1) A Meditation Timer.
This should be like an egg timer that doesn’t tick: the beeping should be soft. (Ideally, it would make a gonglike sound.) Most importantly, it shouldn’t be the type that has to be turned off after it beeps: in centering prayer, one remains with eyes closed, in a meditative pose, after the time is up. So my standard task-timer is less-than-ideal. (And, no: I don’t want to pay $85-$95 for such a thing. I was thinking of $10-$12.)
2) A vacuum cleaner camouflage system that doesn’t look like a goose or a mouse; something a bit more cool, or soothing, or Eastern, or sleek. Every vacuum-costume I’ve seen is geared toward a country style of decorating, yet after seeing one such at a cousin’s house last week it occurs to me that it would be lovely not to have to dig the vaccum cleaner out of a closet in order to use it.
Or, of course, a Roomba—as Hackbarth suggested via Twitter the other day. But that would be sixth or seventh on my list of gadget needs these days (way after the the smart phone, the better camera, the Kindle/iPad, and, God help me, the Chumby).
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The traditional meditation timer solution is to get a mala and to move one bead across your fingers at each breath. Those at the link are really nice ones, but you can find much less expensive ones on line, or even make one by stringing convenient beads. A Rosary would work as well, and there are moslem “worry beads” that you can usually find in Middle Eastern and Greek groceries.
Or send me a mailing address and I’ll mail you one, I’ve got about a zillion of them.
It is better feng shui to put the vacuum cleaner and brooms away in a closet — I gather leaving them out is a metaphor for sweeping away prosperity.
Thanks, Charlie. I’m still trying the centering prayer thing, though, and that style is more physically passive. I’m thinking an electronic egg timer might do it, so I’ll see what the local kitchen discount place has.
Cynthia: fortunately, I don’t have any prosperity to sweep away! Seriously, you may be right. I should probably take another look at Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui–if, um, I can find it among all the plies of books . . . we’re good on the “something red” near the doorway, and I do have an emblem of water near the front door. But I have too many corners full of energy-blocking “stuff.”
Sounds like an application for large-scale fine-furniture appliance ‘garages”–dedicated cabinets designed to park items like a
vacuum when not in use. They can even be whimsical, like an Egyptian mummy case, giant vase or even a giant wicker panda. . I’m sure you have just the place for one. I’m selling franchises, now, if anyone’s interested. This might have ‘stimulus’ written all over it! Better beat the rush!