Yucky Scummy Bathroom sink

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Here is tip #2 of the year.

Do you have slow drains in your bathroom sink?  I used to use the hair and grease cleaners and they seemed to work fine but lately, since I started using Dr. Ellie’s mouth/teeth protocol, I notice that my sink would not clear up with those cleaners.  I couldn’t figure out why so I took off the p-trap under the sink – and it was clean.  I then lifted up the plug thing on the drain and it had this black yuck – almost like seaweed, thick and goopy.

So good old Google searching led me to a product highly rated for bathroom sinks.  It is called Insta-Flo (I think I bought it at a hardware store).  It is an odorless drain cleaner that works in 60 seconds on hair, grease and soap scum.  That black goopy yuck was soap scum combined with all those dental rinses built up over time.  The standard drain cleaners did not address soap scum so I gave it a try.

And it worked – wonderfully!  The first step is to warm up the pipes with hot water.  Then, put 1/2 – 1 cup of Insta-Flo crystals into the drain.  It works best if you can get it directly into the drain by pulling up and out the drain plug instead of just pouring it into the basin.  My first try was into the basin and it didn’t do much, so my 2nd try was lifting up the drain plug and putting 1/2 cup directly into the drain pipe.

The next step is to run hot water until the crystals dissolve.  You can actually hear pops and sizzles – which are quite satisfying.  Let stand for 1 minute, then flush with hot water.

Swoosh!  Clear drains, seaweed goop gone!  Until the next time.

Actually, it recommends using a half cup monthly for maintenance – so it doesn’t ever get to the slow plugged up state.  We’ll see.  I tend to wait until I have a problem but maybe I can learn a new behavior.

I hope this Tip #2 is useful to you.  Tip #3 will be coming soon.

 

Happy New Year and the Maidenhair Fern

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Shibaraku deshita, neh!  (it has been a while).

But now it is 2026 – which will definitely be a better year than last.  So a belated Happy New Year to all my (10) readers.  LOL.  Maybe I’ll have 11 this year.

Anywho, I have 3 great tips and rather than post them together, I will do a post for each once a week.

The first is about Maidenhair Fern care.  I really love this delicate looking plant ever since I stayed at an airbnb in El Cerrito.  The owner had a huge healthy pot of Maidenhair in her bay window and said she discovered how to care for it.  I wish I had asked her how back then, but instead I figured I could do it so kept trying and trying while killing pots of them.

I always thought that the fern could not handle any air movement so I raised them indoors next to a closed window and they survived but did not thrive.  I would use special use fertilizer for ferns but that seemed to weaken them.  The ferns looked more and more pathetic with passing time so one day, I put them out on the lanai where it gets quite windy, cut off the brown stems and fronds and basically gave up on them.

I had an elephant Maidenhair (really big leaves) that might be dead and still looks dead, a micro leaf one with really tiny leaves that was almost dead, a regular one that was huge and in a hanging basket above my desk that got straggly, and 2 new ones from City Mill in small pots.  All of them on a shelf on the lanai.  Like they were on death row from a firing squad.

I would google search proper care for Maidenhair ferns and it all came down to humidity, soil, and water – which we have in Hawaii.  I used to only water on Sundays and Thursdays when they were indoor but started watering more often since the soil would dry out faster outside.  Poor things were still shrinking and dying.

And THEN, one google search turned up with a spray bottle, so I figured, why not?  I have one that I use for ceramics when I do play with clay and I started spraying/misting the leaves of all those sad plants every day.

AND THEY LOVE IT!  They are growing new shoots and staying green as they sway in the wind.  Woohoo!

So, long post short, Maidenhair likes to grow outside and they need a daily mist/spray of water on their leaves.  Easy peasy!   I am so happy now, and so are they.  Phew!

Update:  One VERY important tip for Maidenhair Ferns.  NEVER let the soil dry out.  The leaves get sad and crispy.  These will turn brown and ugly.  However, the plant still has a chance (ask me how I know).  Cut off the dead/dying stalks close to the base but be careful of the baby new ones.  Apologize to the plant, continue to water regularly and spray.

Footloose!

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One of the bloggers that I follow (via Kay the Traveler’s Wife) is a super smart engineer type farmer, carpenter, all around great person, Ed.

His latest blog was a big departure from his usual stuff. It was a music video of the classic song “Footloose” with Daryl Hall and Kenny Logins.  I have been so out of the music scene that I don’t recognize these music legends but I remember their music.  I remember the movie with Kevin Bacon.  And of course, this song.  Classic, classic, classic.

See if you can watch/listen to this without rocking!

 

Mail is getting more expensive!

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We bought the very first “Forever” stamps that cost 40¢ each.  Currently, the cost to mail a letter is 73¢.  On July 13, it will be 78¢.  Yikes!  Forever stamps may not have the collector value like old stamps but they are a great investment, especially since increases for sending things through the US Postal Service have been increasing faster and higher.

And yet, it is still the most economical way to send a letter,  Also, to use those flat rate priority envelopes and boxes are reasonable, imo.

And now, the USPS has introduced “Forever” flat rate priority mail boxes and envelopes at today’s prices.  I just purchased “Forever” flat rate priority padded envelopes (such a useful medium) at $10.85 each.  The kicker is you must order a minimum of 10 and submit your return address when making the purchase.  They can only be ordered online and will be delivered to you free of charge.  $108.50 seems like a lot to spend but it will be awhile before I use them all and I wouldn’t be surprised if those flat rate boxes and envelopes jump up in price in the very near future.  Large flat rate boxes are currently $26.30 and medium flat rate boxes are $19.15.  These are also available with “forever” preprinted labels, with a minimum of 10 boxes online.

This is spending now to save tomorrow.  It is kind of difficult at first, but in a few years, it will be something that we will wish we all did.

Here are the details from the USPS.com website about them:

Like regular flat rate envelopes and boxes, Priority Mail Forever Prepaid Flat Rate Packaging comes in various sizes and shapes. 
Description:

  • Priority Mail Forever Prepaid Flat Rate packaging is a domestic Shipping Services option. All Priority Mail Forever Prepaid Flat Rate packaging is equivalent to the current price paid at retail Post Office™ locations and compares to the Forever Stamp in that it can be used even after the price of Priority Mail has increased.
  • This product includes USPS Tracking® service at no additional cost, which allows mailers to confirm the delivery of their packages.

Availability:

  • Priority Mail Forever Prepaid Flat Rate packaging is not available at retail Post Office locations. It must be purchased with a credit card by logging on to the USPS® website at https://store.usps.com/store/browse/subcategory.jsp?categoryId=prepaid-priority-mail&categoryNavIds=shipping-supplies%3Aprepaid-priority-mail.
    • Priority Mail Forever Prepaid Flat Rate packaging is offered for the following retail Priority Mail Flat Rate products:
      • Priority Mail Forever Prepaid Legal Flat Rate Envelope
      • Priority Mail Forever Prepaid Padded Flat Rate Envelope
      • Priority Mail Forever Prepaid Small Flat Rate Box
      • Priority Mail Forever Prepaid Medium Flat Rate Box
      • Priority Mail Forever Prepaid Medium Flat Rate Side-Loading Box
      • Priority Mail Forever Prepaid Large Flat Rate Box
    • Packages will arrive with shipping labels and Forever Prepaid postage affixed. The Forever Prepaid shipping labels will bear “permit-like” postage meters, which denote the Forever Prepaid postage, and the purchaser’s return address will appear in the uppermost left corner of the label. This shipping label may not be removed from the existing Flat Rate packaging and placed on any other packaging.
  • The discounted military Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box is not available as a Forever Prepaid packaging option, but all Priority Mail Forever Prepaid Flat Rate packaging may be sent to APO/FPO/DPO destinations, although no APO/FPO/DPO discounted prices will apply.
  • Priority Mail Forever Prepaid Flat Rate packaging is not available to international destinations.
  • USPS-produced packaging is not eligible for shipping mailable hazardous material or live animals.
    • Note: USPS Ground Advantage® and USPS Connect® Local USPS-produced packaging may be used for shipping mailable hazardous material.

Extra Services:

  • All extra services available with retail Priority Mail service are available with Priority Mail Forever Prepaid Flat Rate packaging.

Return Policy:

  • All purchases of Priority Mail Forever Prepaid Flat Rate boxes and envelopes are Non-Refundable. Additionally, they cannot be returned to your local Post Office.

DON’T Don’t Floss

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Awhile back I had a post about not flossing according to Dr. Ellie Phillips.  Over a year ago, I started doing Dr. Ellie’s protocol of rinsing with Closis, brushing with Crest’s sodium fluoride toothpaste, rinsing with Listerine and then Act twice a day.  My mouth feels great and I stopped thinking about just having all my teeth pulled out in frustration because of dental problems.

I did have some setbacks along the way – a burning sensation on my lips and in my mouth that prevented me from eating spicy (I LOVE spicy) foods and so I subscribed to her $99 Boot Camp for answers.  These were a series of lessons and the only way I could communicate with Dr. Ellie in the comments that followed the lessons.  She did not have answers for my burning lips and mouth but thought it was due to having a dry mouth.  Therapies for that didn’t work and I kept muddling through her lessons.  I was doing the last step wrong – Listerine for seconds (since it burned) and rinsing with Act for a longer time.  Act should be rinsed for the same amount of time as Listerine.

I also learned that the unflavored versions are better than flavored (except for Listerine), and when I switched to Crest’s regular anti cavity toothpaste from the mint flavored gel toothpaste and also to Closis unflavored (Ultra Sensitive) mouth rinse, my burning lips and mouth problem subsided – hurray!

I would only floss between 2 of my back teeth because of a larger gap there which collected bits of food that were irritating and recently decided to floss all my teeth after brushing with toothpaste.  Yeow!  My gums started bleeding and google searching said I need to see a dental professional asap and that gums can never heal on its own.  Being a medical intervention skeptic, I decided to continue flossing gently followed by a Closis rinse and pull, because I really DID need to floss all my teeth to prevent bacteria and little bits of old food from accumulating (and it is stinky).

So, if anyone is actually doing Dr. Ellie’s protocol, just a few tips that I learned to pass along.  My gums are in great shape, I floss every morning and no more stinky teeth or bleeding.

If you are not trying her protocol, please ignore this post.  In any case, have a great teeth and mouth day!

Ginger, garlic, tomatos for Orchids?

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I used to have a rock wall that had wonderful blooming orchids (see old post on orchid eating bird pest) that were happy enough in spite of those dang bulbuls eating buds.  However, I did something very stupid and decided to feed those healthy orchid plants coffee grounds.  Perhaps a little might have worked but I fed them a lot.  In a matter of weeks, they died.  Almost all of them except for a couple of oncidium plants that were quite strong.  Every since then, my wall of orchids became just a rock wall.

I kind of stopped acquiring orchid plants after that since I felt guilty about being a killer.  The few plants that survived were just surviving and not thriving, and for me, surviving was good enough UNTIL some youtube videos crossed my radar.  One grower (I think he is Thai) used the rinse from rice water to rejuvenate orchids.  I just tried it and now my orchid plants have new roots and look stronger!  It was also SO easy – which is good for me because I am lazy.

Take the first rinse after swishing and rinsing the rice and save it in a bowl or bottle.  Since I cook rice a lot, that was easy enough.  Then, instead of using it to wipe leaves, soak roots, grow new plants from just a leaf etc. as the Thai man would do, I just watered the orchid plants with it and had happier orchids.  Hurray!

Well, just today, after watching a video on an Avazzia device and improving eyesight (a post for the future because I am an Avazzia believer), I saw a youtube video on the side bar about orchids.  I watched it, and then watched more of other orchid videos and was blown away.  I didn’t know I could propagate new plants from the spent flower spikes such as my favorite phalaenopsis (moth) orchids using simple ingredients that I have in my kitchen and plastic throwaways from the grocery store.  This is exciting information and I look forward to using this knowledge to build up my orchid inventory again!

You can watch it here.  I am very grateful to him and now follow Happiness Garden. He has other videos with several other different (yet similar solutions).  And, I will NOT torture my orchids with coffee grounds ever again.

 

Who Are You Calling “Elderly”?

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Sheesh.  There has been so much news about an elderly woman this or an elderly man that – all about tragedies or bad news like found in a dumpster or killed in a crash.  And how old are these elderly people?  72, 75, sometimes 65.  So I supposed that makes me an elder. In other words, old.

I can’t put my finger on it – when I knew that I was old.  No longer young.

And then Civil Beat (who I sometimes don’t like because of their love of dirt on people) had an article, “A “Super-Aged” Population Poses Major Challenges for Hawai’i”.  These “super-aged” are 75 years and older, with the greatest needs, using up resources by being in a “lifestyle deficit”.  Using up more than we produce.  Sheesh again.

Well, this old lady doesn’t buy it.  Actually, most of my friends are older than me.  They deserve and enjoy life as retirees, are active in their communities, and give back by teaching, sharing, or volunteering their time and resources.  Or socializing and playing poker with friends.  Life going forward is not a dreary future, but a hopeful one that we are healthy and of good mind until the end.  We all have seen or heard of our parents going into decline, and it is inevitable for us, but most of us prepare for that end with family or long term care insurance.

I do agree that we need more care homes – but ones that cater to us rather spoiled Baby Boomers and allow us to live vibrant productive lives and not confine us to beds and television.

Ever since I realized that I am old, it has been a blessing instead of a curse.  I can have wrinkles, white hair, sagging skin, and not care about it.  I can have nice young people hold the door open for me and give the same old lectures to my kids even if they roll their eyes.  Of course I do miss the perks of being younger such as being able to qualify for refinancing mortgages (which I loved to do) or jumping around and driving fast.  But now, I love the slower, more deliberate pace that I have in my daily life.

When our dear friend Tommy Holmes passed away over 30 years ago at age 47, this song was played at an event for him.  Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young”.  It was so appropriate for him as he was a mover and shaker and doer of so much for so many.

Maybe we (the elderly) aren’t movers and shakers like he was, but now this song is appropriate for us as we enter the era of the Super Aged.  We still rock!

May God bless and keep you alwaysMay your wishes all come trueMay you always do for othersAnd let others do for youMay you build a ladder to the starsAnd climb on every rungMay you stay forever youngMay you stay forever young
May you grow up to be righteousMay you grow up to be trueMay you always know the truthAnd see the light surrounding youMay you always be courageousStand upright and be strongMay you stay forever youngMay you stay forever young
May your hands always be busyMay your feet always be swiftMay you have a strong foundationWhen the winds of changes shiftMay your heart always be joyfulMay your song always be sungAnd may you stay forever youngMay you stay forever young