Other Weird Things

While I am on the subject of strange things happening to my vacuum and other oddities of machinery, I just gotta tell you about Westinghouse.  Not only am I computer challenged but I'm also Westinghouse Challenged.  WHAT?! You ask?  This woman is crazy!  But... true stories.  

About college age I discovered that I was unable to use anything made by Westinghouse.  Now, this was a problem as things like light bulbs are made by them.  And stoves and things.  For the longest time I thought it was the problem of the appliance or bulb when I would think something was broken but a friend could work it just fine.  Ok, this is strange but not life threatening unless you own Westinghouse stock.  

So, it got worse and worse.  When I got married the first time I got several Westinghouse small appliances.  None of them worked.  For me.  My new husband had no problem.  Eventually we had to exchange them all.  

Years went by, I got divorced and for some odd reason was living in Omaha.  There was a brand new apartment building and I wanted to rent a unit so I made an appointment and went to meet the lady showing the units.

We walked into the kitchen and yep. Everything was Westinghouse.  I sighed and told the lady, I can't live here.  She asked why and I said, the kitchen is Westinghouse.  I can't make anything Westinghouse work.  She said... no, no!  it's all brand new, see?  She scurried around the kitchen flipping light switches and stove knobs and opening the fridge and stuff.  Yep, everything worked perfectly.  She is standing there beaming all over me.  I was bummed I had to prick her Happy Balloon but I said... watch.  I flicked the light switch.  Nothing.  No light.  She races over.  The light works fine.  We stood there like a comedy team trading, it works, it doesn't.  I showed her the stove, the fridge and everything else that was Westinghouse did not work if I used it.  She slowly starts backing away.  I can see in her face she now thinks I am possessed.  :)  I tried to explain it was Westinghouse that was possessed.  She wasn't buying it.  I left and found another non-Westinghouse infected kitchen.  Sigh.

Now, my best pal Annie (RIP, Annie) always thought it was a scream that nothing made by Westinghouse worked.  She used to entertain her kids with... Watch!  Moe can't make this work!  Toast.  Her kids could make toast but I couldn't.  

So, many years go by and I have mostly forgotten about my Westinghouse plague.  I am back in Buffalo for a visit and I am driving out somewhere near the airport where there is also a giant (shudder) Westinghouse  plant.  Oh boy.

Now, I hadn't thought about my Westinghouse malady for a long time so I am cheerfully driving along, singing a merry tune when BLAM!  The entire Westinghouse plant goes dark the second I drive past.  I have NO idea what happened because I hadn't been in Buffalo for years and had no idea what that plant was.  Then I saw the sign.  My nemesis!  Sure enough I blew out the Westinghouse plant.  

The second I got to my mother's place, the phone was ringing.  It was Annie.  First thing she says is...It was you.  I KNOW it was you.  Were you near the Westinghouse Plant?  You come to Buffalo and blow out their plant! She was hysterical laughing.

I confessed I was driving by.  I mean, do I have to be afraid that they are going to come after me?  Will they sue for all the money they lost while their power was gone.  Couldn't have been too bad, though.  I was only driving by!  Really Officer!  I didn't MEAN to blow out 10 gazillion square acres of Westinghouse!

I have recently noticed... the Westinghouse Curse seems to be dissipating.  I have no idea why but the other day I was actually able to use a Westinghouse appliance!  Not mine... naturally, but a friend's.  It worked!  I am still afraid of them.  :D