I did not drop the chicken carcass on purpose.
I know it probably looked that way. I had, after all, bought a new Hoover Floormate just hours before. It was still sitting in the box on the kitchen floor. The same kitchen floor where the carcass landed and skidded a bit.
Mensa Boy kindly unpacked the machine and read the directions for me. I hate reading directions. I avoid them if at all possible. So he read them and instructed me on care and use.
It performed well. For those of you who don't watch much TV, the Hoover Floormate is a multi-tasking wonder of floor care. It vacuums hard floors and then, with the flip of a couple switches, it will mop them and squeegee up excess water. As Mom would say "What a wonderful world we live in"!
I had a few problems, but they were easily overcome. The machine is built like an upright vacuum, but the back wheels are set much closer together. This makes it heavier in the front and so you have to learn to turn it without tipping. That only took a few minutes. Also, if you release too much cleaner, it will react by trying to squeegee it all up and kind of stick to the floor. If you just pulse out cleaner as you go, it works pretty smoothly.
It did a good job. I did go back with a paper towel and scrub at a couple of tiny spots. But all in all, I liked it. And I practically stole it from Bed Bath and Beyond. They and Target, Sam's Club and Lowe's all had it for $179.99. But I had one of those ubiquitous 20% off coupons and ended up paying $144.
Now, back to Paul Bunyan and Babe. I have egg on my face. And in keeping with Nate's philosophy of "Errors have been made, others will be blamed", I'm blaming Lil G for my gaff.
That photo of Paul and Babe? WRONG ONE! Those are the ones in Bemidji...the REAL ONES, according to the Bemidji Chamber. The Paul in Brainerd is sitting down. I'm blaming Lil because she is one of my first readers each day and she didn't tell me!
However, Lil did tell me that Paul and Babe aren't being separated after all, and I found the article in the Star Tribune. But that's not all...oh no that's not all...now the locals are raising a fuss about the new location!
So, for your reading pleasure, here are two articles:
Paul Bunyan and Babe to stay together
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Published June 28, 2003 |
PAUL28 |
BAXTER, MINN. -- Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox won't be separated after all.
Don McFarland, owner of the Paul Bunyan Amusement Center in Baxter, said he's decided that the pair shouldn't be parted.
The two statues were going to be separated for the first time in 45 years because the Bunyan statue was moving to This Old Farm, an agricultural tourism site about 7 miles east of Brainerd.
The statue will be given to Rhythm of the Rails, a local nonprofit organization that is also moving to This Old Farm.
Babe was going to be tied up at a Baxter bowling alley. But Rhythm of the Rails founder Jody Crowe said Friday that the two giant statues will move east at the end of the season.
Associated Press
Paul and Babe relocation draws protest
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Published July 8, 2003 |
PAUL09 |
BRAINERD, Minn. -- Not everyone is happy with the idea of the giant statutes of Paul Bunyan and his blue ox Babe staying the Brainerd Lakes area.
More than 100 Nokay Lake Township residents have signed a petition against This Old Farm to be zoned commercial for the operation of the Paul Bunyan amusement park.
This Old Farm, located about seven miles east of Brainerd, is buying the Paul Bunyan Amusement Center in Baxter and plans to operate the rides at the 180-acre This Old Farm site.
The Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox statues also will be located at the agricultural site and will be owned by Rhythm of the Rails, a Brainerd theater group.
Sandra Museus, who lives less than a mile from This Old Farm, said Monday she had 103 signatures from Nokay Lake Township residents.
The petition states the residents want to keep This Old Farm zoned agricultural and do not want it zoned commercial for the operation of the rides.
``This area already has too much traffic and cannot take anymore,'' said Museus.
This Old Farm is scheduled to present its plans at the Nokay Lake Township Board meeting tonight. The Crow Wing County Planning Commission will hear the request July 24.
This Old Farm wants to rezone 23.35 acres to commercial and is asking for a conditional use permit for the relocation of the amusement rides.
And also, here is an article about the Paul and Babe in Bemidji:
Bemidji's boasting 'original' Paul and Babe statues
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Associated Press |
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Published June 29, 2003 |
PAUL29 |
BEMIDJI, MINN. -- The aborted split of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox statues from the Paul Bunyan Amusement Center in Baxter has gotten plenty of attention -- including a visit from the governor.
But Bemidji city officials want everyone to know that the real Paul and Babe are standing up -- together on their waterfront.
"I even e-mailed the governor and told him he didn't have to make a state trip there," said Gayle Quistgard, director of the Bemidji Visitors & Convention Bureau. "It's different from ours. He's unique because he's homemade. It's folk art. I also e-mailed CNN to let them know the original is standing on the Lake Bemidji waterfront."
The owner of the Baxter statues announced last week that the Bunyan statue would be moved to an agricultural tourism site near Brainerd, while Babe would be hitched to a Baxter bowling alley after the Paul Bunyan Amusement Center closes at the end of the season. Later in the week, however, the split was called off.
The media attention on the Baxter statues has confused some tourists visiting Bemidji. Caara Holmstrom, who owns Paul Bunyan Animal Land east of Bemidji with her husband, Roger, said they have also fielded questions from people who mistake their business for the Baxter amusement park.
Even friends have asked them if they are still open.
Larry Young, director of the Joint Economic Development Commission, said that 52 Paul Bunyan statues exist nationwide, but that Bemidji's originals, built by the Cyril Dickinson Construction Co. for the Bemidji Rotary Winter Carnival, went on display on Jan. 2, 1937.
"The others are Pauls-come-lately," Young said.
According to weather records, 1936-37 set a record for consecutive days colder than 20 below zero. The Paul and Babe builders worked in a makeshift tent inadequately heated by a wood stove. Early photos of Paul show a lumpy complexion, later painted over with a beard.
Paul, 18 feet tall and 2 1/2 tons, was modeled, on a proportion of three-to-one, from Bemidji's mayor at the time, Earl Bucklen. Babe's measurements were taken, also at three-to-one, from the largest ox at an area logging camp.
Quistgard said the U.S. Postal Service recognized Bemidji's statues as the original Paul and Babe with a stamp.
Okay, so enough about Paul and Babe.
Unless there's another interesting article I can copy and paste!
7:24:29 AM 
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