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July 03, 2006
A superlative purchase.
There are things I hate buying -- things I'd prefer to take for granted. Light bulbs and toilet paper are two products that come to mind. One should never find themselves without these items, but they aren't always top of mind when I'm lost in Safeway's canyons.
Can openers have always bothered me. Electric or manual, the sharp edge always dulls and becomes caked with sticky brown grime, there's never a guarantee of a clean cut, and the lid falls in as more often than not.
Result: I'm left using a finger or a fork to pry a jagged lid out of a can of Costco salmon while flanked by two yowling cats flank me, each nagging at high volume about a half octave apart. It's stressful on everyone.
It's nice for Polly and Scooter. They don't get along that well, but can readily agree that I'm a bumbling feeb who can't open a can of fish without cursing or cutting himself. A few weeks ago, while they gracelessly inhaled piles of sockeye, I went to eBay in search of relief.
Last week, the Rosle can opener arrived, and my life is better for it. I'll let the elegant bit of copy from their Web site stand for itself:
The cutting-wheel of the Can Opener works its way safely and smoothly around the edge of cans without touching the inner contents. The cut at the side allows you to lift the lid up easily as well as reuse it as a short-term storage cover. The cut edge is blunt and smooth, so it's a very safe way to open a can.I hadn't taken it for a run until Liz was tucking into a can of split pea yesterday. Realizing that I'd yet to experience the Rosle's ergonomic goodness, she offered to let me do the honors, then stood back with arms folded to see if I could figure out how to work it.
I hefted the tool in my hand and looked at its business end. The part of the opener that made contact with the can consisted of a steel loop and a small, flat metal blade. I fit the loop against the lid of the can, pressed down on the handle, and felt the tiny edge perforate the can's top. As I twisted the key, the can turned with ease.
When I grasped the lid and lifted it off, I was pleased to see that there were no sharp edges, and that nothing needed to be wiped down. It's was like I'd used some Bond villain's laser to open a freaking can of soup. Liz smiled at me, and I smiled right back.
I will show those cats who's boss.
Posted by Your Protagonist at July 3, 2006 03:26 AM
