Winning small battles
It is ragweed season in Trenton. For the past week and a half, I have been suffering through daytime sneezing, nighttime congestion, and twenty-four x seven general itchiness. It seems that modern science has been too pre-occupied with its quest to bring boners to the old to develop a completely effective, non-sedating anti-histamine.
Ragweed is possibly the worst thing about living in Trenton. (If you've ever been here, you'd know that's saying a lot.) Trentonians practically farm ragweed. It grows everywhere. Thick carpets of it blanket most of the lawns in our neighbourhood (those lawns not tended regularly by retirees). It sprouts tenaciously through every sidewalk crack. It fills in every pothole. A waist-high bush of it grows between the curbstones on the way to the dog park. There is no escaping it once I leave our property.
Capt Mike diligently plugged every sprout in our backyard early in the season. Our yard is devoid of ragweed. It's got lots of other "weeds", but nothing that makes me sneeze. (I try to do my part for the dwindling bee population...and I hate gardening.) But pollen knows no bounds, and eventually it finds its way into my home, carried on the coat of a hapless puppy, or wafting on the breeze through an open window. (Note to Capt Mike: Please, even though you think it's only for a few minutes, don't leave the bathroom windows open at this time of year...that's what the fan is for.) And so, to combat the microscopic invaders, we purchased the new vacuum, a Dyson stowaway canister (I caved, but not enough to join The Ball Bandwagon), and an air purifier that was on sale for 50% off for good measure.
The Dyson is truly worth the hype. It leaves no mote behind. The sight of it so terrifies Dexter and Zeppelin that their dander practically jumps off of them and directly into the cyclone chamber. Unlike my futile sweeping efforts, after one pass with Dyson, not a single stray hair can be found anywhere in the house. He is my anti-puppy.
The air purifier has yet to really prove its mettle, but casual observation would suggest a slight decrease in the dust build up so far. It does provide a nice cool breeze, and is virtually silent on its lowest setting, so at the very least, it's a decent tower fan.
All that to say, however, that though I and my electronic comrades may be winning small battles, the war on pollen might be a lost cause. I never thought I'd say so after the non-summer we've had this year, but I am really looking forward to that first frost.
Comments
Hmmm.... glad to hear the dyson is working well. I was a skeptic as was Tim and we ended up getting the Consumer Reports top rated vacuum with hepa filter instead. Which works just fine, but is a bit cumbersome for my liking.
I have to admit, the ball looks very useful; the commercials showing it getting around corners and stuff is very effective. I wonder if it's the same technology inside the ball as the one you have, so that it's equally effective. Now I'll have to research it.
You know... I don't actually know what ragweed looks like. I'm going to have to research that too. And then I'll let you know if it's safe to visit in the summer ;-)
Love ya!
Posted by: Heather at August 28, 2009 08:18 PM