Consumer Reports has long held that shampoo is a waste of money. As for the soap scum, that is most often caused by the reaction between soap and acid (e.g., vinegar), sometimes by hard water or metals (e.g. copper or iron) in the water. Detergents (e.g. Dawn and Dove "soap") work better in hard water than real soap. Bar soap has quite a bit of water in it (that's why they wrap it in an air-tight cover), which does make it easier to work up a lather--but also dramatically increases the soap companies' profits. You know how that last bit of the bar of soap lasts and lasts and lasts? That's because it's dry. Go get yourself some good real soap (e.g. Kirks's Coco Castille Soap or Ivory), take it out of the wrappers and let it dry for weeks (or better months). Then use it. You will probably save more than 90% on soap purchases.
I did another good deed today, that I can live off of for a long time. At Salt Mine No. 1 (the forensic toxicology lab), we got a urine specimen for routine drug and alcohol testing on a commercial driver. No drugs, some alcohol. It was cloudy, and I figured he was probably diabetic, with sugar and yeast in his urine. (There are a lot of diabetics in this area, and no small number of them undiagnosed.) Sure enough, positive for glucose. Also yeast--but not the ordinary kind we all have some of on our skins--a very seriously pathogenic yeast, possibly even lethal. First time in more than 35 years I've seen it in urine; a number of times in spinal fluid. I saw to it that the driver would be told to get to a doctor pronto. I am really glad to be working at a lab where we are expected to do that, at least if we have the knowledge, and to consider the end value of our work rather than just mindlessly following directives. I think there are very few drug testing labs that would do it; the bosses and I are old medical laboratory technologists.
Leg much better again today (Friday), and I have the weekend at home---aaaaaahhh!
Buried Stevie about an hour ago. Just as we had the first shovel of dirt in, and both of us were crying, a Great Blue Heron flew almost over our heads. I've seen them fly up and down river, never had one or seen one fly across my field in 17 years. Felt like a blessing.
Such a spiritual moment. In some traditions the Great Blue Heron is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Stevie's was surely a large spirit...and now he's free. =^. .^=
Augury by the flight of birds certainly appeals to something in us. Didn't the [Etruscan] augurs decide the location of Rome according to the flight of birds? Agree that the dissolved minerals (well, depending) add to the taste of the water.
Leg darn near back to normal; just a little stiff, no pain to speak of, no need for a brace (today). Monday I start rebuilding the muscles.
Time to think about cutting back my hours at the hospital; I had been thinking about working a forty-hour shift once in four weeks instead of once in two weeks, but Miyoko had a better idea: work 32 hours straight starting at 8:00 AM instead of forty hours starting at midnight. That way I get a good night's sleep before driving to the other end of the county. I could keep that up for a few more years. Will see what the boss thinks, but he's a pretty good guy.
Presidential Howard Dean!
ReplyDeleteConsumer Reports has long held that shampoo is a waste of money. As for the soap scum, that is most often caused by the reaction between soap and acid (e.g., vinegar), sometimes by hard water or metals (e.g. copper or iron) in the water. Detergents (e.g. Dawn and Dove "soap") work better in hard water than real soap. Bar soap has quite a bit of water in it (that's why they wrap it in an air-tight cover), which does make it easier to work up a lather--but also dramatically increases the soap companies' profits. You know how that last bit of the bar of soap lasts and lasts and lasts? That's because it's dry. Go get yourself some good real soap (e.g. Kirks's Coco Castille Soap or Ivory), take it out of the wrappers and let it dry for weeks (or better months). Then use it. You will probably save more than 90% on soap purchases.
I did another good deed today, that I can live off of for a long time. At Salt Mine No. 1 (the forensic toxicology lab), we got a urine specimen for routine drug and alcohol testing on a commercial driver. No drugs, some alcohol. It was cloudy, and I figured he was probably diabetic, with sugar and yeast in his urine. (There are a lot of diabetics in this area, and no small number of them undiagnosed.) Sure enough, positive for glucose. Also yeast--but not the ordinary kind we all have some of on our skins--a very seriously pathogenic yeast, possibly even lethal. First time in more than 35 years I've seen it in urine; a number of times in spinal fluid. I saw to it that the driver would be told to get to a doctor pronto. I am really glad to be working at a lab where we are expected to do that, at least if we have the knowledge, and to consider the end value of our work rather than just mindlessly following directives. I think there are very few drug testing labs that would do it; the bosses and I are old medical laboratory technologists.
Leg much better again today (Friday), and I have the weekend at home---aaaaaahhh!
TTFN
--Alan
Alan ~~ Your story warms my heart.
DeleteAnd glad to hear your leg is better.
Alan, you are a star!
ReplyDeleteYep -- lotsa minerals in Utah's water supply (also, btw, makes the water *taste* good, lol!
Kid pooped out, completely, last night. On his way now.
Tea Baggin' Birther. . . .
ReplyDeleteWell not really surprised after all it's Obama you're talking about right. Obama is a muslin anyway.
And I thought he was a calico! Live. Learn.
Kid's due to arrive momentarily (he emailed from the grocery store in HRG about an hour and a half ago). Yay!!!
ReplyDeleteHere!
ReplyDeleteBuried Stevie about an hour ago. Just as we had the first shovel of dirt in, and both of us were crying, a Great Blue Heron flew almost over our heads. I've seen them fly up and down river, never had one or seen one fly across my field in 17 years. Felt like a blessing.
ReplyDeleteSuch a spiritual moment. In some traditions the Great Blue Heron is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Stevie's was surely a large spirit...and now he's free. =^. .^=
DeleteIt *really* was awesome to experience. After the last year, I very much like to think of him free!
DeleteAugury by the flight of birds certainly appeals to something in us. Didn't the [Etruscan] augurs decide the location of Rome according to the flight of birds? Agree that the dissolved minerals (well, depending) add to the taste of the water.
ReplyDeleteLeg darn near back to normal; just a little stiff, no pain to speak of, no need for a brace (today). Monday I start rebuilding the muscles.
Time to think about cutting back my hours at the hospital; I had been thinking about working a forty-hour shift once in four weeks instead of once in two weeks, but Miyoko had a better idea: work 32 hours straight starting at 8:00 AM instead of forty hours starting at midnight. That way I get a good night's sleep before driving to the other end of the county. I could keep that up for a few more years. Will see what the boss thinks, but he's a pretty good guy.
TTFN
--Alan
Miyoko is a very wise woman!
Delete