Video: Passions Cast Tribute (1999 - 2008) - "Breathe" Theme

Old NBC Soap Opera

I discovered the NBC paranormal soap, Passions, shortly before it was canceled. Does anyone know if it went into syndication somewhere? I love the theme song.

Recipe: French Cheesecake

From the Kitchen of the Late Great Marion Morris, Long Island Housewife Extraordinaire

French Cheesecake

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 lb cream cheese

3 tbsp flour

1/4 tsp salt

3 eggs separated

3/4 cup cream

1 tsp vanilla extract

Rich prepared pie dough or 1 stick butter and 2 cups graham crumbs

1 can fruit pie filling to top (optional).

Sift flour, sugar and salt together. Ad to softened cheese and cream, egg yolks & vanilla. Beat until smooth and creamy. In separate bowl, beat egg whites until stiff & fold into above mixture.

Line an 11" x 7"x 1 1/2" pan with rich prepared pie dough or 2 cups graham crumbs mixed with 1 stick melted butter to form a crust.

Bake at 450° for 15 minutes, then at 325° for 45 minutes. Turn heat up to 375° and bake for 10 minutes or until firm & golden brown. When completely cool, dust with powdered sugar. Best to cool inside oven.

Add any can of fruit pie filling to top (optional).

Recipe: Dump Cake

Dump Cake

1 can crushed pineapple (20 oz)

1 can pie filling (any flavor)

1 box dry cake mix (white, yellow or spice)

1 stick butter

350° oven - ungreased 13" x 9" x 2" pan

Spread pineapple on bottom of pan

Spread pie filling over pineapple

Spread dry cake mix over mixture

Slice butter into pieces and dot over cake mix

Bake 50 to 60 minutes.

***This recipe is from an old dear friend, Anita Lutrario.

Recipe: Coffee Cake

From the Kitchen of the Late Great Marion Morris, Long Island Housewife Extraordinaire

Crumb Top Coffee Cake

1 stick butter

1 1/2 cups sifted flour

1 cup firm brown sugar

1 1/2 tsps baking powder

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1 egg, beaten

1/2 cup milk

Cut butter into mixture of flour, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon & salt until crumbly. Save 1/2 cup for topping. 

Combine egg and milk, stir into remaining flour mixture, mix well. 

Pour into a greased and floured 8" x 8" x 2" baking pan. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup topping. 

Bake 375° for 30 to 35 minutes.

Recipe: Chocolate Cake

A retro recipe from the kitchen of Marion Morris, 

the late great Long Island Housewife Extraordinaire

Chocolate Cake

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/3 cups sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup shortening

1 cup low-fat milk

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

2 squares (1 oz each) unsweetened chocolate, melted.

Combine dry ingredients in mixer bowl. Add shortening, milk and vanilla. Mix one minute on low speed. Stop and scrape bowl. Add eggs and chocolate. Mix on low for 30 seconds. Stop and scrape bowl. Mix on medium speed for one minute.

Pour batter into two greased and floured 8 or 9 inch round baking pans. Bake at 350° for 30 to 35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. 

Remove from pans. Cool completely on wire rack.

 

Prepare chocolate frosting:

1 cup butter, softened

2 tbsp light corn syrup

4 cups powdered sugar

2 squares (1 oz each) unsweetened chocolate, melted

Place butter in mixer bowl. Beat on medium speed 1 1/2 minutes or until creamy. Stop and scrape bowl. Add corn syrup. Mix well on low speed. Stop and scrape bowl.

Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing until blended. Beat one minute on medium speed. Stop and scrape bowl. 

Slowly add melted chocolate and mix about 1 1/2 minutes. Stop and scrape bowl. Beat on medium speed for one minute.

 

Frost cake.

Recipe: Blueberry Crumb Cake

Blueberry Crumb Cake

1/2 cup butter or margarine

3/4 cup sugar

1 egg

2 cups sifted flour

2 tsps baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/3 cup milk

1 can (1 lb 5 oz) blueberry pie filling

1/2 cup sugar

1/8 cup flour

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/8 tsp salt

2 tbsps butter

In a bowl cream the half cup of butter or margarine until light.

Gradually beat in the 3/4 cup sugar. Beat in egg. 

Sift together the four, baking powder and slat. Add flour to creamed mixture alternately with the milk. Mix well. 

Spread 1/2 the batter in a greased baking pan 9" x 9" x 2". Cover with 3/4 blueberry filling. Spoon on remaining batter and top with remaining blueberry. 

In a bowl stir the 1/2 cup each of sugar and lour together with the cinnamon and salt. With two knives or pastry blender cut in the 2 tbsp of butte until well blended. Sprinkle these crumbs over filling evenly.

Bake in 375° oven 40 minutes or until cake starts to leave the sides and is lightly browned. Test for doneness. Cool. Cut into squares.

Recipe: Angel Food Cake

Angel Food Cake

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups sugar, divided

1 1/2 cups egg whites (about 12 to 15 egg whites)

1 1/2 tsp cream of tartar

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp vanilla or 1/2 tsp almond extract

Mix flour and 1/2 cup sugar in small bowl. Set aside.

Place egg whites in mixing bowl. Using whipping attachment, gradually turn to high speed and whip 20 to 30 seconds or until egg whites are frothy.

Add cream of tartar, salt, and vanilla. Whip 2 to 2 1/2 minutes or until whites are almost stiff but not dry. Gradually add remaining 1 cup sugar and mix one minute. Stop and scrape bowl.

Spoon flour-sugar mixture, one-fourth at a time, over egg whites. Fold in gently with spatula, just until blended.

Pour batter into ungreased 10" tube pan. With knife, gently cut through batter to remove large air bubbles. Bake at 375° for 35 minutes or until crust is golden brown and cracks are very dry. Immediate invert cake onto funnel or soft drink bottle. Cool completely. Remove from pan.

Book Excerpt: Hundred Dollar Bill

Hundred Dollar Bill

By Sherry Morris Silver

The Good Girls of Washington Book 1

eBook: Apple  ARe  Diesel  Kindle   Kobo  Nook  Sony  Smashwords

Paperback: Amazon  Barnes and Noble  Ellora's Cave

Excerpt from HUNDRED DOLLAR BILL

By Sherry Silver

Washington, DC 1945

Miss Chloe Lambert stepped off the streetcar at the corner of Fourteenth and C Streets. Frigid air played tag with her breath and steam from underground. Strolling carefully on the slippery sidewalk, she watched as Sergeant Bill Blandings hoisted the loading dock door and stepped outside the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. He struck a match to light the cigarette dangling from his lip then ascended the ramp, locking his gaze onto hers. Heart pounding, Chloe paused to refresh her lipstick. Bill sucked the smoke deep into his lungs as he watched and waited. Finally exhaling, he blew five smoke rings. She stepped up to him and scattered the circles with her blue gloved hand.

He said, "You are one gorgeous dame tonight."

Chloe gazed into his midnight blue eyes. Nobody has eyes like Bill. He has the devil in them. They are so darned…irresistible. She brushed him aside.

He threw down his cigarette and snuffed it out with one twist of his black steel-toed police boot. Powdery snow blew off the retaining walls as they walked down the salted ramp. Chloe and Bill entered the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. He lowered the door. It thumped against the concrete floor.

She led the way through the cavernous federal building. The scent of floor polish wafted up from the pristine terrazzo.

He confided, "We're pretty much alone now. The bureaucrats departed hours ago. The charwomen came and went. Just the skeletal police detail is left. Me, Schwartz and Krankowski."

Bill followed Chloe into the printing room. He balked. "Jeez, this place is a pigsty."

In her sweet southern drawl Chloe said, "Alcohol was the most popular guest at our office party today, resulting in a whole run of botched hundreds. They didn't change the plates. The same image is printed on both sides of the notes." She pointed to the sloppily bundled currency and a big ink stain on the floor. "They ought not to have bothered working at all. As the currency inspector, I have to file a report. I feel like a lousy snitch."

Bill eyed her fur. "Hey, where'd ya get the coat from? It's not from that weasel Myron in personnel, is it?"

"Eww! No, Bill. It's Mrs. Grogan's. My landlady. She let me borrow it. I told her this was a special night."

Bill grabbed her collar. They kissed hungrily. Finally taking a much-needed breath, Chloe pulled away and smiled as she unbuttoned the full-length sable. She was wearing his favorite blue dancing shoes…and nothing else.

"Jeez, Chloe—lay off of them doughnuts."

Before she could process the insult, Bill slipped his fingers under the fur. She shoved him away.

Her voice trembled, "I won't be your dirty little secret anymore. Divorce Vera."

There, I've said it.

Bill ran his fingers through Chloe's soft red hair. He knew just the spot to touch.

"Lovey, we've been all through this. You know I can't possibly divorce her while he's in office. How would it look if the President's secretary all of a sudden up and got divorced? The Republicans would go wild! And it'd be rough on my little girls. Just wait a little bit longer. Lovey, I promise we'll be together soon. He ain't gonna be Prez for the rest of his life ya know."

Chloe fought back tears. Whatever was I thinking? Momma was right. I should have stayed in the mountains. But eleven months ago, her country had called for good girls to fill the shoes of the boys at war. When I was still a good girl. I had no idea what I'd have to do for my country. It might as well have been eleven millennia ago. I can't ever go back. Not now.

She shoved her hands in the deep silk-lined pockets…where she felt the cold steel of a revolver.

Five shots exploded down from the supervisors' catwalk. Chloe dove under a metal desk, pulling in an olive drab trash can for cover. Bill slumped face down into a carelessly heaped pile of hundreds.

Chloe peeked from behind the can. She watched a female silhouette blow smoke from the barrel and stroll back along the catwalk then out of sight. No! This can't be happening. I'm in a bad movie. Bad dream. Bad world.

Shaking, Chloe crawled to Bill and rolled him over. A C-note covered his eyes. She yanked it off and screamed in horror.

Chloe ran through the building and slammed straight into the loading dock door.

She struggled to hoist it high enough to crawl under. Rolling onto the ramp, she pushed herself up on hands and knees, then to full height. She put her hand on the revolver in her pocket and lit out running. As she looked back over her shoulder, she slipped on the icy sidewalks, battering her knees.

Back on her feet, she forced herself onward. A dry lump ached in the back of her mouth, forced open from heavy breathing. Frozen rain stung her face. As Chloe tumbled again she pulled her hand out of her pocket, not letting go of the pistol. The cobblestones abraded her wrists as she broke her fall.

As she scrambled up again, one blue heel snapped off in a snow-covered grate, propelling her face first into a police call box. Moaning in agony, tasting blood, Chloe looked over her shoulder. A lone car sped past. Forcing herself onward, she made it to the Fourteenth Street Bridge. Gasping for breath, Chloe leaned over the concrete railing and threw the revolver. It slid along the surface of the frozen Potomac River. "Damn it. I can't even dispose of a gun properly. It doesn't matter anyhow. It isn't the murder weapon." Murder weapon? "No!"

An icicle fell from the lamppost above her. Chloe drew back as it seemed to shatter in slow motion. She looked at the hundred dollar bill still crumpled in her hand.

Benjamin Franklin's picture adorned both sides. The drunken printers should be ashamed of themselves for such a mistake. Chloe dreaded turning them in. But right now that was the least of her worries. She shivered almost convulsively as she clutched the paper to her heart. Tears blinded her as she buttoned the fur coat...

Hundred Dollar Bill:

eBook: Apple  ARe  Diesel  Kindle   Kobo  Nook  Sony  Smashwords

Paperback: Amazon  Barnes and Noble  Ellora's Cave

Book Review: Lucille Ball Treasures

 

Lucille Ball Treasures

Featuring Memorabilia and Photos

By Cindy De La Hoz 

Ms. De La Hoz has done a thorough job of following Lucille Ball's life in minute detail. It reads more encyclopedic than biographical, perhaps because she just states the facts and doesn't give any behind the scenes glimpses into Lucy's feelings and relationships. I truly enjoyed the very well identified photographs, in exquisite clarity. The book also includes Lucy memorabilia reproductions slipped into parchment paper envelopes throughout. These are really fun to retrieve and examine. Items such as home photographs, a Ricky Jr. Doll hang tag, and a My Favorite Husband ticket.

The hardback cover is stunning. Turquoise background with a gorgeous full color photo of the famous rehhead and her amazing eye lashes. The raised white lettering makes me think of beautiful words on a birthday cake. The spine is silver foil. The entire qualitiy of this book, featuring both black and white and color images is superb.

I received this as a treasured gift and I highly enjoyed this homage to Lucy. I recommend it to Lucille Ball fans everywhere. 

I award five out of five stars.

Youtube Video: General Hospital 1999 - Spencer vs. Cassadine and Faison

Cesar Faison was my favorite General Hospital villian. Here he makes a dramatic re-entry into Port Charles in 1999. One of my favorite episodes and what a great bad guy, I hated him!





Who is your favorite General Hospital villian?

Helpful Laundry Ideas

 
Laundry Tips

by

American Housewife Sherry Silver

When shopping for  a new washing machine, consider a high energy efficient front loading model. It uses much less water and detergent. Plus it's fun to look through the window and watch the clothes swishing around in the bubbles.

A front loading washing machine does not have a center agitator like the traditional top loading models, so there isn't anything for your clothes to rub against, causing them to wear out and pill. I've noticed a huge difference in my fleece sweatshirts and sweatpants. They last much longer and do not pill at all, even the cheap stuff.

If you do buy a front loading washer, do yourself a huge favor and buy the platform that goes underneath or have a platform built to raise it up. We didn't and I struggled, sitting on the floor, wrestling to get the wet towels and jeans out. Mr. Morris finally built me a platform out of 2 x 10's and plywood. What a lifestyle change. Laundry is once again effortless.

Don't buy the detergent specially made for front loading high efficiency washing machines. Buy the regular kind, but only use half of the amount in the measuring lid. There are the same quantity of loads in each container, so you get more for your money buying regular detergent vs. high efficiency.

I just read this tip in Woman's Day magazine: Cut your dryer fabric softener sheets in half. I am happy to report it works! One half of the fabric softener sheet softens the clothes, but I need to use a whole one for the towels. I'm anxious to see if half will also eliminate static cling in the winter. I purchased a generic brand of fabric softener sheets at Costco, a package of two 200 sheet boxes, and I think by cutting them in half, this will last me over a year, for a family of four. I'm so tickled with the tip that I subscribed to Woman's Day.

I make my own stain remover. In a spray bottle, I mix equal parts water and laundry detergent. I shake it up before each use.

I've discovered that most of my laundry comes clean using the quick wash cycle. It saves time, water and electricity.  I still use the regular wash cycle for heavily soiled items.

I wash my hand wash only items in the machine on delicate cycle, making sure I don't put bras in with them, as they might cause snags on delicate materials. (The bras get washed in a zip lingerie bag with like colors in the regular laundry and I hang them to dry.)

The best household gadget I've ever purchased is a collapsible drying rack from QVC. It opens like an umbrella, only easier, and I just hang my dry flat items and put them in the closets the next morning. It folds up for easy storage. I also use it when putting together outfits for vacation, and it can be used to store off season clothes in the basement.

Please clean your lint traps after each use. My hunky firefighter husband says clothes dryer fires are the #2 cause of household fires. The lint builds up and ignites. The #1 cause of household fires is food left unattended on the stove. Usually someone puts a pot on then falls asleep on the couch.

Recipe: Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake

This is my husband's favorite cheesecake!

Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake

2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs

1/4 cup margarine, melted

2 8 oz. pkgs. Light Philadelphia Brand Neufchatel Cheese, softened

3/4 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

3 eggs

1 cup canned pumpkin

3/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

Combine crumbs and margarine; press onto bottom and sides of a 9" springform pan.

Combine Neufchatel cheese, 1/2 cup sugar and vanilla, mixing at medium speed on electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Reserve 1 cup Neufchatel cheese mixture; add pumpkin, remaining sugar and spices to remaining Neufchatel cheese mixture. Mix well. Layer half of pumpkin mixture and half of Neufchatel cheese mixture over crust; repeat layers. Cut through batter with knife several times for marble effect. 

Bake at 350° for 55 minutes. Loosen cake from rim of pan, cool before removing rim of pan. Chill. 

10 to 12 servings.

Book Review: Every Day a Friday

Every Day A Friday

How to be happier 7 days a week

By Joel Osteen

I was at a writer's conference, in my hotel room getting packed to go home. I'd been flipping TV channels. As I packed, a young evangelical preacher caught my attention. His sermons weren't the fire and brimstone I'd come to expect from previous television ministires. He was nice. He was positive. He made me feel good. 

So from time to time, I'd watch his show. I bought one of his earlier books, but it wasn't as good as hearing him preach. Every Day a Friday was doing so well on the NYT Bestseller list, I decided to download a sample to my Nook. It was very good. I bought the eBook and read it while I walked on my treadmill in the mornings. 

There were some stories reused from TV sermons and possibly the other book. But they were good, and worth repeating. He covered so many areas in our lives that if we only changed our points of view, things could be so much brighter. I was moved to tears a few times, but smiled much more. I feel good. Great job, Pastor Osteen.

I give this book five out of five stars.

Daily House Cleaning Schedule

by American Housewife Sherry Silver

If you aren't familiar with the FlyLady's aka Marla Cilley's method of house cleaning, please visit her website. You aren't a lazy slob. You are just immobile because you don't have time to clean your house the right way (the way your mother did it when you were little). Every time you try, you get sidetracked. Fly Lady will help you tackle your messy mountain one baby step at a time and persuade you to vanquish the guilt and martyrdom. House work done improperly or incompletely still blesses your family and is much better than doing nothing at all.

I highly recommend these two books: Sidetracked Home Executives from Pigpen to Paradise by Pam Young and her sister, Peggy Jones & Sink Reflections by Marla Cilley, the Fly Lady.

Over 400,000 people follow the FlyLady's principals devoutly. They subscribe to her free mailing list and do all the tasks she tells them to via email. Others modify her program to fit their own individual homes, degree of cleanliness preferred, physical disabilities and lifestyles. 
 

Think of housework this way: It blesses your family to have a clean and cheerful home, plus you get some exercise and burn calories.

Imagine having a home with perpetually clean bathrooms... If you deep clean your bathroom one time, then all you have to do is swish and swipe it in less than one minute every weekday. You'll never be embarrassed again when an unexpected visitor drops in.

Imagine transporting your home from the top of Mt. Laundry to a lovely island at sea level... All you have to do is one or two loads every weekday. And put the clean clothes away. It doesn't take long. Your family will always have something clean to wear.

Imagine never trudging to the gym again... Your workout is your housework. I've lost 30 pounds in 8 months through a low carb diet and this cleaning routine. I'm finally back at a healthy BMI, and feel ten years younger.

I set my timer for 15 minutes, perform the listed task and when the timer beeps, I stop, done or not. I'm usually done. Then I move on to the next chore of the day, set the timer for 15 minutes and clean. If I don't feel well, have a sick child, appointments or am just plain cranky, I sometimes skip a task or a whole day's tasks. No guilt. My house is clean enough and I know I will get to it again the next day. The whole idea is to free yourself from the guilt, and just do it. I will reward myself with something special if I complete all the tasks in a week. It's an incentive and blesses the whole family. 
 

Monday

5:45am

Laundry

Checkbooks

Swish & Swipe Powder Room

Swish & Swipe Master Bathroom

Feed Husband and Daughter and get them on their way

7am

Shower

Feed Son and Get him on his way

8am

Dust Downstairs

Vacuum Downstairs

Vacuum Basement and Stairs

Mop

Swish & Swipe Kids Bath

Office Desk

9am

Holiday Cruise & Kelly’s Mission

9:30am

Deep Cleaning in the Family Room
 

Tuesday

5:45am

Laundry

Checkbooks

Swish & Swipe Powder Room

Swish & Swipe Master Bathroom

Feed Husband and Daughter and get them on their way

7am

Shower

Dust Upstairs

  Vacuum Upstairs

  Vacuum Downstairs

Swish & Swipe Kids Bath

Swish & Swipe Basement Bath

Car

Yard Trash/Stoop/Deck

8:15am

Holiday Cruise & Kelly’s Mission

8:45am

Deep Cleaning of the Front Porch, Deck and Patio
 

Wednesday

5:45am

Laundry

Checkbooks

Swish & Swipe Powder Room

Swish & Swipe Master Bathroom

Feed Husband and Daughter and get them on their way

7am

Shower

Feed Son and Get him on his way

8am

Mirrors

  Vacuum Downstairs

Swish & Swipe Kids Bath

File

Pay Bills

Purse

Sewing

9am

Holiday Cruise & Kelly’s Mission

9:30am

Deep Cleaning in the Foyer
 

Thursday

5:45am

Laundry

Checkbooks

Swish & Swipe Powder Room

Swish & Swipe Master Bathroom

Feed Husband and Daughter and get them on their way

7am

Shower

Dust Basement

Vaccuum Basement

Swish & Swipe Basement Bath

Swish & Swipe Kids Bath

Vacuum Downstairs

Coupons

Grocery List

8:15am

Holiday Cruise & Kelly’s Mission

8:45am

Deep Cleaning in the Living Room
 

Friday

5:45am

Laundry

Checkbooks

Swish & Swipe Powder Room

Swish & Swipe Master Bathroom

Feed Husband and Daughter and get them on their way

7am

Shower

Feed Son and Get him on his way

8am

Bed Linens

Swish & Swipe Kids Bath

Dust Downstairs

Vaccuum Upstairs

Vaccuum Downstairs

Vaccuum Basement Stairs

9am

Holiday Cruise & Kelly’s Mission

9:30am

Deep Cleaning in the Guest Bedroom

10am

Grocery Shopping

Please let go of your clutter, and clean something today. Vacuum or sweep one room. Don't move the furniture or try to get the baseboards, drapes and upholstery. Just vacuum or sweep the middle of the room. It will look so much better. You'll smile. You can have a clean home that's no more than 15 minutes from company ready if you can get organized and focus. You can do this. Honest! At least visit the Flylady's website. Start thinking about changing your approach to housework. Then shine your kitchen sink or vacuum your living room. You'll be so glad you did!

Book Review: Valley of the Dolls

Book Review:  Valley of the Dolls

By Jacqueline Susann

I bought this book for my Kindle and loved it. Retro chic lit!

Recalling an old story of Jacqueline Susannn who was an unknown author, had her hubby buying up gobs of her books to make her debut a bestseller, my curiosity wanted to know just how amateur it was. I was very intrigued to find Ms. Susann is a competent author and she wrote compelling characters in larger-than-life roles but in a believable style. Better than the movie. Timeless characters with great arcs.

I've seen parts of the movie on TV over the years. Patty Duke and Martin Milner are the stars that stand out in my memory.

I give this book five out of five stars.

Bathroom Cleaning Tips

Bathroom Cleaning Tips

by

American Housewife Sherry Silver

The first thing you need to realize is there are no magic cleaning products. Nothing you shake or spray or foam on is going to automatically remove your built up grime. Face it. You’ve neglected one of the most important rooms in your home, because it’s so hard to clean and it’s a dirty job. Don’t go out and buy the latest hyped cleaning product. Instead, dig around in your cabinets throughout the house and see what you come up with. Open the window or turn on the exhaust fan before you begin cleaning. Never mix amonia and bleach together. The fumes are deadly!

Mirrors

You will need some sort of ammonia to clean your mirrors. I use Windex or the store brand or whatever glass cleaner is cheapest when I shop. I keep it under the sinks, along with a roll of paper towels, which are perforated at the half-sheet. In my normal cleaning mode, I spray the mirror where it has splash marks and wipe it clean. I only spray and wipe the entire mirror once a month on the designated day in my deep cleaning cycle. Two reasons: Why clean what isn’t dirty? and I’m short. I need a step stool to clean the top of the mirror.

Sinks

Take a paper towel or a few plies of toilet paper and wipe all the hair out of the sink and off the vanity. Throw it away.

Soap is soap, as the FlyLady says. Use up what you have. Comet, Softscrub, Fantastik, Mr. Clean, Pine Sol, old shampoo or bubble bath you don’t like. Almost anything will do the job. Apply a small amount and scour with a damp sponge/scrubber. Lather it all up, then rinse with warm water. Stuck on black goo around the drain ? Use an old tooth brush. Spray the chrome fixtures with your ammonia product and wipe clean. Take your hand towel off the rack and dry everything. Replace with a fresh towel and toss the old one in the laundry hamper.

Toilets 

If you’ve really let the bowl get disgusting, pour in approximately two cups of bleach. Let it do it’s thing for half an hour. If you have generic bleach, you might need to use more. It’s sometimes diluted with water.

Spray the seat with disinfectant. I like Lysol, but again, soap is soap, so use what you have, like Windex or Fantastik. Wipe with a paper towel. Then do the inside of the lid. Close the lid, do the outside of the entire toilet. Open the lid and raise the seat. You’ll probably need to use extra disinfectant here and to scrub more.

If you can’t get all of the stains out, don’t fret. You did your best. The problem is likely you have a porous wooden seat that absorbs the urine, feces and mold. If you can budget for it, replace your toilet seat with plastic ones. Much easier to keep clean.

Swish a toilet brush around in the bowl, making sure to get under the rim. The water holes get clogged with sediment in the water supply and if you keep the holes open, you’ll have more flushing power. If the bleach did not take care of your problem, you’ll have to try something like a rust or lime removal product or pumice stone. If you’ve done all you can and it’s not clean enough, consider purchasing a new toilet. At the low end of the spectrum, you can get a new one for around $100. If you have any males in your family, they might appreciate an elongated commode. (’nuff said.)

Once your toilet is appropriately cleaned, don’t use bleach on a weekly basis. Just pour a little soap of some sort in and swish. Sometimes cleaning the toilet with old shampoo makes the room smell lovely.

Do not use the bleach tablets in the tank. Over the years, they will corrode the bolts inside and the tank will leak. I learned that lesson the hard way.

Shower and Bathtub

Use whatever cleaning product you have on hand. If it’s really bad, the only thing that will get it clean is elbow grease. Soap scum and hard water deposits are my Kryptonite. If I let the kids’ tub get bad, I know that scrubbing half an hour still won’t have it clean enough. So I defer to my hunky darling husband. He can get it whistle clean in a wink. Don’t have a hunky darling husband? If it’s really bad, hire a cleaning service. One time. Then keep it clean!

Secrets to Avoiding a Dirty Tub or Shower:

Don’t use soap. Soap, which contains talc, causes soap scum. Zest, Ivory and Dove are talc free. I switched over to them from Irish Spring and it was so liberating.

Dry the shower and tub surround from walls to floor after each use. Use the same towel you dried yourself off with. It only takes one minute, you get a modest workout, your shower is ALWAYS clean, you will never have a dirty little secret hiding behind the curtain again, and you have an accomplishment to be proud of. If you get nothing else done that day, smile, and know you cleaned your shower.

Remove your glass shower doors. Hang a tension rod and use an inexpensive shower curtain liner. I get mine from the dollar store. You can have a lovely shower curtain on the outside showing, but when the liner starts looking bad, throw it out and replace it with a new one. Much easier than laundering an expensive shower curtain.

Bathroom Floor

If you have carpet, consider taking it out. A hard surface floor is much healthier in a damp environment.

Every day, after you dry yourself off and then use the towel to dry the shower, drop the towel on the floor and move it around the room with your feet. You’ll workout your leg muscles and keep the floor dry and clean.

Miscellaneous Bathroom Cleaning

Once a month, declutter under the sink and in the cabinets. Make sure you don’t have junk leaning against the pipes, this could cause them to come loose!

Don’t forget to use the paper towel you cleaned the mirror with to wipe the dust off the towel rack, door knob, flush handle and toilet paper holder.

Clean the shower head once a month. Use a lime or rust remover product if necessary. This will keep the holes open and your shower pressure will be at its prime.

Book Review: The Gift of Fear

The Gift of Fear and Other Survival Signals That Protect Us From Violence

By Gavin De Becker

On one of my writers loops, a recent discussion  was Facebook safety. Some of the authors had been stalked and one recommended this book. I sampled it on my Kindle and then bought it. I enjoyed the whole lesson. Gavin de Becker was born into a dangerous home. He grew up witnessing horrible crimes. To protect himself and his little sister, Gavin learned to differentiate between fear and intuition. He learned not to live afraid, but instead to let his intuition guide him when he needed to act. He grew up to become an expert in threat assessment and his firm consults with everyone from the Secret Service to celebrities to average citizens all over the world. This was a real page turner, in simple to understand terms. Some of his case studies were so engrossing I had to stop and remind myself I was reading nonfiction, not a fictional thriller. I loved the book and hope that I come away with my intuition fine tuned and my nonproductive worry and fear cast aside. I recommend this book to everyone.

Book Review: The Cat Who Brought Down the House

 

The Cat Who Brought Down the House

By Lillian Jackson Braun

I've been enjoying Ms. Braun's Cat Who series since I discovered it in the mid-nineties. At that time, I exhausted every installment my library carried. I've been reading and rereading the cozy mysteries over the years, certain in the assumption I'll have a light, feel good-read with a happy resolution. 

I was surprised when I came across a bunch of unfamiliar titles in the series. Either I have a short memory, or I've missed half of them. I put three on my Christmas list and this is the first I've read.

The Cat Who Brought Down the House has a stranger returning from Hollywood to Moose County. Nobody remembers the older lady, the daughter of a potato farmer with a twin brother who recently met his demise. The story is a bit slower than normal, yet held my interest. I was disappointed in Ms. Braun's portrayal of her illustrious protagonist, Jim Qwilleran in this book. She has him ruminating over the details of women's fashion, intricate opera and antique knowledge, thus emasculating him. The implied romance between Qwill and the town librarian, Polly, over the series was so unattended to in this book, it almost seemed like a cover relationship.  The stranger was entertaining, as were the effervescent townsfolk, Qwill's Siamese cats, KoKo and Yum Yum and there was a nice twist ending.

I give The Cat Who Brought Down the House four out of five stars.

Musical Review: The Jersey Boys

I received tickets to see The Jersey Boys at the National Theatre in Washington, D.C. for a surprise Christmas present. I'd never been to the theatre, never seen a musical other than high school productions. I was absolutely thrilled. We left early, on Monday, January 2nd, which was a Federal and District holiday. They weren't enforcing parking regulations, so we were able to park on the street, two car lengths from the doors to the National Theatre. And this was a good thing, because the parking garages were all surprise: closed! What do people do on holidays in DC? Sheesh.

We had lunch at an historic dive on the corner of 12th and E Streets, NW called Ollie's Trolley. My husband and daughter had burgers. I had a reuben, no sauce. The fries were seasoned. The food was good, but not memorable. My daughter and I opted to run across the street to Barnes and Noble for the restroom, rather than get the key for customers only at Ollie's.



Afterwards, we hoofed it up to 17th and I Streets, NW to Crumbs, a cupcake shop my daughter had a coupon for. We had done our homework online, and came prepared with a list of cupcakes we had wanted to try. Only problem, they were sold out of the ones they wanted. I had wanted the Avalanche, the Cupcake of the Month. Vanilla cake filled and frosted with vanilla buttercream topped with white chocolate curls. I don't like creamcheese, and this was the only one that didn't include any. It was possibly the best cupcake I'd ever eaten. With a fork. I love buttercream frosting, and this is stuffed with it! How clever and yummy.

We passed time at the Barnes & Noble on 12th Street, NW. Two things unique to this store, from the ones I generally frequent at Union Station or in Northern Virginia. First, they have two security guards in the store. Secondly, there is a sign that the cafe seating is for cafe customers only. There are very few chairs available in the book section.

We arrived at the National Theatre thirty minutes before the show. The lobby was stuffed. We joined the end of the long queue line, bent around. Drinks were available but we opted for the restroom upstairs instead. Our seats were in the orchestra section, Row Q. They were a salmon colored velvet. The box seats and stage were painted in turquoise with ornate molding.

The set reminded me of West Side Story, with a chain link fence and metal stairs and catwalks.
The cast for the evening included Joseph Leo Bwarie as Frankie Valli and he was superb. Dancing, singing, acting, breathing, the man had it all. He even did the splits. The quality of the production was impeccable. I had to keep reminding myself these guys were doing it all live. There were no gaffs whatsoever. They played close to forty of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons songs, all set in a skit around the music. Timothy Quinlan gave a hilarious portrayal of the music producer. The actor playing Tommy DeVito, John Gardiner was very good, because I hated him, so he made me believe. Michael Lomenda's portrayal of Nick Massi was endearing. Kevin Worley's Bob Guido role was spot on. I really liked the guy. But for me, Joseph Leo Bwarie stole the show. It was his. He was smokin' hot.


The audience went wild with applause after the boys performed my song, Sherry. The cast appeared surprised and gladdened. Bwarie touched two fingers to his heart. Sigh.

I had seen Frankie Valli in concert at Wolf Trapp in Vienna, Virginia twice on romantic dates with my hunky husband in the 1980's. We always got the cheap lawn seats and put a lot of thought into the picnic dinner we packed. Two things always happened to us at Wolf Trapp: The people on the blanket next to us always had a better looking picnic and it poured down rain.

I applaud Mr. Valli and all of the Four Seasons for their talent, perseverance and joy they continue to bring. And I really love the Jersey Boys!