Where did it go????

Over the years, I've had a few 'favorite' things disappear from the store shelves. Most were just a favorite flavor or scent here and there, but I always took it personally :) even though there wasn't much I could do about it.

A few weeks ago, I sent Hubby to the store for my favorite spot remover that I use for his work clothes and the occasional coffee drip or food spot. He went to our favorite store, Countdown.

I love using this stuff because it got every little stain out of every kind of fabric. And the best part is that I can rub the stuff all over the stains and not have to wash it for up to seven days. That works great for me since there are only the two of us and laundry is two loads a week, at the most.

Well, he came home with something different because my 'usual' wasn't on the shelf. Same company, but different product. I was wary, but I used it.  It didn't work. At all. Not on the pen marks where hubby put his pen back in pocket a hundred times a day. Not on the coffee stain on my shirt. NOTHING! UGH!

So, the next weekend, we went looking at New World, the other major chain that usually carries it. Again, nothing. Just the replacement stuff that didn't work.

I decided to write an email to both stores to tell them to put it back but before I got started, I thought I'd send them a photo of what I was talking about so there would be no question about the subject.

Well, lo and behold, all I could find was this:

Unavailable in your area. Noooooo!!!! 

OK, now it's personal.

What to do? What to do? Hubby to the rescue! There's a chain of small grocery stores that have a store in most of the small towns in Taranaki that would never support one of the larger stores. According to their website, there are sixteen of them in Taranaki and Hubby started stopping at the ones he encountered in the northern part of the district on his truck-driving job and brought home one, three, one...five! I was ecstatic!

So, we spent Mother's Day driving to the stores in the south of Taranaki and scored six at one store and one or two at some others! The cashiers looked at us funny and we explained it to a couple of them but I now have a collection that will last me quite a while. I do hope I can eventually find a suitable replacement before it runs out!

Just for the record, the company that makes Vanish products has been advertising quite aggressively with their 'stain removing' technique of using their power to make a paste and rub gently. I'm sure that works just fine for those that have one grass stain a week. I have 5 sets of work clothes to get clean every week and can't imagine how much 'paste' I'd have to make to cover man-size shirts and pants. And with a product that is easy to use, why would I want to make more work for myself?

I did email the company but haven't heard back. But I did find this review from last year: Click here to read how it earned a Shonky Award!

Feeling my age

I have come to the conclusion that I am officially a relic.

I am definitely 'old school' when it comes to most things. After all, it worked when I was growing up and we didn't die or hate our parents.

Personally, I think most kids are repeating what they have heard when they have 'opinions' on politics or the state of the world.

Kids claiming 'Not my President'? Oh, please. What could a 16 year old possibly know about world economics and the difference a political party makes over the next 4 years?

I barely knew what party the President belonged to, much less what party controlled Congress and the Senate when I was their age. Have they matured that much? I tend to think not.

The video below is a trailer for a show that is being shown here in NZ. It's called 'Making Families Happy'.



What caught my attention is the boy at the beginning saying, 'I've never really seen a happy family.' I'm wondering how he decided his family wasn't or his friends' families weren't. It's certainly not something that I remember weighing on my mind at his age.

'Cynical' is not my default mood, but I'm beginning to understand, maybe a little, why old people are that way.

Who'da thunk?

There's so much in this huge world to see that I will never see with my own eyes. Who'da thought 40 years ago that I would be able to visit Siberia or see inside a cell or into outer space?! I am grateful for those that bother to share their world with me.

That's why I like to share my photos with those that will never make it to NZ. And for those that set up memes to help me share them without any fuss, a big thank you.

Of course, I find some of the places I visit in the blog world a bit like the old-maid teacher who has lost all reason to smile. I am probably old enough to be most of those blog owners' Mom and I don't appreciate being treated like I can't get out of the rain.

Some meme hosts demand (they say they don't demand, but you know they do) that you only link to their meme if you join them. Excuse me, but the internet is not some place you can censor and tell me how to write my blog. My photos are interesting, IMHO, and I will share them with whomever I want. I will link to whomever I want. And, it's not you.

Then there are those that won't allow you to right click anywhere on the page, even on the link you want to share. I understand the reason for it, but let's face it: If you put it on the internet,  there are no guarantees on what happens to it. And it's a long road to sue somebody for stealing it, so if you don't want to worry, don't post it.

Also, I'm sorry, but I am not going to type out the whole link just to have it be misspelled by one letter and have to do it again. And, what do you think you're accomplishing? I haven't tried, but I bet I can steal your stuff without right clicking and I'm not even a geek. I don't link to your memes, either.

For those that understand how the internet works and the possibilities it presents, I thank you for your spot in cyberspace where I can interact with others without being treated like I need help with my homework.

And for those that actually encourage you to use their posters and photos by telling you they are free to download, you are top of the list in my book!

I guess anywhere you go where there are people you will find both extremes. If you find a place without the sourpusses, let me know.

Blazing glory

The kids and hubby decided I needed to watch out for Blaze, since they wanted to see what it's like to have a dog. Of course, they didn't think past any of them not being here, so guess who got stuck for a week?

She's not bad, if you like needy, pathetic dogs. Of course, her neurosis has it's uses, since I know she won't run away--she can't do that and be touching me at the same time.

Having her for a week while I am trying to pack up so we can move next week, attending end-of-year school functions, ATC mess dinner, awards prize-givings, bake cakes for the Scouts fundraiser (which I will NOT be involved more than that) and do all the daily stuff that needs doing--laundry, dishes, cooking...and, I was just reminded that Hubby and I both forgot our anniversary in all that was going on!

...yeah, it's a breeze. [Where is that sarcasm font when you need it?]

A rant about people....

Sometimes, don't you just want to grab somebody by the shoulders, shake vigorously, and say, "What the **** were you thinking?"

If I could insert the following into their brains, I'd feel much better...

• You are the parent, quit letting 2-year olds make choices--that's why they HAVE parents
• 
  
• Life is full of choices--even choosing to trust or give the benefit of the doubt
• 
  
• If you are going to be a leader, be a leader by example, not just a title
• 
  
• Don't ask questions that you don't want an honest answer to
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• If you think your kid will hate you for a bit of discipline, take that chance, we, as a society, will appreciate that he didn't break into our house because of it

• Yes, you do have emotions but try to control them. We don't need or want to hear about every little thought that goes through your head
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• Even after many years of 'knowing' someone you can be wrong, so don't assume
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• Revenge, even on a small scale, is not a good thing. Not every actions needs an immediate reaction
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• If you don't know what your opinions are, take a bit of time to find out. Then stand by them. Don't flip-flop--it isn't pretty
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• If YOU teach your kids about acceptable behavior, it will be much easier on them than the bully in the school yard doing it
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• If you care, then care all the way, 24/7--not just when it's comfortable (because I guarantee there are times when they aren't comfortable with you, either)

• Sometimes, you should be content with the fact that you did the right thing without having to have it noticed
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• If you think about 'things' more often than people, you have some serious work to do on yourself

• Gossip does NOT make you look important, no matter how juicy it is or how many times you repeat it
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• Believe it or not, there are more numbers on the 'anger dial' than just zero and 10. Sometimes a simple touch or word can help you decide that there's no need to be angry at all.
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• Moms, you are the ONLY ones that care about your toddler being able to express himself in the grocery store--the rest of us aren't interested and, even behind the faux smiles, are thinking, "Shut your freakin' kid up!"

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• If you can look yourself in the mirror and like who looks back, it's all good.

/rant