Kitchen Towels that Stink and The Solution

 It is Friday again? I am not losing days, but it seems the weeks have been flying by. I cannot believe it is Friday already! Has the week gone by quickly for you?

I have complained before of kitchen items keeping a greasy, nasty smell even after washing in hot water and detergent. I forgot which detergent actually killed the stench. But, it seemed to keep returning. Yesterday, I was folding the kitchen linens and was NOT overwhelmed by the clean laundry. Usually, I have a throw over my lap and have kitchen laundry on it and folded items on one arm of the chair. I really don't want the smell to seep into the clothes I am wearing. 

I put a dishcloth to my nose and could smell nothing. I don't even like the smell of any laundry. But, I was relieved not to smell rancid greasy cloth. 

 I usually use Oxyclean along with All Free and Clear. Now, I use the Odor Blaster variety powder in a tub. 

When I bought Oxyclean last time, I bought a different variety. The type I use now that has no smell when used is Oxyclean Odor Blaster--purple top. (sweaty, musty, body odors) Urspo, sounds like what you need. The last type of Oxyclean I used was good, "No dyes or perfumes." green top. But, still I could smell it on my clean clothing. 

For stain spot removal, I use Oxyclean Laundry and More liquid in spray bottle. Attacks tough dried-in stains. No chlorine. 

Tommy uses some strange washing powder that is pink and in unmarked, five-gallon bucket. Someone he helped to move gave it to him and he has used it for 7 or 8 years. I have no idea what it is. He uses what he wants to and I use what I want to wash with. I realize I ended the sentence with a preposition. 

I know that others have had this same problem. Some people say they throw the towels away. Does anyone use Oxyclean Odor Blaster?

It Is a First

 Last night, I was so tired I went to bed at 10:30. Of course, you know that means nothing to my body. So, at 12:30 I awoke to go to the bathroom. I fell. This is the first time I have fallen, not tripped, mattress threw me out of bed, or something like that. Last time it was a tall screw that Tommy refused to let me screw down in threshold of front door! This time, I just fell over. Don't worry. I landed on a laundry basket of towels and sheet ready to be folded--nice, fluffy sheets out of the laundry and not folded. The fall was not even jarring.  But, this time I was lucky I did not hit the dresser. From now on, I stand a minute.

My big problem after 911 was called was that I still needed to pee. So I did! I stuffed a folded towel under me and then a pair of pants behind me. At least, there was nothing on the carpet. 

Thankfully, I did not hit my head on anything. From now on, I will get my balance like I usually do instead of just start walking. I usually stand and wait a second after I flip over and bounce off the bed. Yes, I am fast on this new extra-mattress. 

We had gone to Cullman yesterday to the lunch at a church. Not many people who came before covid were there. The guitarists and a woman on tambourine were there playing during the meal. There were hymnals to sing from. I had never heard the first four or five songs, so did not sing or try. 

The huge round tables were well-appointed. Pink and pale green table cloths were on the tables with a pretty bouquet of flowers and little decorations around the vases. 

My 93-year-old friend was there, too. Her husband fell going up a slippery ramp and the side of his face was very bruised. They were going to the beauty shop where she was getting a perm. After he fell, he insisted he was okay, so they went inside.  The people in the shop insisted 911 should be called. The EMTs checked him while she got her perm. 

Then, friends left and took him to ER just to be sure. After that, they picked up BBQ to take home for dinner. She drove after he fell and they left the beauty shop. 

When they arrived home, their son and daughter were waiting on them. They took the car with them so they cannot drive anymore. They children never tried the parents' cell phone. They never called the police to see if they had been involved in a wreck. They never called the ER. Just "could not find them." I was incensed for her.

The day I called her I found out this happened the day before, she was still furious. Plus, she had to cook dinner because they had nothing to eat. Usually, they go get one plate and share it or a relative brings dinner. Now, she was angry she could not go out to take care of herself and not have to cook. She said by the time she got dinner done and on the table, she was exhausted. 

Son did take her to this lunch, one he has always attended. Everyone there to whom she related her story agreed with her son and daughter. I felt for her. We can always take her if we are in Cullman. Even when we go there without a luncheon happening, we will call to see if we can take them anywhere. 

We had bbq pork, baked beans, and slaw at the lunch. And cake. However, I could not eat the slaw as there were diced cucumbers in it. I never eat baked beans, not a fan. I had to have a tiny burger to make it home.

By the way, I have no residual pain anywhere to remind me I fell. But, it was scary because it was first fall without mitigating circumstances. The other falls were like all falls in my life except for the fact I could not get up! I am a faller. 

Have you ever had falls that had nothing to do with age, weakness, or losing balance? I have had many!

Strings on Bananas

 I hate strings on bananas. HATE them. I almost choked on one today.  So, when I saw this article, I read it and had to share it with everyone. 

Today was spent in telephone hell. So, I cannot write anymore than this.

What Are The Strings On Bananas, Anyway? | HuffPost Life

Do strings on bananas annoy you? or not?

Lyrid Meteor Shower

 

Tuesday was slow. That makes it an excellent Tuesday! We offered a woman food, mostly meat and vegetables, bread and a pie. She responded so vociferously that I thought she was yelling at me for something I did wrong. Well, no. She said she had no money and had to borrow money from her niece because they were low on food. She was almost crying but smiling and grabbed me and hugged me. That made it a better Tuesday. She saw the four containers of meat, about ten pounds. Then she saw the cookies. That was why she hugged me. She went on and on about giving her cookies. 

I wished that I had gotten her number to give her more food and other things like soap and shampoo. 

There is a meteor shower for the next two weeks. I will try to catch it, at least for a few meteors. Don't expect to step outdoors for five minutes to see a meteor. Go out, let your eyes adjust, put away the phone because it has a light. Being in an isolated area where there is no light pollution is best. Face the expected direction of the shower. Do not use binoculars! 

"This is the first time since 1861 has been in the inner solar system, and it won’t return until 2278." 

The Lyrid Meteor Shower Will Illuminate Skies For The Next 2 Weeks (inspiremore.com)

As a child, Mama and Daddy spread a quilt on the ground at night and we lay watching the skies. I have watched meteors which we knew by 'shooting stars' or falling stars.' They also taught us the constellations while watching for a display. Did you call them 'shooting stars' or 'falling stars' when you were young or even now? I still refer to them as "shooting stars' when I am engaged in watching them. Yes, my parents knew they were meteors. 

Tonight, I put color on my hair and somehow did not get a spot right in the top of my head. I don't know how that happened. But, it is done. I have more color...lol. Next week...

Refunds, Tree Limb, Olive Oil

 For at least 24 hours, I had not eaten correctly. It seemed everything bad for me was all I wanted. I was sluggish, sleepy, and not motivated to do much. I don't know why I felt so compelled to eat bad stuff. But, that phase is over. 

I did not feel like typing anything on my blog. I did read and comment on others' blogs. Of course, I did put things in new posts to share. 

Sunday night, I went to bed at 10:30 and woke at 2:30. Well, that was it for sleep until noon on Monday. Then, I was up at 3 pm. Still, I got little sleep and just as little food. Around 10 am, I had less than 8 ounces of milk. 

I am back on track. At 4 pm, I had a huge salad with Romaine, tomato, cheese, chopped chicken and dressing. I used half olive oil and half Italian dressing and marinated the chopped chicken in it while I grated a bit of cheese, and diced tomato. I was stuffed when I finished. About two hours later, I had a banana. 

Funny Tommy story--one day I was going to make a small batch of brownies. I asked him to bring me olive oil. He brought vegetable oil, saying he knew I meant that instead of olive oil. Well, no. He was distraught that I was going to put olive oil in brownies, saying he would not eat them. Of course, I knew the bottle open was not aromatic. He tried the brownies and has never doubted me using olive oil for anything since. I do realize he knows nothing about olive oil and had never used it for anything before. It was funny. 

I had an appointment to have teeth cleaned in Cullman today. My heart was beating funny, and I was exhausted from no sleep, plus I felt like I was going to throw up. So, I cancelled and rescheduled. I do brush twice a day and floss at least a dozen times. So, maybe my oral health has not disintegrated to the point I need extra measures to keep my teeth. I do not cancel lightly, so these were extreme circumstance to cause me to cancel.

You would be proud of me as I am making a concerted effort to keep this decluttered table clear of stuff. Tommy has paid attention to it and helped clear things away that I put down. And, I am slowly clearing off the table on the other side of me. Tommy's table and bookcase are worse than mine. I will tell him she can clear his flat surfaces, too. That will put ambition into him. Really, once a surface is decluttered, the surface needs to be dusted/cleaned. He sees no sense to this...lol. 

In the decluttering this last week, stuff in living room, I gave away one book. I bought it new but on sale. It was awful. I did give that to cleaner along with a child's t-shirt, and something else. I must do better. 

Today, I got refunds on two items. The first was a2milk Real Dairy Protein+Collagen from a2milk.  It mixes in nasty. Lumps remain on the top even though the milk tasted like chocolate. I have been trying for several months to use it. Somehow, the milk I put it in just gets foam or something thick on top. It is hard to believe this can be good or good for me. The cs I talked with was amazed and kept making sure I did not put in too much powder. I will get a coupon that will buy another 1/2 gallon of milk. 

Then, I called about Chips Ahoy that were scorched and the chocolate chips were actually burned tasting. They were nasty, but of course, I ate them, albeit slowly. I have not had any in four months or more, trying to break that habit. They are sending me two coupons to replace the two packages. 

Today, I received in the mail four coupons for Miracle Whip for the two I bought. One was orange MW and the other is not tasting right. These have an expiration on the coupons for next year at this time. 

I had to call because points were not put on my account at a business. All I wanted was my points, but they added another $7 that was on my account for the next purchase. 

Today was profitable--4 jars of Miracle Whip, 2 packages of Chips Ahoy, $5 coupon from a2milk, and $7 in points. That is a $42 value altogether. 

Right now, he has decided to inventory meat thawed and decide what to do. Well, he let one spoil! No, I cannot get that stuff off the bottom shelf. I will cook a pork loin tonight, to eat or store for other meals in freezer. I will cut it in portions for one and freeze. Also, he will brown and chop 3 lbs. ground beef for freezing. I thought the meat tasted like vinegar, so Tommy can eat it since he liked it. Chicken breast suits me. 

Do you ever face a stack of books or anything, fully committed to decluttering and just want it all the stay with you? I do have other books to sort, so all is not lost.

The tree limb will cost $1350 to remove and carry off. Now, to get two more estimates. 

Do you call and tell manufacturers when a product does not meet expectations? 

My friend turned 93 last week. I forgot her birthday! For tomorrow, I have a tragic tale from her.

Stupid, Stupid, Stupid

 My email inbox always has things I have won from places I have never been, never dealt with, not in my area of the country. No, scam. 

Sam's sent me one of those emails. I wondered. Could I have won those pots and pans? Is the internet reading my mind? I know it reads my emails and blog. 

I pulled out Tommy's Sam's cc and plunged right in. I 'only' had to pay $8.98. So, I did it. Then, ten seconds later I got an alert that this may be fraud. 

I am so cautious and so skeptical. But, I had slept two hours and up for four hours. My stomach hurt so, my esophagus felt full. I am no longer sleepy, just dopey. In my defense, I have never fallen for a scam. In my defense, I felt defenseless. 

I started to wake Tommy, but did not. I told him when he got me up at 11 am. He called at my insistence. Then, he got a woman who could only keep reading her script and kept saying there was nothing to do but wait a week. This was the number on the back of his cc, and she was no help. I had taken the phone and finally slammed down the phone. 

Isn't that a satisfying feeling to slam down a house phone?

Five or ten minutes later, someone who could do something called from his cc company. It appears that the $8.98 and another $34 and change had been put on his card. Now, both cc have been cancelled and new ones issued. And, I suppose I won't be getting cookware in the mail!

I am so wary over the phone, with mailed offers, and even in person. Scammers or liars never catch me off guard. I am strong. Now, I need to know when I am weak and without sleep and in pain. I feel stupid. 

At least, I figured it out quickly and told Tommy. He was not mad at all, just fixed it. I would have fixed it, but my name is not on the card. Well, it is but the whole account is in his name. 

I had a new cleaner today. The other one can only come seldom, maybe every six weeks. We need more days than that. She is superb! Of course, there is a box of things to sort. I need to maintain the level of uncluttered, too. That is hard. 

The day has been sunless and dreary, but, it seems brighter indoors with dusting and decluttering done. 

EDIT: I have just won high dollar items from Kohl's, Lowe's, Harbor Freight, Macy's. Sure, I did. /s

Have you ever fallen prey to a scam? 

Do you think a dusted and decluttered room seems brighter?

Don't Eat This Fish

 We often choose it, and it's one of the worst fish. It contains a lot of heavy metals (msn.com)

I went to bed at 10:30 on Friday night because my stomach hurt. Now, it is middle of night and I am sitting up after a med to help stomach.  I read the article about Tilapia. I don't have my glasses on, so I cannot see if this is typed correctly. 

New cleaner coming tomorrow, so I need to sleep!

Do you eat tilapia?