adventures in "following the directions"

So today I went to Costco and I bought the Margaritaville Key Lime Frozen Concoction maker! I have been looking at this machine off and on for about two years now. Dylan, my son-in-law (who tended bar while completing his undergraduate degree) assured me that I didn't need it. He said, "It's just a toy, Lorri. All the frozen drinks we make at work are done witha blender and you've got a Bosche. You don't NEED a Margaritaville Key Lime Frozen Concoction maker."

He was basically right; but I REALLY wanted the Margaritaville Key Lime Frozen Concoction maker and I've wanted it for a loooong time. I spent 90 minutes on the phone with telus last Wednesday negotiating a credit for that crazy cell phone bill I had after my Hawaiian vacation. I rationalized that I had earned the new small appliance now that I don't have to pay that nasty bill.

PLUS; next week is Father's day and Wally's birthday and it's almost like I needed the machine to make all the party drinks! So I bought it.

And I brought it home and pulled out the ice and all the drink mixes and was concocting like crazy this afternoon when the ice shaver sort of jammed.

Now we've all read the owners manuals for different household items.

*Don't use the toaster in the bath tub.

*Don't use your curling iron on your eyelashes.

*Unplug.... before servicing.

*Etc.

*Etc.

*Etc.

Like who thinks up all these rules? Seriously, doesn't the manufacturer understand that some things are just "common sense?" I don't think we need to be told EVERYTHING!

On the top of my new concoction maker is an "Ice Resevior" where the ice is fed into the machine. Emblazoned across the top of the resevior are some instructions:

sharp blade beneath; do not put your fingers in here

So the ice sort of jammed and I could see that there was just one cube that was kind of stuck...if I just moved it with my finger...

Ya, you get the picture-kinda like sticking your head in a lawn mower! On some level I knew it was probably a bad idea but really, how sharp could that teeny, tiny

blade be?

PS: It is so hard to type without using my right index finger.