May 2010

No Rain

Wouldn't you know. Just as I start testing a new umbrella the foul weather has sneaked away. It is supposed to be gorgeous here in Boston for the foreseeable future.

But I won't complain. Beautiful weather, guaranteed for $8.99 is fine with me.

Happy Memorial Day

Umbrella Reports

I sprung for a new umbrella. In order to test my theory about the relationship between the longevity of umbrellas and their length, I purchased the same brand that I got last time. This time I picked up the little 8 inch job again. The last 8 inch manual I had lasted a year. Here is a photo:

You can clearly see the claims of invulnerability on the package. The last two umbrellas made the same claims, and we all know how that turned out.

A fool and his money are soon parted.

New House Estimates

The estimates for the new house have come in.

They are all too high.

Go figure.

We are now "compromising" to get the cost down to only stratospheric.

Stay tuned.

Umbrella Longevity Redux

Well, I have new data to report on the Umbrella Longevity project. For the back story, see my previous post:

Umbrella Longevity 

Today, my new, longer umbrella destroyed itself. The wind caught it, and it went inverted, and that was the end. The most frustrating thing about this is that right on the package, it says "NEW WINDPROOF DESIGN", and "IF UMBRELLA BECOMES INVERTED PULL DOWN ON RUNNER TO SNAP BACK IN PLACE".

I bought this umbrella Jan 25th of this year, so it lasted just under four months.... wrecking my hypothesis that longer umbrellas last longer.

I am at a loss as to what to do next.