Ramona and Running Around

  The two best parts of the day were, #1, having coffee and a visit with my friend, Ramona, and #2, when it was all over. One of my errands took me to Manistee where she lives, so we spent a bit of time together. Other than that, I went to 11 different places in an attempt to be efficient at the errands that never end.

Other pieces of good news are that "my" peanut butter and my favoite ice cream are available again after being missing from the shelves for over 2 months. Also, I was able to get the package of salad greens I like, the availability of which has been spotty.

The bad news is that it still contains four little heads of lettuce, but the package is considerably smaller. Who do they think they are kidding?

The shopping news of the day concerns bottle return options. I've been keeping a bag of returnables that had to go to Wal-Mart because they were store brands. As you know, this is not my favorite place. But, as I said yesterday, I've been doing some cleaning. And there was an item I had to buy at Wal-Mart, so I added returning those cans/bottles to my list for the day. I walked in the store with my bag of cans and the greeter said, "You can't bring those in here." I was a little shocked since the return machines were directly to my left and I was watching people use them. What she meant was that I needed to go back outside and join the end of the waiting line for the returns. OK, fast forward to over AN HOUR later, I had my little chits of paper worth $1.60, and got to go stand in line at the service desk to cash them in. Wal-Mart had 10 return machines and were allowing only 2 people in at a time to use 5 machines (2 for cans, 2 for plastic, 1 for glass) .

I took most of my bottles and cans to Meijer, where I do almost all of my shopping. Meijer had 8 machines, and all of them were in use. OK, by the time I finished, 3 of them were full and needed to be emptied with no employee appearing instantly to do so. But that left 7 in operation. I waited under 10 minutes to begin my turn.

I give Wal-Mart a grade of D. They don't get an F because they were in some mode of operation. And they don't get D- because they did have an employee dedicated to the bottle area to free up jams and empty machines when they got full.

I give Meijer a grade of A. They have new machines that sort plastic bottles from the cans for you (glass still goes in a different machine). The area was clean and did not smell bad. People did not have to stand outside the store to wait. They had mounted panels between the machines to keep people "distanced." I can't quite give them A+ because they didn't have a johnny-on-the-spot to empty the full machines.

And, it's good news that Wal-Mart actually had the item I wanted to get there.

But I'm really glad this set of running around is over... until I need something else, right?

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Best Purchases of 2018

 
As you've heard before, I hate shopping.

This was a pretty normal year, with only a couple of purchases worth mentioning as worthy.

The first item has become an ongoing purchase, or best "shopping find." I've been eating a lot of salads, and trying to incorporate a lot of dark greens. Since that goofy intestinal infection (that was never identified) I had in May of 2014, I've been working hard to re-establish my gut bacteria. Not such an easy task when they are all destroyed. I've been proclaiming myself at 100% OK for about 6 months, but I'm still trying to eat a lot of pre-biotics. (Please notice that it took FOUR YEARS to get my guts back to functioning correctly.)

So.. dark greens. I like kale. I like kale a lot. And it's cheap. But it gets pretty harsh day after day in the dinner salad. Spinach is usually $3 a bag or more and it gets slimy fast.

However, I've found these tubs of Artisan Lettuce at Aldi. Usually $1.79 or $1.89, and they contain four little heads, usually two green, two red. Sometimes the green ones are two different kinds of lettuce. They last very well, and don't get slimy. I mix them with boring old iceberg. Yummy!



You've already seen the other great purchase, made before my Midland to Mackinac hike. But what you don't know is that these shoes fit so well I ordered a second pair. I should be good on shoes for a while!



And just for something more natural, no purchase required, here's tonight's sunset.



In other news: I ordered enough books for my upcoming trip east (sticker shock!), did more bookwork, and re-installed some software I need to be able to begin work on North Country Quest again. Tried to find something I wrote a couple of years ago. No luck. Hope it's not lost, but who knows?

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New Gear - Socks, Not Quite

 
I'm going to begin this post by sharing one of my newspaper columns from a few years ago. The sock woes continue.

The Evolution of the Sock


In the beginning there was a foot, verily, a pair of feet.

These feet were not pre-equipped with coverings. For nine summers the feet merrily skipped along the pathways of life, crossing gravel driveways, scampering along weathered wooden barn floors, and roaming stubbled fields barely noticing their lack of protection. Alas, a trip to the foot doctor proclaimed the feet to be in need of coverings of sturdy and specific types!

Soon the feet grew used to their new rigid outer coverings, and even preferred this situation to the former freedom of youth. As the feet aged, more and more was expected of them. They were asked to walk for miles at a time, day after day, often carrying the load of an extra forty pounds. Sometimes the feet were wet, all too often the feet were hot... very hot. Eventually, the layer of cushioning between the feet and the boxes of leather became an obsession of the Keeper of the Feet.

The Keeper read the guidebook to happy feet. She bought Thorlos. They lasted one summer, being extremely hot and too thick. The next summer she bought Thorlo Hikers, and sock liners by Wigwam. The Hikers were still very thick, but a little cooler. The liners were nicely thin with a cottony feel to them. That summer the feet nearly suffocated, blistering at every protuberance and swelling two sizes. Skip the Thorlos. But the Keeper was a believer, and bore witness that the concept of liners was a “step” in the right direction.

The idea grew and was perfected (so the company claimed) by Wright Socks. (See missing link above). Each of these socks was woven seamlessly in two layers- liner and sock in one! The Keeper bought two pairs! The concept was brilliant, the materials disappointing. The socks shredded with only one long walk beneath their soles.

Next the Keeper discovered polypropylene, for the feet anyway. While other parts of the body some distance from the feet rebelled at the high-tech fabric by breaking out in hives, the feet embraced the silky liners. And this time the top layer came from Eastern Mountain Sports. No matter that each and every one of these socks cost more than the minimum wage; the quest for truth was not to be hindered! The Keeper closed her eyes, swallowed hard and slapped $24 on the counter for each set of socks and liners. But the feet were still unhappy. “Too hot,” they wailed, gnashing their toes, once again blistering in an agony of confined spaces.

“OK, fine...” the Keeper retorted, throwing away the guidebook, and she went to Wal-Mart where she purchased thin cotton socks for 94 cents a pair. Relief, oh blessed relief! “Thank you!” the feet sighed. The Keeper bought five more pairs of Wal-Mart Socks.

But again, alas... evolution is defined as change. Wal-Mart, and apparently every other sock company, has now decided that cotton socks don’t wear well enough. The sock labels all proclaim “Longer Wearing!” or “Increased Durability!” The exposition of this doctrine teaches us that the socks now contain about 20% nylon. Gone is the soft purity of the cotton, exchanged for the scratchy taint of nylon.

The Keeper is about to take the feet to the hills once again. Polypropylene liners, new 20% nylon socks. She plans to be listening for what the feet have to say.

###
What the feet had to say that year was that the socks with nylon in them were crap. They slid down inside my shoes within an hour of walking. I did find some cotton socks for the outer layer the next year. That was then.

This is now. The liner socks are wearing out. I did manage to find pretty much the same thing in a size that will fit me. These are by Fox River. I bought 3 pairs. Don't even ask what they cost. They are a little bigger than my old liners on the far right, but not so loose that they bunch up.

The pair on the bottom are my old cotton socks- just to show you. The heels are way too thin... no protection there at all. Not even going to try them again.



The two pairs of polypropylene (Capilene) on the right are dirty because I wore them on my hikes with Connie and Jerry this week. I needed to see how they would do in layers because I may have to do that for my upcoming trek. They worked fine, but I'd rather have an absorbent layer on the outside. Why don't I just go get some socks, or order some?

Because finding socks that fit me is one of the never-ending shopping traumas of my life. My feet are, in size, right between kids and women's sizes. And they are super narrow, so I can't tolerate a lot of (any) slop. I really have to look at a pair to know if it will fit. I either need adult socks that run small or kid sizes that run big. Add to that the idea that I want thin cotton socks and it's really difficult. I've found some on Amazon of the right weight, but I think they are going to be too big. I've also been looking at bamboo socks, but can't find any I like in the right size.

Of course if you order some and they are wrong, they have to be shipped back, blah, blah. Hopefully, there will be a part two to this sock saga within the next couple of weeks.

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A Day in the City

 
Today was a mixed bag of activities. We started by helping Marleen pack boxes because she is moving to a different house next week. We filled two cars with things she wanted to carry herself (instead of the movers) and took them to the new location. Then we went out to eat at a restaurant called City Hardware.



They had some interesting lunch items. Marleen had a fried green tomato BLT with applewood smoked bacon. Loretta had catfish and shrimp, and I had a Mediterranean flatbread sandwich with basil pesto. We were all QUITE happy with our selections.



On the way back to the car we passed this manikin in a window for an optometrist office (why?- I guess to show off some cool sunglasses). Anyway... I had to take a picture of the shirt.



What? You can't see what the design is? It's sharks! Sharks!



Then we went back to Marleen's and borrowed a ladder. We were going to do some more boxes, but somehow ended up going shopping... Oh- because Marleen wanted to buy a drill, and we needed to borrow it too. I also needed to get those zippers for the rain suit I started. So while I was in JoAnne's getting zippers, they went next door and both ended up buying shoes. I also ended up buying fabric for my next pair of pjs with sea turtles all over it. (I know I just made pajamas, but when I find fabric I like on sale-50% off and a 15% off coupon on the whole purchase, I just get it. The only place I can get fabric near home any more is Wal-Mart.) And I also bought a t-shirt that is very cool, and marked WAY down. (I also get cotton t-shirts when they are the right price and size with designs I like)



Then we went back to Loretta's and made use of the ladder to change a bunch of her light bulbs that had burned out. She saved some jobs for me to help her with while I was here that were hard to do alone. We have a couple more yet. The drill is charging, so there's hope for the next little job tomorrow.

After that, it was time to head back to church for game night with one of the small groups. We had sandwiches, played a trivia game and laughed a lot.



This was a much more "ordinary" day, but those are just as much fun when you are doing things with people you like.

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A Beau-ski-ful Day

 
Today was a day I've been saving my pennies for. I went to the Roscommon Cross Country Ski Headquarters (2 hours plus drive for me).



A trail friend of mine named John met me there. He skis a lot and teaches basic skills. He said he'd help me pick out equipment that suited my needs. I promised him we'd take a better picture of him, but we forgot! They have a little cafe and a lovely warming room.



Most of my skiing is done off groomed trails- just out back, as you know. That had a huge impact on what kind of equipment to buy.

One of the best things about going there is you are allowed to try out everything before you buy it. I tried skis without metal edges (like I've been using), and skis with metal edges which are supposed to give you better control. I liked the metal edges. They had a pair my size that were marked down because someone had changed their mind after bindings had been mounted. They are Alpina 160 cm length and 60 mm wide. Mine are on the left- John is on the right.



The BIG question was the boots, and they were the crisis that precipitated when this big purchase was going to happen. My old boots were very used when I got them. I'd repaired them with Shoe Goo three times, but the leather was just giving out and coming apart. And they were for 3 pin bindings, so I couldn't just replace the boots. Nobody makes those any more. (And the skis were never particularly fitted for me- they were just a free pair)

I tried on, and skied in, three different kinds of boots. There was no question at all as to which one to buy. Of course they were the most expensive, but I've learned that my feet will let me play at all kinds of things if I make them happy. These are Rossignol backcountry boots. Notice the square toe, the height and the hinged fitting that goes around the back of the ankle. My heels don't slip! My feet should actually stay IN these boots. They have a lacing system with a button loc, and a zipper over that- no lace to tie.



So, I paid a bit more than I had set aside for this project, but this will be my one lifetime purchase of skis, so it's OK. Mariah was really nice about getting me fitted, and of course, taking my credit card!



They have a trail system right there. I'm not sure if it was a special or always, but over 60 could ski free.



John and I went out and did their longest loop, and he gave me a whole lot of instruction that I really, really needed. I KNEW I didn't know what I was supposed to be doing to control those slippery sticks. Now I have a better idea. I'll try to remember all the tips John gave me and put them into practice.



I had to say "hi" to his wife Lois just through him. She was busy and couldn't come. But many, many thanks again, John! What an awesome day.

And here's how it ended.

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Best Purchases of 2017

 
For someone who hates shopping, this was a stellar year of good finds. I think there were four purchases that really stand out.

These are ranked. My number one, favorite, best buy was the oscillating saw.

It cuts difficult things in difficult places. It sands nasty little things that are nearly impossible otherwise. I'm in love. That is all.



Number two. I ordered this in February of 2017, so it counts for that year. However, it was backordered, and just came this week. I'd nearly given up on it. It's called a Flex Desk. Don't get confused with the bars that extend the recliner footrest.

The legs can be adjusted all sorts of ways to make it into a surface to create a standing desk (on a tabletop), or to hold your computer in bed, or in your chair. It gets the computer off your legs or the blankets which gets some air to the computer, and is much better for your legs, too. I've got the legs set so it will snug into my lap in the recliner, where I like to work. For over a year, I've been using trays from the dehydrator to provide some air flow under the computer. That was a workable solution, but not comfortable or ideal.



It's amazingly easy to re-set the legs to any position you want. There are little dials with the angles marked so you can be sure both sides are the same.



Suggestions for use on the box.



Number three. This gets bumped to third only because there were no surprises at liking it. We had one of these several years ago, but it died. For Christmas we replaced it. OK, this was a gift to me from Omer that I requested, but... that's pretty much like just buying something you want. This is the Cuisinart immersion blender.


It comes apart so you can completely submerge the blade part for cleaning.



It makes smoothies, easily. There are tons of actual recipes out there, or just throw in some fruit and milk and blend. (banana-blueberry)


Number four. Bar Keepers Friend. Total investment: $1.99. Cleaning value: unbelievable. This is what I used on the outside of my trailer and it removed all the grime and mold and ick. See also: moldy fiberglass showers, sinks and other nasty jobs. Wearing gloves not required, but it really dries your skin if you don't.



Honorable mention: The Wassail Juice drink from Aldis. See True Confessions- I Shopped

In Other News: I did a lot of book promotion stuff today that doesn't really show, but it's important. I wrote the outline for book 2 in the Dubois Files. The title will be The Hitchhiker. I wrote some of the extra material that goes in The Secret Cellar. I archived a bunch of computer files. I cleaned the bathroom (reality check there).

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True Confessions - I Shopped

 
Shocking, isn't it? But I swear it was an accident that I darkened a store entry on Black Friday.

I just had to stop at Aldis and buy more of this juice. It's only available at Christmas.

This post also comes under the heading of shopping coups. Every couple of years I mention the shopping find of the year. Consider this one of the 2017 winners.



I had purchased a bottle last week to try. The ingredients are black currant juice, apple juice, clove, cinnamon, orange juice, lemon juice, cardamom, and ginger. It's supposedly based on the historic drink "wassail," as in "Here we come a wassailing," or "and to you your wassail too," in the Christmas songs.

Yup, it's good. Really good. The flavor is a bit dark and dusky. Sort of a cranberry/black cherry flavor. And spiced. It's labeled - best served hot. I like it chilled.

The big thing is, the day I was sick with that whopper of a cold, it was the only thing that tasted good. Since I was leaking liquid from my nose like a hydrant, it was a good way to help stay hydrated. Had to get more before they run out. So, it just happened to be Friday, and I stopped on my way home from work. There you have it.

The sunset today was intense with deep colors.



And it threw light across to the grain elevator in the east. The metal structure often catches the reflected light, and I liked the effect today. It was a little out of the ordinary. I don't really think the "space station" is beautiful, but it's part of my world, so I just take whatever beauty it wants to present.



In other news, I finished the layout for the back cover of the print edition of Dead Mule Swamp Druggist, and I started writing chapter one of the first mystery for young readers. Tentative title of the book is Dubois Files: The Secret Cellar. Tentative title of the chapter is "JIMMIE AND LASZLO."

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My Trailer- Redo Day 10- Is Bar Keepers Friend My Fiberglass Friend?

 
Is Bar Keepers Friend cleanser a friend to my fiberglass trailer? The final answer is a big YES. Now I'll back up and tell you how I got there.



I was already tired and hungry when I got out of work, but I stopped at Home Depot to get more fiberglass mat which I'll need for the big hole. Nope. Since I bought the one package three days ago, someone else has cleaned them out. It will be a week before they have more. I want to have enough to do the big hole before I start it. So I guess that project is on hold.

Then I needed to stop at Meijer to get some groceries for a salad for a lunch at work tomorrow (not just the mailroom, but all the employees). So I had checked on line, and it said that Meijer carries Bar Keepers Friend, often just called BKF. Got all my groceries, and went up and down the cleaning aisle three times. I couldn't even find the collection of similar cleansers like Comet and Bon Ami, etc. Not a store employee in sight. So I went to the service desk and waited in line. The lady there looked at me like I had two heads. She didn't know what any of those cleansers were and said they probably don't carry it. I said that the website claimed they did. She suggested I try in housewares with the mops. So I hiked back there. Nothing. However, now two employees appeared. The first one of these also had never heard of any of those cleaners. She was reading shelf tags among the vacuum cleaners and carpet shampooers, while I was trying to explain what they were.

I like to think I have verbal descriptive skills, but apparently I wasn't succeeding. Then the other lady said, "Oh, I know what they are. They come in a shaker can." Now we were getting somewhere. She said they were in the cleaning product aisle. I explained that I'd looked pretty hard and didn't see them. So she walked me over there, and we found two cans of Comet and two of BKF pushed way back under the bottom shelf. This should make me feel like I really succeeded. It only makes me hate shopping even more.

Anyway, I managed to get out of the store without buying any junk food, no small victory, because now I was seriously hungry.

Came home and ate something. Sure didn't feel like doing anything, but I'm determined to try to do at least something on the trailer every day I can. I could have counted just the shopping, but decided I could try the cleaning.

That meant getting out the hoses and hooking them up. Sounds easy, right? Wrong. The long, 1" diameter hose (yes, it's bigger than the standard 3/4" hose) was plugged. Plugged, not kinked. It was fine when I put it away last fall. Could spiders have crawled inside and made nests? Anyway, I kept working it and finally got water to come through. Not the amount that should, but at least a slow stream.

Now we have finally arrived at the point of this post. Aren't you glad? Cleaning the exterior of the trailer.

Read the directions (yeah, I'm that kind of person). I'd previously read some other things on line. Bar Keepers Friend uses oxalic acid to clean with and can be used on a lot of different materials. Fiberglass is one of them. Generally, you shouldn't even use a scrubby pad, but I need to clean off all the loose finish on mine as well as the dirt and mold, so I got out a good stiff brush too.

First I tried a space that showed some dirt, but nothing major.



I know, you can hardly see the dirt. Here's a closer look.



Per instructions, I wet the surface and my rag thoroughly, put some BKF on the rag and wiped the area down. Here's how it came out. Pretty nice.



But that was an easy spot. I decided to take on one of the worst places. The top front curve is covered with mold that has just latched on to the crazing surface.



Wet, BKF, wipe and gently scrub with a cloth. I could see that progress was being made and the spots were fading. But I decided to take the scrub brush to it and see how much of that I could really get off. So I rinsed the area down and started over. More water, more BKF, scrubbing hard, rinse. I did that one more time, and take a look.



The curve on the right of the seam gasket is the one I scrubbed. It previously matched the space on the left of the gasket. Pretty impressive.

The flaky look is just that. Flaked surface. It's unclear to me if this trailer has previously been painted. This area, cleaned up now makes me think, maybe. The smooth white areas could be the original gel-coat and the slightly grayish areas are remains of cracking paint. If it was painted, though, They must have masked the original decals very well, because those don't look like they've ever been messed with.

At any rate, I'll be able to get the surface really clean for very little money, just a lot of elbow grease. Then I'll have to sand off most of that old paint. That might be a bit tough on my little oscillator. Might have to get a small sander.

So, today I learned what I'm going to need to do to prep the exterior. But at least I can scrub a section even if I can't get much else done on any given day.

Now, I have to go make that salad!

(BP -14 and counting)

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