So NOT Impressed with the Dryer Balls

           For several years I have thrown a dry towel or two into the dryer along with my wet load as the water may absorb on the towel and cut down on our energy bill – which it seems to have done.  I do use dryer sheets on occasion – especially with my undergarments.  We have somehow stocked on dryer sheets and have a good supply.

 

          It has been less than a month since Richard grabbed a package marked “dryer balls” that we might try.  According to the tag they were supposed to cut down on energy and replace dryer sheets as the static would be taken out and the need for purchasing any further fabric sheets would be nil.  The tag must have gotten thrown away or fell between the washer and dryer for I cannot find it to use as reference.

           My daughter-in-law uses dryer balls and seems to find them essential.  There are many reasons one may use the dryer balls and not just a dry towel. The tag was marked “wool” which didn’t excite me as I am highly allergic to wool (even a small percentage blend) but have been able to handle the balls that were purchased.  This makes me wonder if the ones we purchased really are wool.  My hands have not itched from said product – but I have not held them for long – which is not saying a lot.  My skin always breaks out if I but rub up against a wool fabric.

           So there may be a flaw to the balls.  I have been on various websites which praise the balls and give the reasons why the balls are so fantastic.  For example, these reasons issued by Parachute Home.  

          I’m guessing the ones I have used are not the NewZealand wool, but rather a poor imitation of inferior product marked at a bargain in price but not actually a bargain because it doesn’t do the following for me personally.  Maybe it’s my machine?  Maybe the area I live?  Or maybe the balls themselves? 

          Thus far it has NOT reduced drying time.  Thus far I have had to run the dryer longer. So I wouldn’t think I’ve saved any energy.  Especially MINE.  Again the ones that I have been using  probably aren’t New Zealand or even wool.  Safe for my skin?  Sure, if it isn’t wool.  Reduce static electricity  - um NO.  I have not even done 20 loads – let alone 1,000.  I don’t foresee  the future of these balls being used 100 times as dryer balls.  Perhaps they could serve another purpose?  Removes pet hair.  Bonnie does not have blue hair.  Something blue and fuzzy attached itself to these balls.

 

          I have removed the balls and returned my towel.  We still have dryer sheets.  When we have gone through them all I may try the dryer balls again.  But I don’t know.  I think I would have to try a different brand than the ones I have in the above photo.

Always on a Sunday

                When I was younger I would often spin around several times until I felt dizzy and stop – either of my own will or because I had crashed into something.  The dizziness was not completely bothersome as a youth as it is as an adult – an aged one at that.

           There are times I have felt dizzy due to ear or sinus infections though I don’t ever remember feeling so dizzy that I wanted to throw up.  Well, there was that time when I was pregnant with Jaime and Richard and I were at a movie theatre watching “Limitless” – the opening photography is spinning as I recall or maybe somewhere else in the movie.  I remember looking away as it was making me dizzy.

          Getting into a car when I am feeling light headed is not always the best idea. The dizziness had seemingly made me naucious and when we had stopped for gas on the way home I removed myself from the car, threw up and told Richard I would just walk to my mom’s house as we were not far.  I started to walk in the direction of her house.  Richard followed behind me in the car.  I got back in and he drove slow.

          On December 23, 2007 I fell into my neighbor’s nativities because I got dizzy.  It was a Sunday.  On January 10^th this year I discovered an abscessed tooth – how long have I had that?  And yesterday I felt light headed in the morning.  And experienced a scary dizziness that seemed to make the room spin.  I threw up.  I looked up my symptoms.  Probably my abscessed tooth because it is connected to the heart. 

          I keep on telling Richard that abscessed teeth can lead to death.  I am not scared to die.  But I don’t wish to live Jaime and Richard right now.  I think it will be devastating for Jaime especially as Richard will probably leave the state and move in with our youngest son. 

          He has wanted to get rid of Bonnie for some time.  If I were to die Jaime would not lose only me but Bonnie as well.  I love my daughter so much.  I don’t want her to be sad.

          In three weeks I’ll have three teeth extracted from my mouth.  Her birthday is the following day.

More Snow

 

               This time it stuck – slushed on the roads.  Dry now.

Snow’s been falling.  Finally let up.

               It’s noon and picture shows signs of spring

trying to poke through. 

Snowman Bones

 

               As we were returning from

church yesterday

Richard pointed out a

snowman near a senior trailor park. 

 

The snowman looked tall against

                                                the green grass. 

As we passed the pathetic looking

                    snowman it seemed to take on

                                                    the form of a skeleton.

 

 It was quite near its death after all.

 It did snow again last night. 

But it is an even lighter snow than before.

 Meanwhile I heard that

                                    Salt Lake got slammed with snow. 

Snow and Shoes

 

We finally received the promise of snow after an almost two week warning that it would come.  “Warnig” for some. “Promise” for others.  Not the same snow.  I took pictures as soon as I got out of bed.  For even as I type these words I can see the snow melting.  By this afternoon the trees won’ t show any evidence of it having snowed – at least in my part of town.

There is a couple that had come for dinner and games last night.  They have snow.  Lots of snow.  The description they may use would be “victimized” as well as countless others in our ward who don’t live in the city but in non-incorporated areas where there is no speed limit and limited firefighting – if any.

I wonder if it was snow or outdoor elements that started Tony and his rules about leaving shoes at the door.  I hadn’t even thought to take a picture.  There must have been more than ten pairs of shoes near the door – I had guessed so the carpet wouldn’t get dirty.  But before I left Utah I thought perhaps it was so the shoes can be found more easily as they always know where they are.

Ibuprofen is a Wonder

        I remember experiencing a headache in November.  My sister gave me some Ibuprofen and my headache was gone.

        After Christmas and into January I had experienced sensitive teeth.  My daughter-in-law gave me some Ibuprofen and the pain seemed to vanish.

        This morning I woke up with a sore arm.  I took some Ibuprofen and it no longer hurts me.

 

        I marvel that after the drug has entered my body it is able to travel to exactly where I need it.  I think that is genius!

Perhaps the Opposite is in Store

 

It is so cold outside

So unlike our first year in Oregon

We didn’t need light jackets then

Let alone heavy coats

There has been warning of snow

I personally think it’s too cold

Snow doesn’t fall when it’s freezing

Or at least that’s how it used to be

The worst part about all the cold

That is currently causing misery for many

Is in thinking that the summer months

Will be so much worse blaring heat upon us

Quite the opposite of now.