1. Clean the blender—Fill your blender with warm  water and a drop of dish soap. Turn it on and let it go for a few seconds. Then rinse it out with warm water and you’re all set!

2.  Remove grease stains—To clean grease stains from carpet or other surfaces, just mix four parts rubbing alcohol with one part salt, and then rub the mixture into the stain. Let the surface dry and vacuum up any remaining salt, if necessary.

3.  Remove cabinet gunk—Mix a solution of vegetable oil and baking soda, and then use an old toothbrush to scrub all that gunky stuff out of the corners of cabinet surfaces!

4. Get your rings shining again—First of all, don’t use household cleaners that may contain harsh chemicals on your rings!  The easiest and safest way to clean an engagement ring or other type of ring with precious metals is to use warm water, a small amount of dish washing soap and a soft toothbrush.

5. Remove common household stains—Most of these will work on both furniture and carpet: 

• Juice: Blot with solution of one teaspoon dish washing liquid (like Ivory) in one cup warm water.
• Gum: Dab with extra-strength Bengay, heat with hair dryer, scrape with press-to-seal bag. Blot with detergent solution and rise.
• Gravy: Pretreat with a paste of Fels-Naptha soap, then wash. Repeat if necessary. Don’t put item in the dryer until the stain is gone.
• Mustard: Apply repeated applications of detergent solution to remove solids. When stain is reduced, rinse and dry in bright sunlight.
• Lipstick: Blot with acetone-based nail-polish remover, followed by the detergent solution, and rinse.
• Wine: Blot with water. If stain remains, try detergent solution. Three-percent hydrogen peroxide is effective on red wine.

6. Freshen up smelly sneakers—Just sprinkle some baking soda in the shoes to keep them smelling fresh, and then when you’re ready to wear them again, just tap it out outside.

1. It is a fact of American history that three of the five Founding Father Presidents—John Adams (1826), Thomas Jefferson (1826), and James Monroe (1831)—died on July 4, the Independence Day anniversary.

2. The Barbie doll’s full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts, from Willows, Wisconsin.  Her birthday is March 9, 1959, when she was first displayed at the New York Toy Fair.

3. There actually aren't “57 varieties” of Heinz ketchup, and never were. Company founder H. J. Heinz thought his product should have a number, and he liked 57. Hint: Hit the glass bottle on the “57,” not the bottom, to get the ketchup to flow.

4. Two of President John Tyler’s grandsons are still alive today—and he was born in 1790. How is this possible? President Tyler, the 10th US president, was 63 when his son Lyon Tyler was born in 1853; Lyon’s sons were born when he was 71 and 75.  President Tyler’s living grandsons, Lyon Jr. and Harrison Tyler, are 91 and 95 years old. The Tyler family still maintains the President’s home, Sherwood Forest Plantation in Virginia. (From a story dated February 2018.)

5. The Earl of Sandwich, John Montagu, who lived in the 1799s, reportedly invented the sandwich so he wouldn’t have to leave his gambling table to eat.

6. The Four Corners is the only spot in the US where you can stand in four states at once: Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico.

7. Canada is south of Detroit (just look at a map).

8. Mosquitoes are the deadliest animals in the world: They kill more people than any other creature, due to the diseases they carry.

A few of the requirements for staying youthful are:

      1. maintain a routine,      

      2. communicate with others,   

      3. keep your mind active,     

      4. exercise, and                            

      5. get fresh air daily.               

    I am happy to report that all of the “lunch crowd” at the Senior Center are performing the necessary tasks required to remain youthful.

    To start with, there is no sleeping in after 9:52 a.m. One must arise in order to phone the Senior Center before 10:00 a.m. to reserve lunch for pick up at noon. (Ask yourself, did I reserve my lunch for today, yesterday?) This daily task sets in motion the rest of your morning activities. Routine is paramount in healthy living.

    Second, we must remember to make a phone call to reserve our lunch for pick up, if we didn’t reserve yesterday. That takes care of the communication requirement. Connecting with the outside world is beyond compare.

    Third, we must then wake up from our nap before noon. We must remember why we must wake up from our nap before noon. An active mind is extremely important.

    Fourth, we are now physically motivated to comb our hair and place a garment over our jammies. Remember, find your shoes, or not—one can simply slipper it. An active body is paramount in staying physically mobile. 

    Fifth, we are now required to drive to the Senior Center before noon. We must leave the house and pick up our lunches. It is important to get fresh air daily. Vitamin D is essential to our well being. Also, it affords us a bit more of number 4.

    Well, there it is. My morning is taken care of. Now what? I still have more than half a day to fill up before bed time! Any suggestions?