Air Freshener versus Moth Balls

There is a battle going on in my living quarters ... in one corner we have the sparkling and fresh scent of air freshener and in the opposing corner it is the odiferous stench of moth balls (apparently the previous tenant had an affinity for moth balls).

I won't give up the fight because I abhor the smell of stinky moth balls! That smell must be extinguished. True, the property management did shampoo the carpet in an effort to remove the smell, but the smell is voracious. It lingers in the closets. Yes, it is lurking and seeping through closed doors.

I light scented candles and they smell good for a few hours after they are extinguished; I spray air freshener and that lasts for a smidgen longer than I actually spray it; I've tried some other sprays along with some Renuzit Super Odor Killer adjustable air fresheners (I tried two and opened them to their fullest capacity), but still the scent of moth balls is piercing my nostils. What am I to do ... ?

I am resorting to a short list of really inexpensive products that many people already own. I've read in various places that either vinegar or baking soda will do the trick. I am hoping that I can confirm the skills of both products. If either or both can win the battle against moth balls, I will be over the top elated. Otherwise, I aim to begin a campaign to remove moth balls from the market because they do more harm than good - at least in my world.

Huffin and Puffin

So, one of my New Year's resolutions was to run a 5k or a 10k. I want to check that off of my list as the latter part of the year is nearing and nearing time to make another list.

But I don't know that I can honestly check it off the list so quickly. I did make an attempt. Yes, I did. I was looking for a race to run and I remembered that there was one on Saturday morning, but I could not get myself in gear quick enough to get out of the house and to the running venue.

So I searched for another, possibly on Sunday morning. I found one and did a Google map on it to see if it was easy to get to. The cost was also reasonable: $2, but honestly, I thought that was a typo.

Before I headed off to bed on Saturday evening, I gathered my running gear (except for my shoes because I could not locate them; I would look again in the morning or just put on my old everyday sneakers).

Everything went as scheduled: the alarm went off at a just a bit past 8 a.m.; I hit snooze and closed my eyes, but I did get up when the snooze went off for a second time; I washed up and got dressed; I double checked the directions (then decided to use my cell phone GPS) and I headed off to the race which had a start time of 9:30 a.m .

I got the the race site 15 minutes before the start of the race, only to discover that no one was there. I was totally disappointed. I finally saw a woman sitting in her car and I asked her. After some chit chat, I ventured off to locate the race venue - turns out it was to begin at another section of the park.

It was a nice long race ... I know that it was a 5k and they are all 3.1 miles, but this seemed like a much longer race - lots of swirly trail and peaks and valleys and some huffin and puffin on my behalf. I started off running, but gradually took to a brisk walk; which is precisely how I finished the race ... no proud moment, no photo finish ...

Something New

I saw this brief commercial on TV the other day. It caught my eye because of the simplicity: simple, non-intrusive music, a moving landscape and a few typewritten words.


There are about eight of the commercials on the webbie. I am not pushing a product, but the product's marketing is certainly on the cool side.

Sleep tight ...

Aaaaaah, sleep. Is it really overated? What does it take to get a good night of rest? Well, I can tell you, ranting neighbors are a nuisance and a major barrier to getting any shut eye. This, my friend, is a rant:

I recently moved. When I went to check out my fabulous apartment, it was just that. Boy, does it look good empty. Nice white walls, wonderful in-ceiling lighting, tall ceilings, carpeting throughout, new windows ... I could go on, but I think that you get the point - it is super cute.

What I could not see at 10:30 in the morning was how thin the walls are at my new and fabulous digs. I also did not get a chance to hear my very loud and obnoxious next door neighbors. I have not had a good nights rest since I've moved and they are mostly to blame. They argue and argue and fuss and fight; they are loud and boisterous and the worst part is that they begin fighting at a very early hour - typically around 3:30 a.m. and it is continuous; in some cases up to three hours. What I've failed to mention is that my neighbors are an elderly Hungarian couple. Yep. Too late to feel sorry for them; it is me who needs your sympathy.

Now, keep in mind that most of the time I am the one who sleeps soundly, but now I have a nearby train; a roaring HVAC system right outside my bedroom window; another building tenant who seems to don her heels as slippers because the clip-clopping begins soon after the disruptive octagenerians. Oh, woe is me ...

So, what to do, what to do? Move of course, that is my only option! Right? Heck no, though it is a possibility. But my options are not extensive. I've tried ear plugs and I got major scars in my ear canal from that. One friend suggested Tylenol P.M., but I'm not into taking drugs to help me sleep when the remedy is just a little bit of consideration.

So my recourse is to call the police each and every time the neighbors get rowdy. Do I feel bad about it calling the police on an elderly couple? No, not really; not since the one time when I rang their bell and asked the wife if she was okay and if they could keep it down (that was at 7:30 a.m.) ... they continued to squabble until well after 11 a.m. when I took my sleep deprived self and departed the premises to head to work. Actually, I plan to recommend to the officers that they should issue a disturbing the peace citation and eventually a fine if this keeps up.

I could go on and on ... but why, it is getting late and I am sleepy. If I hit the sack now, I could possibly get in six hours of shuteye before the human alarm pierces through my walls ...

Remember when

I've been thinking about my childhood and memories of growing up. Especially the time that I spent w/my mother's family. I spent time w/my dad's fam too, but not as much as my mom's fam.


My mom has four brothers and one sister. And my brother and I were the only grandchildren/niece/nephew for a while. And we often spent time w/an uncle, aunt or grandparents or lots of them at once.


One memory I recall is Sundays at my grandparents. If there was breakfast at home, then after breakfast, we would watch CBS Sunday Morning. It did not seem so interesting, but not so bad either. I watch CBS Sunday Morning til this day and I always think of my grandparents when I watch it.


Now, if we had breakfast out on Sunday morning, we went to this place called the Lantern in Akron. The Lantern has been closed for years, but it's shell still sits on Copley Road near I-77. It was a family owned greasy spoon, and the customer service was great. It was a good time; good food and fam.

Oh, and of course there was church. My great gran was a devout Christian; you know the kind who won't even play cards ... ? That was a cloud on our sunny day time and time again. I'm sure she thought that were destined to be heathens and card playing heathens at that. Good times ...