And, actually, I don’t know
too much. It rained last night. I awoke in the early dark hours to a little
thunder and lightning. (And went right
back to sleep – rain falling is a soothing sound I think.) This morning I checked the rain gauge – 3 inches. Wow.
Nice to have except for the mosquitoes that are chasing me through the
yard.
While looking over emails
this morning, I found a few amusing things -
One
I
wanted zombies and anarchy. Instead we
got working from home and toilet paper shortages. Worst. Apocalypse. Ever.
My Austin friend sent me a Toilet
Paper fact email not too long after the isolation situation was a thing.
Packaged
toilet paper wasn't sold in the United States until 1857. However, it wasn't
until 1935 that a manufacturer was able to promise Splinter-Free Toilet Paper. (Really – splinter free?
Splinters???)
Americans
use an average of 8.6 sheets of toilet paper per trip to the bathroom. (Probably less these days.)
In
ancient times something called a communal gompf stick, a piece of sponge tied
to the end of a stick, was used. Wealthy
Romans used wool soaked in rose water and French royalty used lace. (Communal? Lace? Ick!)
There
was a toilet paper museum in Wisconsin, The Madison Museum of Bathroom Tissue,
but it closed in 2000. It once had over
3,000 rolls of TP from places all over the world, including The Guggenheim,
Ellis Island, and Graceland. (Alrightee then)
In
1996, Congress passed a Toilet Paper Tax of 6 cents per roll, which is still in
effect today. An effort to triple the tax was defeated in the House. (Remember that when you vote next time! – Repeal the Toilet
Paper Tax!)
The
most expensive toilet paper in the world is from Portugal, a brand called Renova. Renova is three-ply, perfumed, costs $3 per
roll and comes in several colors including black, red, blue and green. (Pass)
When asked what necessity
they would bring to a desert island, 49% of people said toilet paper before
food.
(Must be the same people that bought baskets of
toilet paper when isolation first happened.)
Two
People
keep asking: "Is coronavirus REALLY all that serious?" Listen, the churches and casinos are
closed. When heaven and hell agree on
the same thing it's probably pretty serious.
Three
The
spread of Covid-19 is based on two things:
1.
How dense the population is.
2.
How dense the population is.
Too true.
It’s Memorial Day Weekend
here. I always feel reluctant to say
HAPPY Memorial Day, considering it is the day we honor all the men and women
who died serving in the US Armed Forces.
Memorial Day (originally called Decoration Day as people went and decorated
the graves of the fallen) originally honored only those lost while fighting in
the Civil War. But during World War I when
the United States found itself involved another major conflict, it evolved. Today it includes American military personnel
who died in all wars and conflicts, including World War I, World War II, The
Vietnam War, The Korean War and the wars in the Middle East, Africa, Bosnia,
and anywhere else our military is sent at the behest of the president. In 1971, Lyndon Johnson designated the last
Monday in May as Memorial Day, a federal holiday. So, instead, I’ll say – A Thought Evoking
Memorial Day to you. Remember and think
positive thoughts about those fallen during military conflict and positive
thoughts in the hopes that someday the world will get smart enough to stop and
think before doing rash stupid things.
Today is laundry day. My washer and dryer are out
in my garage. Not a totally bad thing
since I just walked out to find water all over the garage floor. And, it doesn’t seem to be coming from the
washer. Instead, it seems to be coming
from the ½ bath next to it. The bath
that has the water shut off – completely.
Apparently, the guy that installed that bathroom tied the sink drain to
the washer drain and now, it’s overflowing.
Argh. A blockage in the sewer
line is my guess. So, next weeks big
deal will be the plumber. And, no more
laundry today.
One last thing. I have a grandfather clock. It’s an old one – about 1750. And, it’s sensitive about where it stands and
when it runs. When I was gone this past Christmas,
it ran down and stopped – okay – expected.
But, since then it has not worked for longer than a few minutes. Yes, I checked the mechanism – no obvious
problem. Yes, I checked the level –
perfectly level horizontally/vertically.
Yes, I spoke politely to it – it’s old.
Finally, I moved it – just a bit to one side and . . . . it started
right up! And, seems to be working fine
now.
24 May 2020
3"?! we didn't even get a half inch last night.
ReplyDeleteI rethought about it and think I didn't empty the gauge after the last big rain, so probably 1/2 inch here also.
DeleteI expect the grandfather clock wanted a bit of attention, not wanting to be overlooked! Has it been in your family? Looks like a classic broken-bonnet design, lovely.
ReplyDeleteNo, not a family heirloom, I got it when I was 18 - a long bit ago. But, it is a family heirloom now!
DeleteThose TP facts are a hoot! And I like that grandfather clock. But when you're 270 years old, you're ENTITLED to be finicky!
ReplyDeleteThe things that people do with plumbing are so interesting. Our air conditioner condensate line was dumping into the line under the hall bath sink and was leaking all over the toilet paper. Fortunately we got it fixed before the pandemic.
ReplyDeleteFun toilet paper facts - and yes, repeal the tax!
ReplyDeleteI would add to the "How dense the population is." It's also how sick the population is due to lack of health care, lack of good nutrition and obesity and diabetes. Those are HUGE factors, and I am medically obese and have type 1. Communities that lack access to good grocery stores are also at high risk.
Love your Grandfather Clock. Glad you got it working again!
If I were stranded on a deserted island I would just plan to use FABRIC for my TP needs. I mean, food is WAY more important to me!
ReplyDeleteI would love a grandfather clock, just for the ticking.
ReplyDeleteGreat toilet paper facts. I definitely do NOT fancy the gompf stick.