Thoughts on Moving

By the way, before I get into this post, I would like to agree that I have been a terrible blogger. God awful. I know. I'm determined to do better by the 5 people who might actually read my blog anymore. So there you have it. I'm sorry. Let's move on...

So, a few thoughts on moving... I absolutely had no choice today but to throw away all of the St. Jude's free address labels that I've been hoarding (yes, hoarding) for the past five years. YAY! Whether I sent money or not (mostly not), I have no need to feel guilty anymore because I'm not using something that I didn't pay for. What a relief! It's such a weight lifted off of my shoulders! I wonder how long until I get them at the new address... Christmas?

Another interesting observation: I had to pay a bill (Patient First) with an actual check today. Remember checks? I'm not actually sure where my checkbook is at this point, but I came across a new box of checks with... you've got it... my OLD address on them! And here's the kicker: I spent FIVE years working my way through the checks with my old, old address on them, so I wonder how long I have to live here before I make it through this box... ah, well.

I wonder...

I really wonder what dogs think about elevators. I was reminiscing this morning about bringing my dog to work once on the weekend to pick up a few things, and I watched him as we entered the elevator, the door closed, and then we exited the elevator on a completely different floor. Dogs are relatively spacial, right? When a ball rolls under a couch or a piece of furniture, they know to check to see if it came out the other side. So what does he think about door opening and closing and the entire world changing on the other side?

I must say that I expected him to be frustrated or confused, but he didn't seem to care or notice - he just seemed to accept that everything was okay. And at the end of the day, maybe I'm a little disappointed at that. Not that I would ever want him to be worried or upset, but some reaction or contemplation would be cool.

Oh well. I suppose dogs don't think about elevators at all... but clearly people do. At least this one. Or maybe I'm just thinking about dogs...

"Wait" versus "Await"

I just found myself pondering the difference between "wait" and "await" and figured I'd share my findings.

Await is a more formal word, and unlike wait, it does not take the preposition for.

For example:
...awaiting his arrival...
...what awaits him next...

Good to know, because I was using it on a client status report, "Awaiting feedback" and it looks like I was using it correctly.

Coolio. (Yes, I just used "coolio.")

A Curiousity: Portion-Controlled Toilet Paper

Yeah. Weird, right?

Yesterday I had the honor of attending a private party at Blue Hill Tavern in Brewer's Hill. I love Blue Hill. It's posh, classy and the food is simply delicious. Usually I stop in there for drinks or happy hour (try the hummus and fried guacamole), but I've been there a few times for lunch or dinner as well. It's fantastic, and I highly recommend a visit there.

But I digress... the restrooms at Blue Hill Tavern are equipped with automatic toilet paper dispensers, which I can't help but find incredibly strange. Am I alone in this?

Now remember that I'm a gal who likes technology. I'm all about being connected 24/7, and if someone could invent a phone, vacuum or blender that would also take out my trash... well, let's just say I'd be willing to pay a premium. But the restroom (to me) is a bit of a sacred place. I'm not really interested in any assistance when I'm in there.

So when I came across the automatic toilet paper dispenser yesterday I must admit that I became a little thoughtful. Who really wants this? There must be a benefit to having an automatic dispenser that balances the inconvenience of the purchase cost and battery replacement costs. So I did a little research... as it turns out, the manufacturers believe these machines offer a 20% savings for proprietors, working under the assumption that if you dispense less toilet paper (than people typically use) automatically, people will just go with it. Huh.

Well, for the record (and tip-toeing around TMI), I used two portions from the dispenser which is ten squares. I couldn't be comfortable with the mere five that I was initially offered. And apparently, I'm in the minority when it comes to using these dispensers. The manufacturer says, "Most people will take the amount given. People generally in life will take what you give them." Double huh.

So I'm not sure what the point of my post is really, except that as a technology-loving 30-something, I think an automatic toilet paper dispenser (or portion-controlled toilet paper) is weird. In a struggling economy, I suppose it's smart for business owners to look for more innovative ways to save money, but toilet paper quality and quantity shouldn't be negotiable in my opinion... I want what I want. But it's likely (yet again) that I may be in the minority. It sure would be interesting to know how much Blue Hill Tavern is saving in toilet paper costs, wouldn't it? Just curious...

Toothpaste. Yeah, I Said It.

Okay... so I haven't blogged in awhile, but I'd like to reflect a moment on toothpaste. Yes, toothpaste. As a single woman, I don't buy a lot of toothpaste - one tube lasts a long time so it's not something I find myself in need of frequently. That said, this week I found myself at the grocery store shopping for a new tube of toothpaste... and I'm disturbed.

Yeah, I said it: I found the toothpaste section of the local grocery store disturbing. Standing there looking at over 50 different kinds of toothpaste, I realized that there is clearly no way to tell one tube apart from the next. Nearly half of the tubes say 'Crest' and the other half (or so) say 'Colgate,' but what is the difference? Which is the better brand? Is there a clear winner? Certainly in canned fruit there is a primary brand (Del Monte) and a secondary brand. The same goes for most other products: crackers, cheese, ice cream, paper towels, etc. But who wins in the Crest vs. Colgate toothpaste competition?

So I decided to take it to the next level. I was looking for an oral health brand. I have veneers so I have no need for whitening toothpaste, but OOPS: This country is OBSESSED with whitening. Nearly all tubes said something about whitening: Scope Whitening, Advanced Whitening, Whitening Plus, Baking Soda Whitening, Luminous Whitening, etc, etc, etc. What happened to the dental health and hygiene toothpaste? Doesn't anyone care about gum health anymore? Maintaining tooth enamel? Getting the benefit of clean, fresh breath?

After a lot of consideration, I settled for the Aquafresh (notice no Crest or Colgate) Extreme Clean toothpaste. Yes, it claims to whiten, but it features "micro-active foaming action and whitening" - with the word 'whitening' in smaller letters that the word 'clean.' It's for a "Deep Clean," which is what I think most people should be looking for in a toothpaste... but instead we're obsessed with the brightness of them.

It's a whitening-crazed world out there, folks. Which toothpaste do you use?