I hate it when things like this happen.

[Wetdogeared]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

And that would be because it's not the scent that you folks are allergic to. The scent is not even the part of the flower that people are generally allergic to. It's a chemical component in the (usually spray) air freshener. And, with flowers it's usually the pollen in particulate form.

Most of the time (repeat MOST, not all), you can use the solid types of air freshener without any problem (even if they are scented ... unless the sufferer has developed a psychological problem with the scent after years of having their immune system go nuts when they smell that particular scent .... yes, it happens).

There's truth in what you say. But just walking through the perfume section in a department store (which is always located at the door on the ground floor), we have to hold our breaths and walk fast to the elevator/escalator, or we break out sneezing and nose running and eye itching. Could be psychological, we're all mental in our household.

*edit* As far as I know, they don't use pollen in perfume. (but I'm sure there are a lot of other strange things included!)

[RickyMaveety]

Originally Posted by Wetdogeared

There's truth in what you say. But just walking through the perfume section in a department store (which is always located at the door on the ground floor), we have to hold our breaths and walk fast to the elevator/escalator, or we break out sneezing and nose running and eye itching. Could be psychological, we're all mental in out household.

*edit* As far as I know, they don't use pollen in perfume.

No .... but the reason you can smell the perfume is because people are spraying it into the air. There are all sorts of particulate chemicals (aside from the actual scent) that are contained in perfumes. The chemical you could actually be allergic to might not even have a scent.

If perfumes were just scent, they would not spray very well, would not package well, and would not last on the body as well. They used to use ambergris in perfumes, not just for its scent, but because it extended the scent that you wanted to smell. (It is non-reactive to acids, so the natural body acids on the skin don't degrade the scent so quickly.)

The immune system is a weird thing. People have a lot of misconceptions about it. I still encounter people all the time who think they are allergic to "cat hair." They aren't. They are allergic to a protein in cat saliva, which the cats put on their hair and dander when they wash themselves. The hair and dander are really just a transport mechanism for the allergen.

Same thing with perfumes and scents generally. The thing you are really allergic to is probably some part of the chemical used in making the scent into a commercially useful product or some particulate matter that is associated with the scent (such as pollen), not the scent itself.

[Wetdogeared]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

The thing you are really allergic to is probably some part of the chemical used in making the scent into a commercially useful product or some particulate matter that is associated with the scent (such as pollen), not the scent itself.

Agreed. But pollen season is a whole other topic!

[RickyMaveety]

Originally Posted by Wetdogeared

Agreed. But pollen season is a whole other topic!

Oh yeah. Tell me about it. Pretty much the only thing I am not allergic to is horses. Cats, dogs, all grasses (I put bare skin to cut grass and I break out all over ... I have to take my inhaler out with me when I mow the lawn).

Although, oddly, I don't seem to be allergic to Cedar pollen (yet), or shellfish. Of course, the people in our family don't usually become allergic to iodine (which is what people allergic to shellfish are really allergic to) until they are in their 70s or 80s.

Note to any healthcare workers out there .... always ask the patient if they have a shellfish allergy before swabbing them down with betadine.

[pshrynk]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

Oh yeah. Tell me about it. Pretty much the only thing I am not allergic to is horses. Cats, dogs, all grasses I (put bare skin to cut grass and I break out all over ... I have to take my inhaler out with me when I mow the lawn).

Although, oddly, I don't seem to be allergic to Cedar pollen (yet), or shellfish. Of course, the people in our family don't usually become allergic to iodine (which is what people allergic to shellfish are really allergic to) until they are in their 70s or 80s.

Note to any healthcare workers out there .... always ask the patient if they have a shellfish allergy before swabbing them down with betadine.

That certainly limits some forms of romantic interlude, I would imagine...

[kwnewton]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

As everyone knows, from long experience with their lousy customer service, I am not a Sony fan. Their reader is very pretty, but still NOT a Sony fan.
...
I really need a new dishwasher. Now I have to decide if I should cancel this order, and try to find someone online (where, sadly, I won't be able to get a good look inside the thing, which really matters when you are mostly washing a bazillion small cat food bowls every day and the worst thing that can happen is that they slip through the grid and down into the mechanism).

Erk. What to do, what to do?? Perhaps the resident religious academic will have some sage thoughts to get me through this. Other than calling me a "pig" I mean.

I got a new Bosch several years ago and it's still going strong. best dishwasher I ever had, bar none, and very quiet, too. Don't need that delayed start feature at all.

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by kwnewton

I got a new Bosch several years ago and it's still going strong. best dishwasher I ever had, bar none, and very quiet, too. Don't need that delayed start feature at all.

THATS the brand I was trying to think of......have heard great things about it, downside is they are a little pricey........

[RickyMaveety]

Originally Posted by kwnewton

I got a new Bosch several years ago and it's still going strong. best dishwasher I ever had, bar none, and very quiet, too. Don't need that delayed start feature at all.

Oh, I agree. I had one in my condo in San Diego. Loved it.

Sadly, here in the sticks, you are really seriously limited in who can repair what, and whether or not you can buy it (without driving for several hours).

The biggest problem I have (in shopping for larger appliances and such) is that I can't physically inspect the thing unless they have it at Home Depot. We don't even have a Lowes (yet).

Sad, but true.

Bosch is wonderful .... great products and great service.

[CCDMan]

Check out Miele. Many folks have not heard of this German brand (sold at places that sell high end appliances like Viking, Sub-Zero, Wolf, etc.) but they have been making dishwashers since the 1930's. Many ratings have it better than Bosch and LG and ours is by far the quietest of about 5 dishwashers I have had experience with in various houses. It also has a better anti-leak safety system than most other brands. Have had one for about a year now. Also have one of their Master Chef (as opposed to Master Chief <g>) wall ovens.

Oh, and we are kinda in the middle of nowhere here too. Had to drive about 45 minutes to a dealer but that's not too bad - the dealer handled Bosch as well and most of the regular brands (even Kitchenaid <g>).

[pshrynk]

Originally Posted by CCDMan

Check out Miele. Many folks have not heard of this German brand (sold at places that sell high end appliances like Viking, Sub-Zero, Wolf, etc.) but they have been making dishwashers since the 1930's. It is rated better than Bosch and LG and is the quietest of about 5 dishwashers I have had experience with in various houses. Have had one for about a year now.

And if you really want clean, they have medical grade washers!

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

Originally Posted by CCDMan

Check out Miele. Many folks have not heard of this German brand

They're probably better known over here in Europe, for fairly obvious reasons!

Although having said that there's an Italian company called Euro Tools whose stuff you can easily get in the States, and I can't get at all in the UK

[CCDMan]

Although having said that there's an Italian company called Euro Tools

I like Wiha (Willi Hahn) Tools. Also European, but also available in the US and elsewhere.

[RickyMaveety]

Sigh .... none of you actually read my posts, do you??

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

Sigh .... none of you actually read my posts, do you??

what's that ? cookies ?

[pshrynk]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

Sigh .... none of you actually read my posts, do you??

We always listen to you, Ricky! Why do you ask?