It is so good, I can’t even tell you. But I will try anyway:
I picked up Gods in Alabama last summer, at the behest of several well-read friends. Started chapter 1 at about 10 p.m. By midnight, Mr. Tall had issued a stern lights-out decree (something about “having to get up for work…” Whatever.) But I couldn’t put the book down. “Eh,” I thought, “one more chapter.” I moved to the bathroom and curled up on the floor on my fluffy white bathmat.
One a.m.: “Eh, one more chapter.”
Two a.m.: “Eh, I’m almost done; may as well keep going.”
Finished at three, bleary-eyed and with permanent bathmat creases on my booty. It was worth it, though.
“One more chapter” is going to be the death of me. I have a real problem in that department. But! You know what is NOT going to be the death of me? Suffocating in a hot car. That’s right—not even in Phoenix in July. And you know why? Because some innovative genius has finally brought us:
The Auto Cool car cooler! (You have to watch the little movie on the website. See that woman grimacing in anguish? That’s totally me!) I’ve seen the commercial for this several times on late-night TV, and I’m sold. This, people, is why engineers and artists and physicists have labored lo these many years: So I can leave my car in a parking lot at noon in full sun, return an hour later, and put my palms on the steering wheel without permanently scarring my flesh. Never again will I whimper and attempt to steer with two fingers while soaking the back of my shirt in sweat. And it’s mine for the incredibly low price of $14.99 (plus S&H). Marked down from $40! Plus you get some type of cupholder-caddy-organizer thing. Who can resist? My whole life is about to change forever! As soon as I convince Mr. Tall.
Another milestone of the modern era: The Ice Cream Ball. This is the perfect product for lazy louts like myself. Fill it up with cream and sugar (and, presumably, ice of some variety), hand it off to the rascally neighborhood kids for a rousing game of kickball, and voila! Freshly churned ice cream! It’s a miracle! I have no idea how it works, but my motto with ice cream has always been, eat first, ask questions later.
And listen, you guys. I know I’m not the only one who succumbs to the power of these infomercials. (Okay, I also want that amazing dicing/chopping slicer box thing that prepares vegetables and fruits for stir fry and salads in seconds!) Confess: what marvel of technology are you pining after???
Oh, and P.S.: I almost forgot to pimp out my newest release: Everything She Wants, the second book in my YA series. I hereby pledge to keep you up until 3 a.m. with bathmat-booty. And if enough people buy it, I can finally spring for the Auto Cool car cooler. Come on! It was 120 degrees here last week.
Posted by Beth at 1:28 AM | Comments (12)
Comments
Oooh...I'm not the only one with a husband who says "lights out". And yeah, I'm also a "one more chapter" person. And end up moving to the other room to read more.
Infomercials..I usually wait until they make it into the actual stores. Like Oxyclean. Good stuff. :-)
Posted by: Nicole at August 7, 2006 8:33 AM
I live in Phx AZ also and it would be great not to have to burn my hands when getting into the boiling car. I wonder if this gadget really works?! Funny thing is that I noticed when the women first gets into the car she takes hold of the steering wheel but doesn't jerk it away from the heat but moments later she does...hmmm...probably didn't film it here in Phx on a 120 degree day!
Posted by: Christina at August 7, 2006 10:59 AM
How funny, I just wrote down the order info for the auto cool the other day!!! I gotta have one of those....
Posted by: TeresaH at August 7, 2006 12:57 PM
Apparently, the link to the car cooler up and died on us. Here is the url:
https://www.autocooltv.com/index.asp
Posted by: Beth at August 7, 2006 1:56 PM
I am so spoiled.... My husband is so used to falling asleep while I'm still reading with my bedside light on that he can't fall asleep without it now.
Posted by: Darla at August 7, 2006 3:00 PM
I desperately want the Swiffer Sweep 'n Vac (http://www.amazon.com/PROCTER-%26-GAMBLE-%2304815/dp/B000BQSM1C/sr=8-1/qid=1154981897/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-7761154-6062234?ie=UTF8). I am convinced it will change my life.
Also, go to Beth's Ice Cream Ball link and scroll down to the review by "Sugarboogy Phalanx." Too too funny.
Eileen R
Posted by: Eileen ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.literarychicks.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at August 7, 2006 3:29 PM
1. I am *so* totally tempted to order the Auto Cool thing just to see. I hate hot cars.
2. We have one of those ice cream balls! It's actually very cool. You put the ice cream mix in one side (the creaminess depends on the fat content of the milk or cream that you use) and ice and rock salt in the other. Roll it around for 20 minutes and you've got about a pint of fresh ice cream. Very yummy.
3. Eileen, I have the Swiffer Sweep 'n Vac and it's pretty cool. But I couldn't live without my Swiffer Wet Jet.
Posted by: Dia at August 7, 2006 4:40 PM
Someone needs to order to car cooler and report back to the rest of us.
Hmm...do I smell a LC giveaway prize???
Posted by: Beth at August 7, 2006 6:14 PM
Ooh! I've read the new book. Thank you, Beth. It's great, and I can't wait for the next one.
Posted by: ZaZa at August 8, 2006 2:05 AM
Dia,
You have the Swiffer Sweep 'n Vac AND the Swiffer Wet Jet? You are a Goddess among women! Tell me about your floors. Tell me what it's like. Let me live vicariously through you.
Eileen R.
Posted by: Eileen at August 8, 2006 9:40 PM
I want to know about your floors, too, Dia :-)
Posted by: Michelle C at August 9, 2006 5:26 AM
To Beth:
Did you ever try the 'autocool' device and did it actually work effectively?
Val
Posted by: Valerie at November 4, 2006 3:26 PM
