Translation lost, new words found?

I picked up a "new" toilet bowl cleaner at a local Dollar Tree and didn't fully read it until a few days later.

The bottle is bright pink and white, has an angled neck exactly like big name brands, and almost smells like the grapefruit it says it should. The brand is called "Homebright" and the cleaner is "Power Clinging Toilet Bowl Cleaner Gel". I think it's supposed to be like "The Pink Stuff", but I haven't purchased any of those products, so I can't say whether or not they're similar. 

When I was finally ready to use the product, I had read the back in more detail. What had jumped out at me was the (very loosely) translated wording and how the more tough stains needed to be cleaned.

Taken from the back (with no corrections):

"A unique fresh, fruity perfume fills the whole toilet. Its foam cleaning action leaves your toilet sparking clean. The thick cleaning gel clings to the toilet bowl removes limescale when used regularly (3 times per week). Cleans above and below the water line.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE: Direct nozzle under the toilet rim and squeeze bottle to apply liquid. Flush away for a sparkling clean fresh finish. For built-up limescale leave overnight with the toilet seal in an upright position."

It does have a unique fresh and fruity perfume, but I didn't see any foaming action. With the directions stating you can just flush the mess away, it was weird because the gel sticks to the sides of the bowl. You actually need to scrub it a little bit to make sure things go down. What's the point of using a cleaner if it's not going to wash away the dirt? Plus, this is the first part of the translation gaff, or at the very least misinterpretation: "For built-up limescale leave overnight with the toilet seal in an upright position". What does that mean - "leave overnight with the toilet seal in an upright position"?? Maybe leave your toilet seat lid up so the fumes can disperse? 

The next bit of confusion on the label comes from the warning and caution:
"WARNING: Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects. Keep out of reach of children. Read label before use. Wash contaminated skin thoroughly after handling. Avoid release to the environment. Dispose of contents/container in accordance with local regulations. 

CAUTIONS: Do not mix with other cleaning products. People with sensitive skin should wear gloves when using this product. 

STORAGE: Store upright in a cool dry place out of direct sunlight and do not expose to extreme temperatures."

Uhm, "Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects"??? What in the actual unprocessed hell is in this thing? This is a product that is meant to go down your drain. Depending on where your pipes lead, it'll wind up in other water systems where the "aquatic life" is around. It might not be immediate, but they'll have their opportunity to swim in it soon enough. Also, "contaminated skin"?? Like this is a biohazard product? Where is THAT on the label?

Moving forward, the rest of the bottle contains ingredients and information about the company (address and phone number):

"INGREDIENTS: WATER, CITRIC ACID, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, PEG-40 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL, DECYL GLUCOSIDE, XANTHAM GUN, FRAGRANCE, RED 33, METHYLCHLOROISOTHIAZOLINONE, METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE.

Contains fragrance allergens.

For more ingredient information visit www.rejoice-us.com.

*Plant-based ingredients: Citric Acid, Propylene Glycol, Decyl Glucoside.

QUESTIONS/COMMENTS? 1-855-345-5575

MANUFACTURED FOR:

REJOICE INTERNATIONAL CORP.

21800 HAGGERTY RD.

NORTHVILLE, MI 48167, USA

MADE IN CHINA"

Okay, there are a lot of things I can't pronounce in the list, let alone wonder if it's the same kind of wording in all languages. Science is science, right? 

Castor Oil being one of the ingredients would probably explain why the gel sticks so good to the bowl and doesn't move, even when you try to brush it away. It seriously sticks to the sides and does take a couple flushes to fully disappear, as this stuff is pink when it comes out of the bottle and pink when it goes in your toilet. 

The rest of the ingredient list, well, good luck with it. I know there are some regulations with the "methyl" products listed, and it has some restrictive use.

I guess this will be the last time I purchase this product and will truly be reading the label better when I am in the store. I know there are cleaning agents out there that are better and some that are worse. Since this is a Dollar Tree product, it's not that widely available outside of that "less expensive" bubble. Which means, if you search for it online, it'll be a lot more money and come from third party vendors on auction sites (like eBay) or big name seller sites (Amazon did have it as a two pack and grossly over prices from some random seller). 

Honestly, it's my fault for not paying attention to things. I was looking for cleaning products while shopping at the Dollar Tree, and when I saw something that looked like another name brand, I thought I'd try it. Little to my knowledge, this would turn out to be something I'm turning into a big deal, without wanting to make it a big deal. 

I mean, it works to an extent. Once you squirt it in the bowl, it's not as easy as the directions state. You just can't flush it away because the gel is too thick and it stays on the sides. Therefore, you have to take a toilet bowl want and smush it around; do your usual cleaning. Then you flush it away, but the color stays for another flush or two. It's not staining my white bowl by any means, if that's what you're wondering. I think I had more of a problem with a slight stain with one of those blue cubes you drop in the tank and it cleans that way, then this get leaving "it's a girl!!" pink marks. The blue stain only happened once, but it's not getting clean, which is a bummer. Those cubes aren't the best and they're a bigger and better brand. I wasn't impressed, truth be told. 

Not that I'm impressed by this Homebright product either. The citrus smell does hit you, but then it goes away after that second flush, which is a good thing. It's as thick in the aroma department as it is in the gel department. For a liquid, it surely clings! 

This is truly not something I would buy again, and although I've not read the label for other products, I am hoping the translations aren't as bad as this one. The descriptions threw me for a loop, so based on that, I wanted to do a post. Share something I've seen and tried, and hopefully let others know to be careful with what they're purchasing and using. Hopefully something will change, regardless of what that "something" is. It's one thing to buy a knock off or pick something up that is less expensive, but it's something different when the wording on the product is warning you of the materials being harmful for the fishies and instructs you to leave something in an upright position when it doesn't really state what that something should be. Read between the lines and choose your own adventure? 

Until I finish this product and don't purchase it again, stay clean, for the most part. Stay out of the radioactive beds of water as well. 

Cheers;

A couch on the curb... in Florida. What does that make us?

New couch buyers, that's what! 😆

My mother decided that she's had enough of the peeling leather between the seats on our leather couch. This is the... second (?) couch we've had where there's been an issue. 

First couch was fake (aka bonded) leather, which lasted several years before it peeled apart. Purchasing what was supposed to be a high quality leather couch at a higher quality furniture store, turned out to be a rip off because they promised and guaranteed us that this couch would last and it was pure leather. 

Only to have it start getting weird after a year. 

Come to find out, through many a complaint, the couch was actually bonded leather, which means it's "manufactured upholstery material which contains animal hide. It is made as a layered structure of a fiber or paper backer covered with a layer of shredded leather fibers mixed with natural rubber or a polyurethane binder that is embossed with a leather-like texture" ("Bonded Leather" per Wikipedia)(~shudders. I hate Wikipedia). 

According to The Leather Farm, bonded leather is "made from shredded leather scraps glued together with polyurethane or latex on a fabric base. The surface is then embossed to look like natural grain. [...] While it may appear convincing, it lacks the resilience of authentic leather. Bonded products tend to be cheaper, but they crack, peel, and deteriorate much faster. They’re common in budget furniture, office chairs, or entry-level accessories—items where cost takes priority over longevity."

The latter part of the second quote proves why our couch failed. The piece was falling apart. 

Off we went, back to the store to see what could be done. We talked to sales people, management, whoever we could, to be able to get a conversation going as to why part of the staff insisted the couch was one thing and another part of the staff backpedaled saying they do in fact sell bonded pieces and this happened to be one of them.

Which brought us to our second couch. My mother wanted a new piece because she felt this wonderful couch we had, was becoming an eyesore. She felt duped and she wanted something to be done about it. Here, she told all her friends about the retailer in the beginning and how wonderful the sale went. Then the couch started failing and she felt bad for referring people to the store. 

Although there was nothing major that could be done, the store (very nicely) offered a small discount off the purchase of a new couch. 

My mother accepted that and grilled them about it. 

The second couch was to be 100 per cent leather. She didn't want that bonded stuff. The company had to make sure we were purchasing a real leather couch. They assured her this next one would be, and there wouldn't be any problems. She felt that she trusted them enough, she bought a love seat to go with it. 

Fast forward a few years later, and guess what? The couch is peeling. That's on top of the fact the USB port on one side had failed from the word go. Both ends of the couch had reclining capabilities as well as a USB charging station, where you could plug your device (phone) in and let the thing charge away. Her side charger didn't work after the couch was delivered. It wasn't tested when the delivery men dropped it off, so she couldn't have them bring it back to the warehouse or get it immediately fixed. As she thought this was a small issue, she never said anything; we had the ability to plug in her phone to the wall socket that the couch was plugged in to, so it wasn't a huge deal breaker. 

What became of the couch, in the end, was the last straw. 

The inside seams started peeling. Badly. It was so messy, that every time we used the reclining bit, more pieces were scraping off from the seat cushions. Upon contacting the store, they wanted us to come in. We took photos and went to talk to a manager. Once we arrived, we explained what was happening. The staff took one look and said "oh yeah, we know what that is". 

What is it?

Vinyl and bonded leather in between the sections.

Yup. The couch is technically one hundred per cent real leather, but the places that attach together (seams, each seat on the inside, the leg base) is vinyl and bonded leather. 

Why? 

Because, in one respect, you don't look at the inside of the couch. Cheaper materials can be used to attach everything together, while the more expensive stuff is on the outside. 

How come no one told us, especially when we were making it clear that we didn't want to get anything other than real leather?

They thought we knew. Does it really matter?

No, we didn't know and yes, it does matter. No one discussed with us, that whatever we buy, will have vinyl or bonded or other types of materials on the inside (seams) of the couch. When you make an expensive purchase like this, you want to be told what's involved. There was no mention in the fine print, there was no talk about things being not what they were. 

To add insult to injury, when we finally started inquiring about it, we were just out of the window of warranty, so there was nothing the store could do about it. Plus, warranty didn't cover the insides where the peeling was happening. So we'd have to continue living with it or get a new couch then. 

We opted to continue living with it, because overall, the couch was still okay on the outside. The seams were becoming a pain to deal with, but we would carry on and see what would happen. 

Which brings us to Thanksgiving Day Sales 2025 at the furniture stores. My mother had had enough of constantly picking up chunks of peeled upholstery and opted to finally invest in something new.

This time it would be a fabric couch. We had a quality sleeper couch in our guest room for a few years and didn't have any problems with it. It was time to go back to that. 

As we shopped around, we told various places our tale and each sales person we spoke to, seemed to understand our side and apologized for the misgivings and mistakes of the company we dealt with. Even though they had no business / dealings with that particular store. 

Once we found something that would suit our living space quite well, my mother decided she'd buy the matching love seat to go with it. Now we need to find someone to take the leather couch and love seat off our hands, even though the love seat was in some what of a better condition (it was starting to fray, but it wasn't horrendous). 

She contacted friends and neighbors to see if they know anyone, and ended up giving the love seat to a pool friend's daughter. The daughter just graduated medical school and is working locally. She has recently started renting a house within our community with a couple of friends, so they are in need of furniture, and don't mind second hand pieces. If nothing completely matches, at least they have some where to sit until they fully decide what they want to do. After securing a time for the kids to pick up the love seat, the couch was discussed. They didn't have a need for it, and didn't know anyone else who would. It wasn't that they were not willing to take it, but they were getting things from other people as well. Too many big pieces in a small house is over kill and greedy. 

Understandable.

We tried calling a local thrift store, which every single furniture store recommended. It was the number one thrift place in the area and we were told the couch would be accepted, regardless of it peeling. This particular thrift, if they couldn't sell it, would donate it to a shelter (or halfway house).

Great! That's such awesome news to hear. 

Well, with high hopes, we set up a date and time for the thrift store to pick up the couch. They came, they saw, they denied wanting it. It was too far gone in the seams to sell. They can't take it.

What about giving it to a shelter? 

They don't know anything about that. Whoever told us, doesn't know what they're talking about. 

What this place can do, is put it on the curb for trash pick up because they can't even take it to the dump. It costs them over a hundred dollars to drop stuff off at the landfill and they aren't willing to do that. 

As this was Monday, my mom was not willing to let the couch sit outside until this morning. We'd get ticketed by the community for that. 

We thanked the thrift store guys for coming out and were saddened to hear they are limited in what they do. We weren't lied to, necessarily, but we weren't told an exact truth, apparently. 

Since the new couch was going to come Friday (yesterday), we would have to wait a few more days with this old one.

Which we did.

The unfortunate side effect now to this experience, is the delivery guys said they can't touch the old couch. This was even when we were told they could, if the thrift store didn't take it. This is becoming a fiasco. An entire crazy circle of information, in order to enjoy seating in the living room. 

Once the old couch was taken outside and the new couch brought in, it was time to do some re-arranging in order to now wait the week out for the love seat because they didn't arrive together. The love seat is on back order. 

Okay, fine. We can live another week without the second piece of furniture. I keep telling my mother maybe we need to get one of those blanket covers for the couch so it's not ruined so quickly. That the nice beige doesn't show dirt and grime and so forth before the end of 2026. We have a decent warranty with this new couch, but we don't need it going to hell soon. It needs to last a while, and if the fabric quits on us, then what? 

It'll be time to move, because Florida ruins everything. That's what. 

Considering the years we've lived on the old leather, there are some stains happening with it. Rubbing of clothing, human oils (sweat), etc. We weren't shy about using this as the main sitting area. It was lived on. 

Proof in point - this is a picture of it outside in the sun:

Shadows and various points in the day and all.

No editing has been done to the photos. There is not mold on the legs. I promise you that. It's several years worth of being used as an every day piece of furniture. Heat, humidity, cold, sweating, non sweating, lotions.. just plain old hanging out and enjoying life. 

The thrift store's point of this being destroyed wasn't the way the seats look. They immediately went to the in-between sections and saw the peeling. They raised the legs of the recliners. They saw how bad it was. That's why they wouldn't take it; it wouldn't sell. 

Even at night, the couch looked sad.

The shadows made it look weird and creepy. Like it belongs on an abandoned property, waiting for a horror movie to happen. 

Or, it belongs on the front yard of a local home where no one cares what their property looks like because everyone has similar lawn decorations around.

Either way, it was picked up this morning and my mom was super glad. She's in love with the new piece and is relieved to be done with all sorts of leather. 

I'm honestly surprised no one was riding the community with a pickup truck and took it, as we are so used to that happening up north. Maybe because we're currently in a gated community, so you can't get in unless you're visiting someone. Maybe because no one really wants a big couch at the moment. I don't know. But knowing we didn't have lookie loo people around, is quite surprising. Guess that's the big difference in where we were and where we are. 

Until the love seat comes in and completes the room, make sure you take care of yourself and research what you're buying. Don't regret your purchase, even years later. Make the best of it while you can and if you could donate to charity, do so. We don't need more trash in our landfills right now. Recycle when possible. 

Cheers; 

See also

* "Blanket for couch protection" via Amazon

Smells like...

... something that belongs with the Tom's of Maine, Natural Strength Deodorant - Fresh Coconut deodorant (which apparently is discontinued because Amazon stopped selling it and I can't find it anywhere online - even Walmart says it's "out of stock". The Tom's website doesn't even list it. I almost feel like it never existed, even thought I've got pictures proving I used the stick and actually liked it). 

Anyway, this morning, I started using a Pacha Soap Co bar of soap I got from Detwiler's when I was in Sarasota for Thanksgiving. As the bar didn't have a label on it, the closest thing I can say is that the scent is the "Golden Chai", as it has a wintry spice smell to it. 

Yea, I know - sketchy AF for not buying something without a price or wrap around it. I think it's because the company is Earth friendly and doesn't want to waste stuff that can't decompose easily. I don't know what the deal is with stores selling it (how do they price it?) because the bars were in baskets at the registers. Maybe this is the way the store counteracts theft? Putting certain items up front? 

So as I'm using this, I'm noticing it also has some bumps onit.. like if you were to pre-wash your body with scrubbing salt / scrubbing agents and it's a textured gel of sorts.. that same weird grittiness is in the bar. I don't know what it is that makes it grainy, but it sure makes me want to eat it. 

I looked on the Pacha website, and the ingredients for this bar are listing as:

Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil^, Water, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Kernel Oil, Sodium Hydroxide**, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Fragrance (Plant-Based), Elettaria Cardamomum (Cardamom) Seed Oil, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Oil, Honey, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Powder, Syzygium Aromaticum (Clove) Leaf Powder, Titanium Dioxide​

^Sustainable **Turns Oils into Soap

While the highlighted / "key ingredients" are:

Beekeeper Direct Honey Soothes and moisturizes skin

Turmeric Root Powder Naturally skin boosting

Coconut Oil Versatile hydrating oil to keep skin moisturized

Perhaps it's the cloves that are gritty? I am not that familiar with what things look like when they are ground up and mushed together. But it left my body feeling like I had a slight spa day, which was nice. 

Since the brand seems to strive on being all natural, there are some benefits for the human body and the earth body. No unnecessary chemicals running down the drain and no possible reactions to bad stuff in the mix to make you break out. Plus, if there really is no type of outer covering, there's no need to worry about recycling unless you decide to do something with whatever the shipping container is. 

I can't speak on how things arrive to the house, as I said, I got this in a store, so they ultimately put it in a plastic bag. Which I reused and recycled when I got home. 

As far as prices are concerned, the same $34.95 five pack on Amazon is the same $34.95 five pack on Pacha. Thus, it comes out to a whopping $6.99 a bar. 

If you're looking for a shipping discount, it seems like Amazon has the win.  Free shipping on Pacha means you need a minimum of $55, according to their FAQs ("Orders of $55 or more to the contiguous US qualify for free shipping. The product total must be $55 or more after any discount is applied"). While Amazon's free delivery is anything over $35, all you need is one small item to go with the soap and you've got yourself no charge S&H. 

However, if you really want to compare some more apples to oranges, from looking around the site, it looks like Pacha has a rewards club that turns into tiers (levels), depending on how much you spend. I think the points roll over each calendar year, so it might be one of those "if you don't use them you keep them" situations. 

I created an account while writing this post and got an immediate 10% off coupon in my inbox for signing up, plus 50 points for creating the account. 

There's that perk? The coupon is 10 per cent off my first order, which would be $5.50 off my order if I chose to go the 55 dollar free shipping route. But, I have to order sixty dollars worth of stuff since any discount prior negates the free shipping. 

Continuing on the site, there are then incidentals:

• 10 points a piece for following the brand on the three various socials. 
• Purchase power on the levels including:
• Making three separate $50 purchases (for 100 points) or two 25 dollar purchases for 25 points. 
• Since it's a 1:1 system, every 1 dollar you spend, you gain 1 point. 
• 100 points gets you $10 off. 

The 25 point purchase might be easier said than done, if you buy a 5 pack of soap, since they're over 30 bucks to begin with. There are also other offerings (bundles, bombs, kids, candles), and the prices vary depending on what you're in the market for. 

It all seems to add up quickly, considering it's "just soap" as my mother stated when I told her I started using a bar in my shower. Yes, it's just soap and I bought a 2 pack bar of soap at the Dollar Tree (for $1.25 + tax) in Sarasota (because I needed soap in my toiletries bag and didn't realize I'd get the Pacha for free due it a special weekend deal, quite honestly). Even the Native is pricey, but I keep debating on the deodorant since I don't get a flare up with it. 

Que sera, sera. 

So after all said and done, if you want to go back to comparing the big box online retailer to a small business and what's more economical, at least Amazon has Prime for a yearly subscription of $139. 

The price gets you: 

• Prime video
• Free shipping on anything (even if it's under $35) that has the Prime logo
• A discount at Whole Foods (if you shop there, and it has to be on products that say "Prime Members save X%")
• "Try Before You Buy" (according to the synopsis: "Prime Try Before You Buy is a Prime-exclusive program where you can try on eligible items across women's, men's, kid's, and baby's clothing, shoes, and accessories. Try up to six items at home and pay for only what you keep")

The list goes on, including the ability to use a SNAP / EBT card on groceries for those using government benefits ("Customers with a valid SNAP EBT card can use their SNAP funds on Amazon. No Prime membership required. Customers can shop SNAP-eligible groceries from Amazon, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods Market. Plus, customers with a registered card get free access to Amazon Fresh and 50% off a Prime membership. Amazon accepts SNAP EBT in all states except Alaska"). 

So I mean... when it comes down to it, what's the lesser of two evils? Sure, I buy (or in the case of Thanksgiving, get it as a promotion) one bar of soap from a local store, or I buy that same bar from the brand web site and gain points for future purchases. Maybe I even get it from Amazon and add on something else for better shipping alternatives, since I'm already watching shows on the video platform.

However, how realistic is this, in all seriousness? Am I going to be a repeat customer on the Pacha site and only get my shower needs from them? Probably not. Will I run back to Sarasota just to get the 6.99 bar of soap? Definitely not. Do I put the multipack in my shopping cart on Amazon and get it with something else? Doubtful since I do tend to get my soap as a bigger multipack when it's on sale at other retailers. 

Honestly, I love the idea of Pacha being all natural and being a mix of healthy / plant based items that possibly won't cause me to break out, but I'm not in love with it enough to be won over and use the brand as my sole provider of clean living. As I've mentioned before, I try everything and purchase most in brick and mortar stores because I need to know if I have a reaction, I won't have a problem finding something different. I have to read ingredient lists, and dumb on me for not doing that diligence prior to getting the Pacha. BUT... so far, no problems since the bar I chose doesn't have lemongrass in it. 

It's seriously a matter of literal taste - do I want to support a brand that aims to help the planet one scrubby at a time? Sure. Do I want to rely on purchasing on one site and one site alone? No, considering $6.99 for 1 bar plus needing $48.01 in more product is a little too steep in added taxes for me to warrant it. It's nice to know I can order if necessary, but I don't know if I can legitimize the expense. 

I got clean, sure. I smell good, yes. But I also got used to doing my shopping a certain way. I haven't even been on the Native website in a while to do any orders, especially since I've been buying other brands of deodorant. I don't even use Amazon like that either. I like to touch, sniff and compare. I have to read what's in it. I learned the hard way with one of the online only purchases, where the scent was way too overpowering, so that itself has made me limit my buying online. 

If I only had Maude's "Odorifics" machine, all would be good? Watch the movie - you'll understand. 

I don't know what else to say since I'm circling around a lot here. Do your research. Help the planet. Smell amazing and lighten your wallet. Turn to page 6 if you want to continue this discussion, or go to page 2 if you're into Paul Harvey, if you want to know the rest of the story... 

Good... day (or night depending on when you read this).

Cheers.

Come and buy my toys | New era of technology

Yesterday my community had it's yearly fall yard sale. 

As per usual, we were out at 6:45 in the morning, setting up our driveway. We tend to get people strolling around by 7:30, even though the official start time is 8. By 7:25, we were ready for the early birds to somehow get into the gates. 

Even Ed and Joanne (3 units down, the people we spent the hurricane with) were all set up. Our two houses seemed to be the only ones on the block with stuff out. 

My mom and I had enough random items that it would potentially make the sale pretty easy, but as we've been learning the last few years, people tend to go to the houses and don't bother coming to the condos. So it's a crap shoot in actually getting people to buy something versus getting no one and you're boxing everything for the donation center (which we usually do for half the stuff. The bigger items we try again the next time).

Some of the things we keep trying to sell every year is a Jack LaLanne Power Juicer. 

When this juicer was brand new and all the rage, it was retailing at over $100. All I'm looking for now is $50, even though I'd consider going as low as 35. It's so hard to find now, that the auction sites seem to be the ones carrying it. Even Amazon is selling parts at this point, including someone trying to get over 350 dollars for it (which is far too much for the machine). 

Another thing we try is a Samsung Blu Ray DVD Player, which obviously, no one uses anymore since majority of the people I talk to, are streaming. 

Which is weird since we are also looking to sell an Apple TV streaming box (it's a third generation). Everyone that looks at it, seem to be Android people because we also have a few Apple Watch bumpers, and various adapters. 

One of the new things was a Crest Toothpaste Crest Man phone from the 1980s. 

He looks like this:

And again, the auction sites have him listed for high money since he is a collectible at this point. There is only one seller on Amazon that has it in stock, and they want over $95 for it. My "make an offer" sticker means people think it's cute but not for them. 

Don't get me wrong; it's not like we're looking for hundreds of dollars on everything. Books were listed as a dollar, some of the plastic house ware stuff was ranging from 10 to 25 cents, things had appropriate stickers. However, it's the "art of the deal" and people want it for close to nothing (even a dime is too much). 

Yet, one of the people who looked at the juicer didn't want to pay 50 dollars. We said the lowest was 35 and they said okay. When they pulled out a fresh, clean, hundred dollar bill, I said "sorry, I can't make change". 

At the time the person came, it was 9am and we had only had 4 people come by; one person bought something for two bucks. If I attempted to change out that big bill, I'd have nothing left for the rest of the day.

I mean, it's one thing if it was a 5 dollar item and you were giving me a ten. But to ask for that much change back, I'm sorry (not sorry); I'd rather lose the sale than not be able to work with people for the next four hours. That's not fair for me - what if someone decided to purchase the DVD player ($15) and two books ($2)? I'm going to need to give them 3 dollars back if they gave me a twenty. If I didn't have that, I'd be stuck. 

I know I sound like I'm not being grateful because someone wanted to buy the juicer, but I'm also not a bank. I don't have hundreds of dollars to dole out as change because someone gave me a bill I can't handle. Like one of my friends said - "it is a yard sale, people want things for low costs", which also means, come with low bills or go to the bank during the work week. 

Needless to say, the woman walked away not buying it. Which, had she also wanted to buy the frozen fruit ice cream maker with the juicer, I would have made her a deal and given her back the change she was possibly looking for. 

So when another person comes in at 11 looking at the health food table, they were asking serious questions about the juicer. They took it apart to make sure every piece was there. They scoured it to make sure it was legit. When asked about the price, we said "make an offer; it retails for over 100", they said they didn't know. They don't think they have more than a few dollars on them. We said we could talk about it - how about 50, and she said no because she didn't know what she had. She put everything down and was looking at other things for under 5 dollars, and we said we'd go down to 35 but that's as low as we would go. She thought about it, and asked if she can pay us via Zelle. We said we didn't know what that was, and she said it's a cash app and that she paid via her phone and the app at a house around the corner and the transaction went fine. All you do is search someone by name, email or phone number and then you transfer the money. No bank account info is stated anywhere in the transaction. Her issue is that she just doesn't have any cash on her and she uses this Zelle a lot. We explained it's cash only because we don't do those money transfer apps; sorry. She insisted another minute and said that that was okay, she would continue to look around. 

She ended up not buying anything, but it's like, how far have we come in our society, culture and world, that now no one carries cash or plastic and they rely too heavily on their phones? My same friend who remarked about "it's a yard sale", said she "hates when people want to use those digital cash apps. This isn't retail". Which is true. Not everyone has those apps. You just never know with them. When cash used to be king, everyone got along and knew what was going on. Cash goes away in favor of plastic, and people scratched their heads. Now plastic has gone away and people are using their pocket computers for everything. 

If we had a booth at the flea market (and sold every week), I could see setting up Square or using the cash apps, but for a twice a year home yard sale, please be nice and get cash out, in low bills. Not everyone has the ability to make change for large numbers or do a wireless money transfer. 

I asked Ed and Joanne about that, and even they agreed - low bills, cash only, no checks or digital transfers. Considering Ed is hip with a lot of technology (to a point), for them to say "cash only" is as old school as what we want to accomplish. 

Sure, I am of the age where I should be relying on my phone to do stuff, but I don't. I still write checks, I still get money out of the bank. I use my credit card for stuff I know I don't have the cash on hand for (or if I'm ordering something online). If the right amount of greenbacks aren't in my pocket, I don't buy it. 

Not being a math genius, I really have to watch what I'm doing. I know not to go crazy in stores if it is something I like. I have enough money in my pocket for an emergency cab ride plus a trip to the store, but I am not keeping a lot on me. Yes, I have a credit card, but I'm not taking it out every single time I'm shopping. At one point, prior to moving to Florida, I had gone almost two years without using my card. I was paying cash for everything, including gas for my car. I wasn't buying online. I was watching what I was doing. Minimalist spending. Can't afford it? Don't get it. 

Which is why you don't go to a yard sale and look around, pick stuff up, and ask to pay with other means people may not have. That is a super big ask. 

It's like last year, when my uncle gave me permission to sell his golf clubs, someone came by and wanted to Venmo me. The guy saw the price listed on the whole kit, was amazed because he knew everything in the bag was worth more, and said that he'd buy it from me. He just needs to Venmo it over. I said that I don't use the app, but am willing to hold it for half an hour for him, if he is willing to go to the bank (we were selling everything for $250). He agreed, asked if I knew where the local bank was for him, and he left quicker than you can say "I'll make you a deal". He came back in less than 30 minutes, cash in hand, and thanked me immensely. He loaded it into his car and off he went. 

So proof is that if someone wants it so badly, they are willing to work with the seller. I would have been willing to work with the Zelle lady, had she not kept saying it's all she had and other houses accepted it. If you aren't willing to work it out, why bother going to these?

I mean, sure, I use Paypal, but it was originally set up for when I was selling books on (the now defunct) Half dot com website. I still use the pay site occasionally, but it's only tied to a couple sites that I trust. 

I know there is going to come a time when certain things we currently do, don't exist, but until that happens, I'm sticking to the things I know. Some people don't handle life changes well, and they can't be expected to jump right into things. Considering I've got one app on my phone that is going away permanently next month, and I've got to decide what I want to do about it. I have to uninstall it for sure, but do I install the app they're recommending (it's the coupons app and they got bought out)? Frivolous spending, me, but is it really worth creating a new profile, downloading the app, making sure everything is connected, to only use the app a couple times a month? I don't know. 

I really have to sort things out better. Figure out what's important and what's not. Hope the 3 tubs I put back into the garage sell next year in the spring sale, and vocalize about this issue once more. 

Until then, do your own research and be respectful of people and places you're buying from,

Cheers;

The stickiness of the cleanliness

 I started using the Native Body Wash - Charcoal last week. Fortunately, but unfortunately, it's listed on Amazon as a 2 pack for $19.48 by third party sellers. 

The reason why it's unfortunately fortunate, is because I like it. It's unscented, it's not turning anything colors, it's leaving me smooth and clean. However, I'm finding it's also leaving my hands slightly sticky, even when using a wash cloth. 

Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon used straight / raw aloe on a cut or a burn, and your hands felt a little gross after? The stickiness that makes you really want to wash your digits because you can't wait for them to dry and don't want to feel that texture? 

Yea, this body wash makes my hands feel that way. Even if I dry them good after my shower.. they still feel slightly gross. I don't want to keep saying "gross". Maybe "odd" or "slightly slimy". I don't know... I mean, my skin looks and feels hydrated as well as when I shaved, my legs really were smoother than when I used some name brand shaving creams. 

I just don't like the feeling of having to immediately wash my hands with other soaps after I get out of the shower. 

Overall, 3.5 stars out of 5.

Stay clean;

Cheers

See also (aka the lyric crossed out): 

* Colors of the Wind (From "Pocahontas" / Soundtrack Version)

#smelllikeahippy

 Alright, so... I was in one of the local big box grocery stores a couple weeks ago. I had a store gift card to use up, so the $4 and change (ish) price tag got dropped down to under $3. 

I bought the Tom's of Maine Natural Strength Deodorant, for Women, Natural Deodorant, Fresh Coconut, 2.1 oz. As Amazon has roughly the same retail price ($4.95) as the grocer's I'm not feeling too bad about the money I spent.

I don't want to go and jinx myself, but in the week I've been wearing it, I've not had any reactions to it. The only challenge I'm facing with it, is the fact in the container it smells like a hint of coconut. On my body I smell like a patchouli'd hippy. I do have to agree with one of the reviews on Amazon, where they said they smell like they trolled through a Vermont co-op. Someone on the Tom's website claims it "smells like weed" - like they smoked up. 😶

I'm just lucky to be using it for the week and not have my pits look like I rubbed sheet metal laced with sand paper on them.

Honestly, it's not bad... but if you're not used to the fragrance of an old vegan lesbian, you're not going to like this stick. Okay, okay... don't jump down my throat. I realize I just passed judgement on a group of people who have a particular taste in certain genders, spiced smells and non traditional foods, but I happen to know a few of those humans and have memories of them from my youth. To which I correlated this smell to. My first thought (after a day) was "I smell like an old hippy lesbian", although I am not one to fall into those categories mentioned, it does happen to be an oddly clean smell, in a round about way. 

Sounds insane. I know. The oils must have seeped into my head already and screwed with my brain. No wonder I've had problems concentrating this week. 

It's weird - I know I said I don't want to jinx myself (because this brand seems to be working), but if it has all these different oils in it (coconut, castor, soybean, palm) and little of the essentials ("natural fragrance") , it's surprising that I'm not getting break outs from it. Because yes, the scent is strong of patchouli, but it's tame in the negative effect to my pits. There has to be little essential oils in this, as I've not had an adverse reaction like I've had with other products that have "made with essential oils!" on their label. The lack of coconut is confusing, but the heft of being a hippy is overpowering odd. 

Overpowering is the wrong word. I mean, I smell slightly like I bathed in some of the different earthy essentials, but no one has come up to me and complained that I need a bath or a shower. I made a comment to someone I work with, and they said they don't even smell it. Like they weren't paying attention to me, even though I need to pass by her to get to my office / desk (we work in close quarters). We usually smell certain residents when they walk into the room, as they seriously douse themselves in all the oils (Emi and Erica know who I am talking about). So for me to be non existent on the nasal radar...that's a good thing. 

I am going to finish using this flavor, but I'm on the fence on buying it again. If it's not a fluke that it doesn't smell like coconut, I'm not going to rush out and get that beachy clean feeling from another stick. I'll maybe try a different scent, but I still have a spray bottle of Dove left from when I got my Native order, plus one more Native stick. 

I'm covered for now, so I'll see what happens in the new year.

Until then... stay fresh,

Cheers;

#Smellbad

 Children of 80's scifi fantasy movies... reminisce with me for a moment.

There is a certain Jennifer Connelly movie from 1986, where she attempts to "get to the castle beyond the Goblin City", to find her baby brother, in 13 hours. You figure out what I'm getting with already? Especially with the blog title? 

So this movie... has a couple scenes where the characters must enter a foul smelling, dead looking, scummy pond... where once you call the rocks (fwrends) to get out of the other side, they - the rocks -  fart as you step on them. No one likes to be trapped in the "BoES", but you can be sent there for disobeying the ruler. When everyone says "smell... bad..." and raises their hands to their faces, in hopes it'll shield them from the nauseating smell of noxious toxins, the characters finally get out alive. Even though I'm sure that stink has stayed on the actors... 34 years later.

Well... I tried the Native "Cactus Flower & Poppy Seed" deodorant stick today. I had finished the "Cucumber & Mint" yesterday (I take 2 showers a day during the week... due to working with the public during the pandemic. Don't hate), so I needed to start a new stick. 

Uhm... #smellbad is not the best way to describe things, but it's of similar stature. 

I personally didn't smell gross - the brand is surprisingly good at keeping me clean (and feeling clean). It's the fact this flavor - Cactus Flower & Poppy Seed - really did a number on me throughout the day. The smell is really pungent... like, imagine a gardenia flower... you know how that particular tree grows, and the aroma the flowers give out? That they're pretty to look at, but you can't be around it for more than 10 minutes without getting a headache? The type that you don't know where the throbbing is coming from within your dome and all you want to do is lay down... because you're afraid the smell is gonna make you yack? 

Yeah, I had that reaction today to the pit stick. I couldn't wait to get home and take a shower. But unfortunately I had to wait 10 hours to do something about it. 

Those were the longest hours of my life this week. And we set the clocks back an hour this past weekend. 

Yup... I learned a lesson about ordering stuff online. It's a crap shoot of what you're gonna get, but if you're getting things that smell, make damn sure you know what you're getting before you spend the dosh on it. 

I mean, the Cucumber Mint was good. It was soft enough in the scent department that it stayed mildly neutral all day, every day. I liked it. It was clean. I would order that again. But the Cactus Flower and Poppy Seed... well... I think it's gonna get the bottom of the bin smelling rather nice, because it's too late to return the stick (past the window of exchange), and I don't want to start trying to fight the company for a different smell, since I don't even know how the Blood Orange & Clove is going to be when I open that tomorrow. Remember, I got the Orange and Clove as a substitution because they didn't have the other scent I wanted. 

I totally got played with this purchased, that's for sure. It took almost a month to get to me, they didn't have a stick in stock (and failed to tell me), one of their fragrances STINKS (and it's supposed to be "sensitive" to boot!), and the customer service side of the ordeal is right shit. 

So... I'm gonna take my suggestion of "always do your research" to heart, and actually bite the bullet - I think I'm going to spend the extra money and buy in the retail stores rather than online. If I'm stupid enough to buy on Amazon, it'll be for the "Coconut & Vanilla" because I've had that before and know what it smells like. Otherwise, I don't think I'm doing this again.

You know how bad that sucks???

Stay hygienic. 

Cheers;

"Somewhere.... out there..."

 I need to watch An American Tail (Fievel) movie one of these days because I haven't seen that movie in over a decade and the song "Somewhere Out There" has been in my head for two days. There have been times I've been singing "Never Say Never" but today I was in the car with my mother and she commented about a pen not writing. 

I keep 2 pens in my car - one writes, the other doesn't. Both have stylus' on the end. So her comment about the pen not writing, I said "one of them always writes, the other one always doesn't. Just like how one of them always tells the truth, and the other one always lies". She didn't get the reference. 

That just means someone's lacking in the movie watching. 

The other day I spent an hour and a half covering for someone at work. It was at the check-in point where employees and contractors must stop before entering the premises and get asked a couple Covid related questions, as well as submitting to a temperature check. Answer "no" to all questions, have a reasonable temperature, receive a wristband and be off, yo. 

A handy dandy digital thermometer was my friend for that duration of interrogation. It's pretty swanky. Something similar to this, however, it's currently under "see all buying options" mode. Other models are here and here. From the looks of it, most of them seem to be in stock right now. 

Sorry the pictures aren't that clear. I was trying to take the photos between a little bit of a rush in cars coming in. I also didn't realize they weren't as crisp until I put my name on them. #Oops. And they were taken on my fruit phone.

There was also a nice orange smelling bottle of hand sanitizer. It didn't leave my hands sticky or gross feeling, like some knockoffs / cheap gels do. This was smooth and nice smelling. Unfortunately, Amazon is selling a 1 gallon vat of it for $43.79 right now. Unless you're OCD and think you can use it as a refill somewhere, this would be a nice addition to the cache. Currently, there is nothing that says it's scented, there are no reviews and doesn't say anything about Prime shipping. I'm leery about wanting to say "go for it". Even the $173.79 four pack (one gallon) has no information. I wish I knew where the bottle I used came from (outside of the brand website).... 😞 

And by the price comparison, Amazon has the gallon jug cheaper than brand website by $1.20 before shipping / tax is filtered in. Although a local big box home improvement store has the gallon jug for $29 and change... Research counts!

Again, the photos were taken on my fruit phone, so apologies for not having clarity. 

On an unrelatedably related note, I started using Crystal Mineral Deodorant Stick, Unscented, today. We'll see how that goes! 

Until next time's check in...

✌☮

Cheers.

Misty Fresh

A couple months ago we got a Pure Enrichment | PureSpa Essence Aromatherapy Oil Diffuser – All-Natural Air Freshener with Optional Color-Changing Mood Light and Automatic Shut-Off Timer for Safe Home & Office Use because we wanted to replace the Rainbow RainMate Air Freshener, Purifier (the thing we got for free several years ago at a home and garden show). The RainMate was just too bulky and we kept forgetting to clean it. So the Pure Enrichment was on sale at a retail store, and we figured "What the hell". 

It's so much smaller than the RainMate and much quieter as well. The challenge is, it doesn't push out the nice smelling oils we put in, like the RainMate did. Maybe that's why big and bulky can be better? More push for smell? Who knows, but the nights we have been making greasy or fishy dinners, this little bugger works quite well in the kitchen. It's just a shame the smell doesn't reach to the bedrooms like the bigger dude does. 

The perks of the Pure are that it's got several timers on it. Ranging from 30 minutes to 180, it's basically "set and forget". Plus, there's a stream of rainbow lights you can disco to, should you decide to use this in a bedroom and as a humidifier. 

Someone gifted us the Pursonic 100% Pure Essential Aromatherapy Oils Gift Set-6 Pack , 10ML(Eucalyptus, Lavender, Lemon grass, Orange, Peppermint, Tea Tree) and we've used the lemongrass recently in the Pure Enrichment diffuser. It actually smells really clean and good. Like the kitchen is full of lemons. So I guess this thing works good enough.

We haven't tried other oils yet, but I'm sure they smell just as good for kitchen use. 

I don't know if I posted all this before, so excuse the fact it's a rerun. 

But... I've also got a video. Taken on an iPhone 11 and edited in Pinnacle Studio 18 Ultimate. 

Stay safe, stay clean, take care of yourself.

Cheers;

"You know she said so..."

"... She's in love with me

and I feel fine"

The Beatles. I Feel Fine. 1964

I'm in love with no one but it's okay. I feel fine even though everyone is panicking over the current pandemic going on in this world (Up to date CDC coverage here). 

As per the usual "SHTF" moments, everyone is emptying the shelves for toilet paper. Even Amazon is having a hard time keeping up. I'm seeing a lot of third party sellers right now (the price + $ shipping) on the website, when I searched "toilet paper". Or, the name brands are "currently unavailable (see here). Stores are selling out so quickly that they can't keep up. I was shopping in various grocery chains and the clerks say they got several pallets in that morning, and within 30 minutes the pallets were empty. Same goes with paper goods (towels, plates, etc). 

I do have to point out that it's 7:28pm on Friday March 20, 2020. This could change tomorrow... the stock situation.

Speaking of stock, the financial district took a dive too. I don't know squat about the market, so I am going to leave it at that. 

People are also hitting up cleaning items - bleach, disinfectant, etc. This disease that's hit us - the Coronavirus (aka novel coronavirus | COVID 19), is definitely putting people through a loop. No one knows what to do because it's world wide and is affecting people differently with symptoms, even though there is no space on Earth that this hasn't touched. It started in Wuhan, China and spread out to hit Italy pretty heavy, then it went to other countries, including the US (and they say the States are 10 days behind Italy. Places are in total quarantine because it's such a new virus, that doctors don't know how to contain it. It's spreadable (not like peanut butter) through humans, so now the warning is to "practice social distancing and stay 6 feet a part". As all symptoms are different, the main one is cough and fever. And it can be any time to hit you. 

I don't know a lot. It's all so confusing because reports are saying different things. With the lockdowns and quarantines, public places are closed or closing. Bars and restaurants are offering carry out or delivery only. Grocery stores are limiting quantities per person on items that are also food. 

Situations are happening where all those zombie| apocalypse movies have prepared us for. Ghost towns with people shuttering in doors. I'm so deep in my little bubble, I honestly don't know what to explain or how to explain. I'm really like "huh??". I know it's bad; the death toll everywhere is so high, that the numbers seem made up. Same goes with the people testing positive. How can 10k+ be healthy one day and the next (ok, within 14 days) feel like the flu is a walk in the park? This is beyond crazy.

Yet, I've gone shopping in the stores, as well as making enough purchases on Amazon over the last few days that I've actually started getting closer to $0.00 in my gift card balance. I've been saving up my cards for something major and big, like I did for my camera (remember that Canon T7i I got??). This time, I decided to not purchase "essentials" but stupid stuff that I've either been saying I wanted or just restocking my low pile. 

The other day I ordered:

Package / order #1

• Seagate Portable 5TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 for PC Laptop and Mac
• It arrived today.

Package / order #2

• Verbatim DVD+R 4.7GB 16X White Inkjet Printable - 100Pk Spindle
• It's projected to arrive Sunday.
• Smiling Case for Apple Watch 38mm with Buit in TPU Screen Protector All-Around Protective Case
• It's projected to arrive Sunday.

Package / order #3

• Logitech M535 Bluetooth Mouse
• It's projected to arrive April 2. But now that I see the page again and am linking to it, it's in stock again in May and will ship out May 7. Well.. shit. Amazon guarantee said April 2 when I purchased it. As well as saying it on my invoice. If I don't get it by then, they would refund me the price of the mouse. I hope I get it on the guarantee date!
• Apple Lightning to Digital AV Adapter
• It's projected to arrive Wednesday.

Guess my "priorities" are a little different than anyone else's? 

Although, I did have to go to Walgreens yesterday to pick up two bags of Emergen-C Protein Powder Fuel & Superfoods (16 Servings, 1lb bag). I've been using this every day for a few months (yes, I replenish my stock) and it's expensive as hell in the stores - $29.99 for the thing. Amazon had it for $26 last month, and now that they currently have it out of stock, it's listing as $23.13. Which is a good price, considering the smaller package (7 servings, 7.6oz bag) isn't available on this site, but I have found it in Walmart for $14.96. But... now that I searched Wally World, it's a "Walmart Exclusive" - the smaller bag. Duh. That's why it's not anywhere else. *facepalm,*

I'm ridiculous; I know. It has been one of those crazy-train, weird rides the last two weeks because of what's happening in the world, and I'm just trying to figure out my job situation because of it, and keep doing what I need to do, to maintain normalcy. 

I guess I should check in on here more???

Stay safe and healthy!!!!

Cheers;

It's that TMI post of the day...

Hide yer kids and yer eyes if you don't want to talk about bathroom stuff. Don't read this specific text if you believe the movies are right and we shouldn't show our toilets.


I'll wait til you leave.









Okay.



So... I am at a cousin's house and have realized two things.


One: It's so damn nice to be in a bathroom with a window.



I haven't been able to sit and pee with natural light streaming in, in 8 years.

It's such a different feeling, being able to do your business with a window above your head... versus four walls, the "porcelain throne", a sink and a shower. Bathrooms are bathrooms but the enclosed feeling that forces you to do your business as quick as possible is partially the reason we all probably have issues down here. Being able to see something out that window or have natural light stream in, feels more relaxed.

No wonder why some people I know have stomach issues. They've got to "hurry, hurry" and get out. Maybe they feel claustrophobic? I know the bathroom isn't the place to hang out with friends, but it also shouldn't make you not want to go in and clear out.


The second thing I've noticed: The way the toilet paper is on the holder behind the toilet.

Every bathroom is different, I know, but I found myself having to give a reach around to get some paper.

For real.

I had to reach behind myself to get the toilet paper, to then use it to wipe myself.

Usually holders are on a side of the sink or the wall closest to the toilet or you've got to reach so far in front of you, that you've got to get off the toilet and grab the paper.... because it's on the opposite wall.. the one in front of you.

Not here. Someone didn't think of this correctly.

The holder is in the place the plunger or cleaning wand should be... in the back, by the tank.

Fecking weird.


Tell me your thoughts!


Cheers;




* All photos taken on an iPhone 11 *