Anne_Dwyer's Blog

Sometimes,  the little things in life get me excited!!!  

I have to share with you one of my recent purchases.  Call me a nerd,  but I bought one of those plastic, collapsible, rolling carts about three weeks ago.  I LOVE it.  I never thought I would use it as much as I do. Actually, I bought a second one a few days later!  I use them to bring in groceries, including large containers of laundry detergent,  liters of water or soda.  They save me from going back and forth from the car to the house with heavy bags, hanging from my arms.  I bought them at a wholesale club, but other stores have them, and they are all over the internet.   There are several brands too. I keep them in my trunk.

Anyway:  I got to thinking, certainly there are other individuals who feel the same way about a purchase: one that hasn't changed the world, but one that makes your life just a little easier. (And I'm not talking about shares of stock that hit it big, or acres of land  purchased 30 years ago.) 

Anyone care to share? 

Tampa lost a treasure when Whaley's Market closed.  Sure, you can get produce, meat, and prepared foods plenty of places.  But, that's only part of what made Whaley's so special.  It was a place where people could expect recommendations from employees as to what produce is best, and in season, and how to cook your roast without drying it out.  Customers could also engage in CONVERSATION with other customers.  You rarely find THAT anymore. It was a family owned business that felt down-home.  I will miss the atmosphere, AND the Washington cherries.

The other day i noticed i had two overhead lights out in the bathroom.  I changed them with those (fairly) new CFL bulbs.   WHAT a difference.  Not so much on the light itself, but those bulbs are so much cooler.  Yes, they are more expensive, but gosh, they have to cut down on cooling needs, not to mention they use less juice than the standard types.  But my question is: what happens when one breaks?  Do they really have mercury in them, and are we supposed to dispose of them differently.  I notice they take a few seconds to come on, but for me, they are well worth the wait.   So far,  so good with this change! 

I'm on a roll and don't stop me now because it doesn't happen often.  I am continuing my efforts at Spring cleaning and have been successful at clearing out unused items from the closets. 

Now, I'm getting to the nitty gritty: the actual cleaning of dust and dirt in cupboards and crevices of the bathrooms.  Here's my situation.  I would REALLY like to find a way to wipe these areas clean WITHOUT chemical cleaners.  Some of them leave more residue behind than they eliminate.  So: what are some of the home cleaning solutions at your house?  What do you use to get the calcium build-up off the base of the faucet?  How do you get the ring out of the tub?  And how can you get the fingerprints off cupboards without harming the exterior?   And finally, are there special cloths to use for these jobs?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

Okay, so I'm a few weeks late.  I've spent the last couple of days getting some Spring cleaning done.  In the process, I  finally got rid of many of the items I no longer use.  The purging process is quite cleansing, providing a fresh start.  However, the huge pile it created made me realize just how wasteful I have become.  Why did I feel the need to buy those items I so rarely used.  I'm really going to try to curtail purchases, asking myself  "do i REALLY need this?"  It will save me money, and take less time in my next Spring cleaning.  So: it's out with the old, and in with the "NOTHING."

High School graduation is a grand moment in a teenager's life.  It represents the completion of  one phase of life, and a step into a new one.  It's a bittersweet time for parents of those crossing that threshold: we want to see our children grow into upstanding adults, yet we are sad to see the younger years pass, never to return.  At these types of ceremonies, I find myself grinning with pride and crying at the same time.  Where did our babies go, and why did the time have to go by so quickly.  I miss what used to be, yet embrace what's yet to come.  Congratulations to my son and his classmates!  You make us proud!

How is this for a study! 

 Research out of Sweden suggests young adults (ages 18 to 34) are becoming exhausted by the bombardment of facts and updates from the media.  The study was commissioned by the Associated Press and suggest  young readers are suffering from news fatigue!  The researchers concluded that participants were eager to read in-depth, quality reporting.  But a deluge of snippest of news in headline format gets in the way.  

I would write more but I need more details.  Video at 11 !!!

I learned something on Good Day Tampa Bay.  Pam Brown, an Urban Horticulture expert with the Pinellas County Extension Office,  was a guest on our show and had examples of various herbs that can be grown in Florida, even in the summer, including basil, rosemary, thyme, and parsley.   She explained that if you keep the potted herbs in a screened enclosure, little critters may come to live on the plants: and because the plants are in an enclosed area, the "good bugs" that are seeking to eat the pests, may not have a way in !!  So, on occasion, take the plants outside the enclosure!   Also: she explained the difference between spices and herbs:  a spice usually comes from seeds and bark, where herbs come from plants.   They're full of info at the county extension offices!

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office lost a K-9 officer over the weekend. The three-year old German Shepard, named Lobo, had been on the force for about a year and a half.  He was killed when he was hit by a car along I-75.  Officer Lobo had apparently somehow, got out of a boarding kennel.  While all pet owners feel a sense of loss when a pet dies, the community loses out as well when a K-9 officer dies.  Lobo had taken part in catching criminals.  So he leaves behind not only his handler, and fellow officers, but a community for which he worked.  Here's to you Lobo!  Thanks for everything!

Look out!  It's that time of year again.  Soon, the green/yellow dust will be covering our cars and outdoor furniture.  The oak pollen season is beginning and for many patients with allergies, this is the WORST time of year.  (Although it seems in Florida, allergy season is year round.)  Any sharing of ideas on treatment and avoiding exposure is welcomed!  It's ironic because this is the best time of year in terms of weather, but the worst in terms of allergies.