The demo, worries for Penny, tax work

Mama scheduled the demo for 6:30 and the young lady doing the demo was right on time. She brought along two trainees who just happened to be her in-laws. With all the portions of the demo which included the unit used as an air purifier and a vacuum, it took a full two hours. I was not surprised even though the lady doing the demo assured Mama that it was a forty-five-minute presentation. The unit all told is very impressive. I remember form many years ago (before Mama and I were married) when some friends of mine bought a Rainbow unit. I sat through that demo with them. It has not changed much over all those years. But in that time the company has upgraded materials and construction as well as adding the air purifying aspect. To use that feature, you simply leave the unit running 24/7 without the vacuum attachments. I found that very clever. I hope the person that thought of that application was well rewarded for their idea.


I was impressed with the units almost forty years ago. I was more impressed last night – but Mama and I did not agree to buy one. Our financial focus is elsewhere at the moment. We will, at some future point, buy one, but that moment was not last night. Don’t get me wrong, it was not easy to say “no”. It rarely is. There are ways we could have made payments work in our finances but the idea of making payments on a vacuum cleaner while we are trying to do other things with a limited supply of money, did not seem wise. When we do buy a Rainbow, we will pay cash – and we will not likely pay full retail price for the unit. With the advent of internet marketing, there are other avenues to get just about anything offered for sale - at a discounted price. Just a few minutes of research proved we made the right decision in not agreeing to any type of monthly terms. We felt better at having passed on the purchase regardless of how tense and uncomfortable those moments were when we began to decline the offer. You know the routine, “If you buy it tonight you will get the steeply discounted price of ___ as well as $1100 worth of attachments”. A one time offer. It’s now or never. Still we declined.  After just a few minutes of research, Victoria found units for sale online at as little as one quarter of the price we were given in our one-time offer. I am not making light of the company price. Their marketers have to make a profit for their efforts, and the demo convinced us that the product is something we could use. Having the unit you are purchasing right there in front of you makes a strong selling point. Just not at that “buy it now” price”. Mama and I will wait, shop around and eventually find the right one at the right price at the right time. At least now we know what we are looking for.


As the demo materials were being packed up, I went out to close up the chickens and check on Penny – our new lamb. Mama was worried because the temperature was forecast to be 25° last night. We debated bringing the lamb inside, but I hesitated to do so. We have no place to keep her besides in a cage in the garage. That could have worked but I was worried she would cry all night being separated from her mommy. I also wondered if it was wise to keep her warm overnight only to take her out into sub-freezing temperatures in the morning. So, I decided to let nature take its course, but I did check to see that all the sheep were in the barn. And that Penny was with her mommy. I second guessed my decision this morning when the display in the truck read 20°. The weather website I normally use verified that temperature. Mama will find out this morning if I made the right decision. Tonight, the temperature is supposed to be right at freezing. The last cold night for several night. Hopefully it is one of those “what does not kill you makes you stronger” moments.


Prior to the demo I got to go through a couple piles of my receipts set apart for tax purposes. I total them each year to get our incomes and expenses calculated and recorded on a spreadsheet to be referenced by the accountant who will file taxes for me and Mama. It takes me a few nights to get all the information put together but doing so helps the accountant compile the information using the totals provided. It helps me understand how we did on the farm and in the business. All that should be ready soon.


Then Mama and I will travel to Amarillo again to submit the documents – and visit Chase, Makaila and Owen.