How I Look at Water Filters

How many of you hate the tele-callers? Let me answer - almost all, if you are sane. I was happy with myself - I believed wrinkles add character and graying temples wisdom; you can imagine my displeasure when the phone rang early in the morning and a seducing voice asked - "Is it Mr. K I'm talking to? Good morning, Sir..." and blah, blah, blah - half-awaken as I was with one eye sewn shut, it seeped into my consciousness that all that this lady was trying to is sell me water filters! "D-uh, do you have something better to sell?" "Why, yes Sir, there are UV models as well..." I cut her out sharply - "Call me in the evening if you have something to sell in flesh and blood" and banged down the phone.

I was sore at the sudden breaking of my weekend sleep-sepulture; I was sore at the slight indigestion that was hurting my stomach but nevertheless, I took my dog out on a morning stroll (well, let me admit it was because of the lady with the Husky at the park); he didn't appear as robust as he was even a month back and perhaps needs some exercise to boost his appetite. I'm sure he was also jealous of the Husky's coat.

So there she stood pouring water in her pet's mouth from a bottle and I cracked my first conversation - "The new millennium dog I presume; bottled water is something even we don't get to drink too often". "Why no" - her smile was inviting but she couldn't be the tele-caller in the morning - "it's just filtered water; the bottle was bought long back when it was giving some trouble."

Another one, I thought; ladies who create perfect effeminates out of absolute monsters - a dog of that giant a built and meek as a sheep! Look at Adolph, my Rott; he's always on the go with the energy seeping as deep growls. I think I was thinking aloud - "Are you sure yours is not in some discomfort?" "Very much so" - I was about to answer but I suddenly realized we were discussing dogs. "I think his coat is making you say that; I haven't had much time to buy a shampoo. I'm sure you are going to comment differently the next time you see him." "Shall look forward to it." Uh, Adolph, can we exchange our respective appearances for once?

So went another week; there appeared a new shampoo and the coat of my dog looked slightly better and I roamed the park again with my nose in the air (nosing around, too); it seemed the lady was ashamed to admit her misinterpretation and a bittersweet symphony played in the mind for the next few days.

But things returned to a former dull sooner than the shine had set in and Adolph's temper as well; however, we made it to the park. There she is, with a winner's stance - "I told you he's unwell and you are a bad master." I could have flared up, but well, we humans know how to count. I asked her if she can justify herself - thus followed a long conversation regarding case histories, medications and at the end, she asked me to give her a sample of the water we use to get tested at the laboratory she OWNs! And the test reports? They revealed dissolved organic substances, arsenic and lead apart from chlorine and calcium - "My God, this is being hard on your dog."

To cut the long story short, I installed two Carbon water filters (one as a back-up) and two shower water filters (back-ups, again) to kick out every solid, liquid and suspended matters from the drinking and bathing including lead, TCE, chlorine and chloramines. We both look great, nowadays; and that's a compliment from a Lady!