#Cat Urine Body Odor

[clangenrising]

Month 19 - Leaffall

Sagetooth gasped sharply and lurched upright as a cold touch to her forehead pulled her up from a thick, inky blackness. She looked around at the bed of hastily gathered wildflowers and the cats clustered nearby and wondered aloud, “How long have I been out?” 

None of the cats even acknowledged her. Close by, Branchbark and Ospreymask loafed side by side, completely unaware she had spoken. Ospreymask leaned weakly on Branchbark, a patchwork of cobwebs plastered over her dark pelt and Branchbark’s eyes were raw and red. More cats sat nearby, all of them somber and quiet in the pre-dawn light. They looked miserable and something foreboding stirred inside Sagetooth at the sight. 

“About an hour, I think,” said a familiar voice. Sagetooth turned her head to see Poppyblaze standing nearby. At her feet lay Lakepaw, stiff and cold and decorated with morning glory and goldenrod flowers. 

“Oh,” Sagetooth said simply. 

“Yeah,” Poppyblaze grimaced. “I’m sorry old friend. I wasn’t expecting to come for you for a while.” 

Sagetooth’s gaze drifted down to the apprentice laying beside her own body, over which she now stood. “She died to protect me,” she said. “Poor kit.” 

“She gave quite the fight for her age,” hummed Poppyblaze. “Are you alright if I wake her now? We really should be going.” 

“Of course,” Sagetooth said, then inhaled sharply with memory. “Wait, I have to check on something!” She quickly hopped over the flowers woven around her feet and headed for the healers’ den at a brisk pace. 

“Don’t go far!” Poppyblaze hissed worriedly. “It’s not safe!” Sagetooth twitched an ear dismissively and continued into the den. There was nothing that would hurt her here and she had important things to do. 

As she stepped into the den, the blood that covered the floor made her pause. Even though every scent felt like it was miles away, she could pick up on the pungent odor of blood and urine -- and not just the expected amount of urine that came with the dead. Stepping further in, she found the herb stores in disaster, every herb tossed to the floor, shredded, and sprayed by the rogues. She curled her lip in disgust.

“Honorless brutes,” she muttered under her breath, shaking her head. Turning away from that mess, she marched purposefully around the corner to Oddstripe’s empty nest and sighed in relief when she saw the small lump underneath the back corner. The horsetail and juniper she had hidden there was safe. She had no doubt Oddstripe would find it eventually. There wouldn’t be another death like Nightfrosts. 

Set at ease, she turned back and padded out into the clearing where Poppyblaze was standing with Lakepaw’s spirit in the middle of the circle of mourners. Poor Lakepaw was softly weeping into the guide’s starry fur. 

Sagetooth padded over and said, “There, there, Lakepaw. It’s going to be alright.” 

Lakepaw looked up at the sound of her voice and sniffled. “I’m so sorry, Sagetooth,” she whined. “I promise I tried my best.” 

“I know,” Sagetooth smiled. “You were a brave warrior.” Lakepaw sniffled again and rubbed a paw over her face, managing to return her smile, just a bit. 

“Alright, now, let’s be quick,” said Poppyblaze. “This place isn’t safe.”

“How so?” Sagetooth scowled. “I’ve never heard of anything dangerous in StarClan.” 

“We’re not in StarClan,” Poppyblaze explained, leading they over to the Stoneperch. “We’re in a place called the Parallel. It’s the place where the spirit and the physical meet, and right now, Razor’s ghost is prowling around it somewhere.” 

“What?” Sagetooth couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “How is that possible?! Only Clan cats move on to the afterlife.” 

“Oh, Sage,” Poppyblaze shook her head. “There’s so much you don’t know about the universe.” Sagetooth bristled indignantly. If there was knowledge out there, why hadn’t StarClan shared it with her? Why hadn’t Poppyblaze told her about it before? 

With a flick of her tail, Poppyblaze sent a shower of stars into the sky, leading up in a series of platforms, and said, “This way! Let’s get climbing.” 

“Wowzers,” breathed Lakepaw and Poppyblaze chuckled. 

“I like you, kid,” she purred. “Now, come on.” She gave Lakepaw’s rump a nudge with her nose and the apprentice hopped up, easily leaping from platform to platform into the sky. Sagetooth hesitated, shifting her weight. 

“You can’t make a slope of some kind?” she asked. 

Poppyblaze laughed and said, “Just give me one jump, yeah?” 

Sagetooth sighed, grumbling under her breath, and bunched her legs beneath her. It had been a long time since she’d properly jumped and she was not looking forward to it. Still, if Razor was loose somewhere around here, she’d be much better suited to jumping than fighting him. She leapt and was amazed to find herself easily and painlessly landing on the first platform. Her eyes sparkled in wonder and she glanced down at Poppyblaze who laughed again.

“See? You don’t have a body anymore so no more joint pain! Pretty cool, huh?” 

“It’s very nice, yes,” Sagetooth purred to herself, stretching out each leg experimentally. 

“Great, now let's go, go, go,” urged Poppyblaze, hopping up beside her. Sagetooth nodded and started ascending. She was buzzing giddily at the freedom in her movements, in the way she could coordinate her limbs and move them without the aching resistance she had grown used to for the last few years. 

Over their heads, Lakepaw cried out, “Wowzers! Look at the world from up here!” 

“It’s gorgeous, isn’t it?” grinned Poppyblaze. The higher they climbed, the more Sagetooth had to agree. The world was a stunning mess of mauves rustling in the breeze. A hint of orange had just started to peek over the eastern horizon and the contrast took Sagetooth’s breath away. 

“Hey, what’s that?” Lakepaw asked. 

“Hm?” Poppyblaze perked her ears. She and Sagetooth followed the apprentice’s gaze to the south. Standing in the grass, not too far from camp, several smudges of glowing red broke up the peaceful purple landscape. 

“Oh, that’s not good,” Poppyblaze swallowed. 

“Razor?” Sagetooth asked. 

“Yeah, I think so. I’m going to check it out. I need you to stay here, okay?” She looked at both of them sternly and said, “Don’t go up without me and don’t try to go down under any circumstances, understood?” 

“Yeah,” Lakepaw’s fur was standing on end as she nodded.

“Absolutely not,” Sagetooth huffed. “I’m coming with you.” 

“Oh, Sage, my stubborn, stubborn friend,” Poppyblaze’s expression was some mixture of distress and admiration. “Now really isn’t the time for this.” 

“If it isn’t safe for me to go along then you shouldn’t be going, you reckless fool,” Sagetooth stood her ground.

Poppyblaze sighed. “I guess that’s a fair point. Alright, fine. Stay here, Lakepaw, we’ll be back soon.” 

“Okay,” Lakepaw’s voice was shaky. “Please be safe.” 

“We will be,” Sagetooth assured her, then looked at Poppyblaze and gestured for her to lead the way. Poppyblaze took a careful step forward into the open air and when her paws moved away, there were starry platforms in their wake. Sagetooth fell into step behind her and they set out over the fields towards the red shapes. 

As they drew closer, Sagetooth started to make out the silhouettes of cats. A tall grey tabby stood in the center of the group, flanked by a cream tabby she-cat, a black-furred tom with white paws, and a pair of blue and white cats with notches in their ears. All five of them had the same shimmery pelts as StarClan but the stars were red tinged or dull and grey. 

“What are so many cats doing in the Parallel?” Poppyblaze whispered to herself, halting to observe them from a short distance behind and a tree’s length above. 

“That big one, is Razor, yes?” Sagetooth asked in the same hushed tone. She’d never seen the rogue’s body, too busy with healing the wounded, but she had heard the stories. She could see the gaping wound in his throat dripping ichor as he hunched over in the grass. He looked like stories of Dark Forest ghosts but that didn’t make any sense to her.

“Mhm,” nodded Poppyblaze. “He destroyed Darkmoon and EarthClan’s guide and tried to destroy me.” 

“What’s he doing?” asked Sagetooth. Both she and Poppyblaze squinted at Razor who was doing something with his paws over a space of fresh churned earth. He hooked his claws into something and pulled up dragging a new glowing red shape up from the dirt. In horror, Sagetooth watched the face of a cat burst from the ground, choking and gasping for air as Razor hoisted his spirit up by the scruff. The cat scrambled to his feet and stared around, eyes wide, chest heaving, and Razor smiled with a deep rumbling purr that Sagetooth could just barely hear. 

“Welcome to the land of the not quite living, Harry, ” he said, slapping the new cat on the back. 

“Oh, no,” Poppyblaze swallowed. “This is bad. This is very bad. Where’s Bakari?” 

“Who?” Sagetooth couldn’t help but ask. 

“What’s going on? Where are we?” the newly dead cat panted. “Who are they?” Sagetooth’s stomach dropped as he looked directly up at her and Poppyblaze. Razor cocked his head and turned in their direction. When he saw them, a terrible smile spread across his face, made all the more gruesome by the ichor seeping between his teeth. 

“Oh, look,” he purred and the whole group of cats turned to look at them, “It’s my little friend. I never did catch your name, sweetheart.” 

Poppyblaze bristled and twitched her tail against Sagetooth’s flank. “We’re leaving,” she whispered. “Now.” Sagetooth didn’t need any further prompting, quickly, she twisted on the starry platforms and started bounding back to where they had left Lakepaw waiting. Poppyblaze was close on her tail.

“Come now, don’t be like that!” Razor jeered after them and a couple of the other cats laughed. “Come on down so we can get friendly!” 

“This is very bad,” Poppyblaze hissed under her breath. “Worse than I thought.” 

“How so?” Sagetooth tilted her ears backward in curiosity. 

“How to explain…” Poppyblaze hummed thoughtfully. “So, when a creature dies, their soul is trapped inside their body. If left there, it rots and disappears, just like the rest of them, but if someone disconnects them from their body, they can live for effectively eternity, given the right conditions.” 

“Right, as long as they’re remembered, they resist fading away,” Sagetooth nodded. 

“Not exactly,” Poppyblaze said, “but that’s not really important right now.” Sagetooth twitched an ear in irritation, wishing Poppyblaze would stop saying confusing and ambiguous new things, but held her tongue so the guide could continue. “Separating a soul from a body is a tricky process, one that guides have been teaching each other for countless millennia. It looks like, somehow, Razor has figured out how to do it, or how to brute force it at least.” 

“Alright,” Sagetooth frowned, trying to put the pieces together. “So now, instead of wasting away, the kittypets’ spirits will be stuck on the Parallel with Razor where they can harass spirits waiting to go to StarClan?”

“It’s more complicated than that,” Poppyblaze said to Sagetooth’s frustration. “Usually, Bakari comes and collects the non-Clan cats in this area, but for some reason, he hasn’t been doing that.” 

“Who is this Bakari you keep talking about?” Sagetooth grumbled. 

“The guide for feline souls,” Poppyblaze’s tail began to twitch, “exempting Clan cats who have their own guides.” 

“But that’s not-” Sagetooth grit her teeth. “That doesn’t make any sense! Only Clan cats persist after death. That’s how it’s always been!” 

“Sorry, Sage, but that’s just not true,” Poppyblaze shook her head. “Everything has its own guide -- cats, dogs, mice, birds, beetles, twolegs. Everything! There’s even a guide who collects the plants! He’s a big ol’ thing with a prehensile nose and the shaggiest fur you’ve ever seen. Name’s Frost. Lovely guy, excellent conversationalist.” 

“Poppyblaze!” Sagetooth snapped, lashing her tail. They were almost back to Lakepaw now and she turned around to glare at the old spirit. “Enough about the plants! I still don’t understand what’s going on!” 

“It’s a lot to understand,” said Poppyblaze sympathetically, “but I’ll try to summarize.” She shifted her posture, collecting her thoughts, and said, “Alright, so Bakari usually collects the spirits of cats from outside the Clan. Every so often, a creature with a particularly strong will can separate themself on their own -- that’s how the first guides were created and it's what I assumed Razor had done. When I ran into him the first time, he said that he’d already destroyed two other cats and since EarthClan’s guide had never returned from gathering Darkmoon, I assumed they were the cats he’d destroyed.

“But this is so much worse. I think he destroyed Bakari when he tried to take Razor to the next life. He’s obsessed with getting back to his body like Goldenstar did and said he was going to keep killing cats until someone showed him how.”

“Oh,” Sagetooth swallowed. “That’s definitely not good.” 

“And that’s not all,” continued Poppyblaze. “If he’s only killed two cats and they were Bakari and Chestnutsprout, then Darkmoon is missing. He could be here on the parallel or he might be lost in the Clouds! Who knows!” 

“Then we need to get back to StarClan,” Sagetooth said. “They have to know.” 

“Agreed,” Poppyblaze chewed her lip. “Come on, let’s grab Lakepaw and get moving.” They padded quickly over the remaining distance to where Lakepaw was waiting dutifully for them. 

“Is everything okay?” she called as they approached. 

“Everything’s fine, dear,” said Sagetooth.

“Not really,” smiled Poppyblaze, “but we’re all safe for now. Let’s keep climbing, okay?” 

“Okay,” nodded Lakepaw and they all started up the platforms again. 

Sagetooth glared at Poppyblaze. “You didn’t have to worry the kit like that.” 

“She deserves to hear the truth,” Poppyblaze shrugged. “Or would you prefer I hide things from her like StarClan hid things from you?” Sagetooth’s anger fizzled immediately. 

“I suppose I’d rather not lie to her,” she sighed. After a moment she asked, “Why did StarClan keep the nature of things a secret? What harm is there in knowing other creatures have spirits that linger just like we do?” She trusted that there was some explanation, that StarClan had made the choice with good reason, but she couldn’t think of what it could be.

“A lot of them don’t know,” Poppyblaze admitted, “not any more at least. And the cats who do, well, you’d have to ask them, but I suspect they thought it would keep the Clans in line.” 

“In line?” Sagetooth sputtered. “What are you talking about?” 

“Well,” Poppyblaze hummed, “if you think that leaving the Clan means you lose your chance at the afterlife, you’re a lot more inclined to stay in the Clan, aren’t you?”

Sagetooth scowled. “I suppose.” This was very troubling. Wasn’t that for the best though? Leaving the Clan was tantamount to death. The poor young cats who were seduced by the lives of kittypets or rogue lovers were abandoning their homes, their traditions, their families. But still, even if their spirits existed after death, they didn’t get to hunt in StarClan’s forests so why lie? Wasn’t the outcome the same either way? The whole situation didn’t sit right with her at all. 

“Alright,” Poppyblaze said, as they neared the lower reaches of cloud cover. “We’re about to head into the Clouds, alright? It’s pretty maze-like in there and easy to get lost so make sure you stay where you can see me and let me know if you need to stop or slow down, got it?” 

“Yes ma’am,” Lakepaw said, eyes wide with awe. 

“Fine,” Sagetooth huffed, still deep in thought. This wasn’t what she had imagined her voyage to StarClan would be like. Still, she resolved to make the most of it and so set her shoulders and raised her head proudly. There would be time to get to the bottom of things and she was going to, that much was certain.

[strictlyfavorites]

They used to use urine to tan animal skins, so families used to all pee in a pot & then once a day it was taken & sold to the tannery. If you had to do this to survive you were "piss poor."

But worse than that were the really poor folk who couldn't even afford to buy a pot; they "didn't have a pot to piss in" & were the lowest of the low.

The next time you are washing your hands & complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be. Here are some facts about the 1500s.

Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and they still smelled pretty good by June. Since they were starting to smell, however, brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women, and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it . . . hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the Bath water!"

Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof, resulting in the idiom, "It's raining cats and dogs."

There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed, therefore, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.

The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt, leading folks to coin the phrase "dirt poor."

The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance-way, subsequently creating a "thresh hold."

In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire.. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while, and thus the rhyme, "Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old."

Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, "bring home the bacon." They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and "chew the fat."

Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.

Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the "upper crust."

Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial.. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up, creating the custom of holding a wake.

England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive, so they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift.) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be, saved by the bell or was considered a dead ringer.

And that's the truth. Now, whoever said History was boring?

[heavenlybackside]

Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and they still smelled pretty good by June. Since they were starting to smell, however, brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women, and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it … hence the saying, “Don’t throw the baby out with the Bath water!”

Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof, resulting in the idiom, “It’s raining cats and dogs.”

There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed, therefore, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That’s how canopy beds came into existence.

The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt, leading folks to coin the phrase “dirt poor.”

The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance-way, subsequently creating a “thresh hold.”

In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire.. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while, and thus the rhyme, “Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old.”

Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, “bring home the bacon.” They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and “chew the fat.”

Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.

Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the “upper crust.”

Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial.. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up, creating the custom of holding a wake.

They used to use urine to tan animal skins, so families used to all pee in a pot & then once a day it was taken & sold to the tannery. If you had to do this to survive you were “piss poor.”

But worse than that were the really poor folk who couldn’t even afford to buy a pot; they “didn’t have a pot to piss in” & were the lowest of the low.

The next time you are washing your hands & complain because the water temperature isn’t just how you like it, think about how things used to be. Here are some facts about the 1500s.

England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive, so they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift.) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be, saved by the bell or was considered a dead ringer.

And that’s the truth. Now, whoever said History was boring?

[is-the-owl-video-cute]

Why does my cat smell so good? It’s not just associations, even people who think I’m weird for pointing it out can’t actually disagree. He smells very very nice. Its nothing at all like new car smell, but in a similar way it is hard to describe, just sort of pleasant and clean.

cats and most felines evolved to have little to no body odor, possibly due to their role as stealth hunters. Typically when people say something “smells like cat” they’re referring to cat urine which is the means they use to the end that is olfactory communication, which differs from other companion mammals such as dogs as those have their own odor just on their bodies.

In general a cat will just smell like whatever it spends most of its time lounging on/in. This is why shelter cats sometimes smell like litter boxes while long time adopted healthy cats smell like carpets, bedsheets, so on, so forth.

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Grain of Salt "Facts"

I don't know if these are true or not but they come from a source I tend to trust. Still, take 'em with a grain of salt and please excuse the word used for urination. The fact just doesn't make sense without it.

People used to use urine to tan animal skins, so families used to all pee in a pot & then once a day it was taken and sold to the tannery…….if you had to do this to survive you were "P*ss Poor". But worse than that were the really poor folk who couldn't even afford to buy a pot……they "didn't have a pot to p*ss in" & were the lowest of the low.

The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be. Here are some facts about the old days…

Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and they still smelled pretty good by June. However, since they were starting to smell … brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it … hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water!"

Houses had thatched roofs with thick straw piled high, with no solid roof. The cats and other small animals including mice, bugs lived in the roof to get warm. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes they would slip and fall off the roof … hence the saying "It's raining cats and dogs."

There was also nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and droppings could mess up their nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how our luxurious “canopy beds” came into existence.

The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, "Dirt poor." The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance-way. Hence: a “thresh hold”.

In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire … every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and didn't get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme: “Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old.”

Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, "bring home the bacon." They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and “chew the fat.”

Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered “poisonous”.

Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the “upper crust”.

Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial.. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a “wake”.

England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive … so they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the “graveyard shift”) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be, “saved by the bell” or was considered a “dead ringer”.

[robbie-roo]

somebody in a very long message asked me about skunks and mentioned a few other animals too so I'll do a quick post on skunks and see what I know about those other guys in later posts

also as a side note if you ever just want to chit chat about animals you can always message me or just tag me in your own posts I'm happy to have discussions as well as do these long lecture style posts :)

Skunks

cute little guys <3 I wanted a pet skunk and a pet raccoon as a kid (honestly I wanted a pet everything...) and the good news is you can technically have one! some states (17/50) will allow you to own a pet raccoon or a pet skunk but unless you are very knowledgeable in wildlife care or "exotic" pets I do not reccomend them they are not domesticated like dogs and cats are but can be tame (there's a difference)

anyways some skunk facts;

so their stinky spray is a pretty obvious skunk trait and like the messager mentioned many animals use scent as a way to communicate. pretty much all mammals have a scent gland located somewhere on their body- for many its the top of the head so they can rub pheromones off on trees or other critters to let animals know "hey this is mine" or "hey there handsome.... there's hot singles in your area"

they also mentioned possum and raccoons using scent- opossums are known for playing dead and will secrete stinky stuff to make their act more believable and raccoons? it's their urine and feces that make them stinky

some animals however use scent as a deterrent like skunks do

they are not the only animal that does this all mustelids do (that's the skink, ferret, stoat, etc. fam) and these critters are particularly stinky but don't have the spray adaptation that only skunks really have (as far as I've learned anyway)

both pet skunks and ferrets will often be surgically "de-scented" but usually still have a smell after (I mean... don't we all?)

skunks used to roll with this genus but recently made their own gang called Mephitis (literally means "stink") which has 12 species and includes skunks and "stink badgers" I've also seen some reports of 13 species but I'm not really sure off the top of my head which is true only 4 of them are "true skunks" though

skunks take their scent very seriously guys. some of them will directly aim for the eyes and others will do a little warning dance before spraying they can also adjust their sprays potency and angle and can also choose to spray from both or only one scent gland at a time

(spotted skunk- the dancers)

some can accurately spray 10 feet away but can reach up to 20 or more if they really wanted to soak you but then they have to reload for about 10 days before they can spray anything again

that odor can be smelled from 1.5 miles away! but don't worry 1/1000 humans can't smell it at all and their main predator owls also can't pick up the scent unfortunately for these birds they do still have eyes and a well aimed spray will still take them down

(also the chemical compound in their spray is flammable I have no idea who found that out and why but fun fact!)

if you ever get sprayed don't bother with tomato juice use hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to neutralize the compounds

anyways enough about stink

Skunks are omnivores and some will eat bees aiming for the actual bees over the honey like bears do (yes winny the pooh lied to you he wants that larva not necessarily the honey)

some skunks can be really social living in groups of around 10 and sometimes invite their neighbors to stay with them (there's a few cases of possums staying the night in their den) most of them ate relatively solitary but they aren't very territorial and will overlap sometimes

they are immune to snake venom! another trait that is somewhat similar to their cousins the badgers as they often eat snakes they can handle a lot of poison

alright that's what I know about skunks they're cute little guys but once again

DO. NOT. TOUCH. yes theyre stinky but they are also known to carry rabies if you see one out during the day do not approach it and call wildlife services if you are seriously worried

[cleolinda]

(It might truly not be a perfume)

Not A Perfume Superdose, Juliette Has A Gun (2019)

(newly-arrived “discovery set” sample)

Point the first: I wrote about Not A Perfume (2010) the other day, so this is a comparative follow-up.

Point the second: I think this time it really is just one aromachemical, probably. Maybe two, tops. Three?

The whole premise here is that Not A Perfume was “just” cetalox, and so Not A Perfume Superdose is “just” “more” cetalox. Going back to that Fragrantica article, the one talking about how Not A Perfume is in no way One Single Elegant Base Note and is, in fact, three white musks in a hedione trenchcoat:

Let’s say, if in Not A Perfume, the focus was on the smell of the ambergris block, then the Superdose version pushes it aside and instead of the flying and rather invasive white-flowered hedione, it offers us an even more invasive ambrocenide — a cold, even burning ambergris material. Our bed linen is hung out on the street not in summer, but on a winter morning.

Over to the Perfumer’s Apprentice, ambrocenide: what it do?

Powerful and long-lasting top to base booster; lends power to woody and ambery accords; gives radiance and enhances citrus and aldehydic notes at low use levels; propels musk notes to be perceived in the top notes; gives volume and strength to floral heart notes.

(istg someday I’m just gonna order a vial of Cetalox [or Ambroxan, or WHATEVER] and some perfumer’s alcohol and find out what the Single Elegant Base Note would actually smell like)

So, in practice, what Juliette Had A Gun did was remove the secret additional notes and call it super. Reading the reviews for Superdose, however, you start to understand why the original Not A Perfume was sweetened up with some user-friendly laundry musks in the first place. Over at the Fragrantica user reviews, gone are the pears and the fairies and the ghosts and the blood. Now we get (deep breath)

ambergris, a woodshop, sea salt, animal musk, iso e super, lemon, laundry, spice, pencil shavings, Le Labo’s Another 13, paperbacks, rubbing alcohol, plastic bags, a heater turning on, damp fur, cat urine, vodka, whipped cream, body odor, burning plastic; it’s “peppery and harsh”; it’s “mouthwateringly juicy”; it’s “so disturbingly evil”; “this perfume smells like what doing whippets feels like.”

On me, Superdose smells like dryer sheets. Again. But this time, a used dryer sheet, gossamer thin and clinging to a fluffy towel, so it’s not as overwhelming to me as the original was. Yes: I am possibly the only person on earth who feels less whelmed by Superdose. (This is why I don’t try to officially “review” a fragrance and say it’s definitely good or bad, this or that, because it’s clearly so dependent on skin chemistry, before you even get to personal taste. I can’t judge my dryer sheet against your garbage fire.)

Ironically, it wasn’t the cetalox that bothered me the first time around, but the hedione; Superdose doesn’t have any, so it took a whole hour for the headache to set in this time. Honestly, I would be more likely to wear Superdose again than the original Not A Perfume, I think. I don’t know what it says about me that I got the blandest, goodiest-two-shoes results possible, but… no, actually, that checks out. I almost wish my skin chemistry had produced something edgier, but that’s a monkey’s paw wish if I ever heard one.

(Actually, what I have heard is that Superdose really earns its keep as a base for other perfumes you actually like, especially if they’re weak or wear off quickly. Time to get out the Demeter Fragrance samples, sounds like.)

Also in the Juliette Has A Gun set I got: Vanilla Vibes, Magnolia Bliss, Lipstick Fever, MMMM, Pear Inc., and Lili Fantasy. I’ll intersperse writeups of those, long covid willing, with other fragrances as we go. (I’ve already given Lipstick Fever a quick test, and it was unexpectedly fruit forward.) It’s a total toss-up as to what I’ll post about next, but maybe I’ll switch it up with something I actually wear regularly.

[1solone]

😯🤔😎

DID YOU KNOW ! ! !

They used to use urine to tan animal skins, so families used to all pee in a pot & then once a day it was taken & Sold to the tannery.......if you had to do this to survive you were "Piss Poor"

But worse than that were the really poor folk who couldn't even afford to buy a pot......they "didn't have a pot to piss in" & were the lowest of the low

The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be. Here are some facts about the 1500s:

Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and they still smelled pretty good by June.. However, since they were starting to smell . ...... . Brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting Married.

Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it.. Hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the Bath water!"

Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof... Hence the saying "It's raining cats and dogs."

There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.

The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, "Dirt poor." The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance-way. Hence: a thresh hold.

In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire.. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme: Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old. Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, "bring home the bacon." They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat.

Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.

Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the upper crust.

Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would Sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial.. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a wake.

The country is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive... So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift.) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be, saved by the bell or was considered a dead ringer.

And that's the truth....Now, whoever said History was boring?

[sobercentre]

Trying to hide alcohol breath is like trying to sneak a cat into a dog show – it might work for a while, but eventually, everyone’s going to notice something’s up! Alcohol breath is a common concern for every individual who delights in occasional drinking. Whether it’s a business meeting, a date, or a family gathering, the lingering stank of alcohol on your breath can be a source of embarrassment. But all that can be history now. In this article, we will settle your concerns about what gets rid of alcohol breath by providing effective and simple hacks to ensure your confidence level is in check after a few drinks. First things first, what causes alcohol breath? Ideally, not all drinkers are conscious of this issue. The level of concern varies widely among individuals based on factors such as personal habits, social contexts, and cultural norms. However, for those who actively seek solutions to mitigate alcohol breath, it is imperative to understand what causes it. When you consume alcoholic beverages, your body processes the alcohol content through a series of metabolic reactions. Your liver, through the help of certain enzymes, works to break down ethanol into acetic acid. During this metabolic process, some volatile compounds are produced that may have a distinct odor and can be expelled from the body through sweat, urine, or breath. This means that as you breathe, some of the alcoholic metabolites are released through the respiratory system – the lungs. The most notable of these compounds is acetaldehyde, which has a sweet, fruity odor that contributes significantly to alcohol breath. So, it would be safe to say that a significant proportion of alcohol breath originates from your lungs – not so much from the mouth as many would assume. However, part of it is attributable to the mouth as alcohol causes decreased saliva production – dry mouth. Since saliva plays a role in cleansing the mouth and neutralizing odors, reduced production can contribute to the persistence of alcohol breath. Factors affecting the intensity of alcohol breath The intensity and duration of alcohol breath can be influenced by factors such as: Amount and type of alcohol consumed. Oral hygiene. Individual metabolism. Hydration levels. What gets rid of alcohol breath? Finally, the long-awaited hacks to effectively eliminate alcohol breath are here! Drink strong-smelling beverages Well, as much as alcohol breath is a thing, coffee breath is also a thing. Strong beverages such as coffee can help mask out alcohol breath. Take it black, without added sugar or milk, and swish it in your mouth before swallowing to leave a lingering aromatic scent. Be careful not to mix coffee with alcohol as this can inadvertently cause the multiplier effect, leaving you energetic and with the urge to drink more. Other beverages such as lemon water can help temporarily eliminate alcohol breath. After drinking alcohol, squeeze fresh lemon into a glass of water, swish it around your mouth, and swallow. [caption id="attachment_1407" align="alignnone" width="624"] Lime, orange, or grapefruit juice are excellent substitutes.[/caption] Eat strong-scented foods Certain foods can help neutralize the odor of alcohol on your breath. These include foods high in fiber content such as raw veggies and fruits, or peanut butter. These foods have a strong and sweet smell. Peanut butter is thick enough to line your mouth, giving you fresher breath. A sandwich with raw vegetables and peanut butter spread would do the magic for you. On the flip side, it is crucial to avoid onions or garlic-flavored foods. While these have stronger odors than that of alcohol, the alternative would lead to intensified undesirable breath. Good oral hygiene Practicing good oral hygiene is crucial for keeping alcohol breath at bay. Regularly and thoroughly brushing your teeth, gums, and tongue removes lingering alcohol particles and bacteria. Strong-smelling toothpaste, such as ones containing menthol, and effective for masking alcohol smell.

Also, don’t forget to floss after a night of drinking to remove food particles saturated with alcohol between your teeth. While brushing, use a tongue scraper to eliminate bacteria from your tongue and prevent the accumulation of alcoholic residue. Alternatively, gargling a mint-flavored alcohol-free mouthwash for about 30 seconds would do the trick. This allows sufficient time for the mouthwash to add an extra layer of freshness and afterward rinse your mouth with water. Chew scented herbs Herbs such as parsley and cinnamon are natural deodorizers, meaning they can neutralize or mask odors, including alcohol breath. Parsley is sometimes recommended as a natural breath freshener while cinnamon has aromatic qualities that overpower undesirable smells and inhibit bacterial growth in the mouth. Other aromatic herbs that can override odors include cardamon, anise, and fennel seeds. These herbs stimulate saliva production, which in turn cleanses the mouth of food particles and bacteria, contributing to fresher breath. Use these herbs to garnish your stew and enjoy their aroma. You can either nibble the leaves of cinnamon and parsley directly or cook them up in a dish. Chew gum Chewing breath mints or flavored gum is a quick and simple way to mask alcohol breath. They stimulate saliva production which not only cleanses your mouth but helps eliminate bacteria. It is recommended to go for sugar-free gums to avoid potential dental issues and prioritize gums flavored with mint, cinnamon, or eucalyptus to give you an extra burst of freshness. Additionally, it would be super convenient if you’d carry some chewing gum with you on your way to your favorite bar. After all, you never know when life is going to throw you a surprise meeting or a spontaneous conversation with your crush – and nobody wants to be caught off guard with a breath that tells the story of last night’s liquor. How to prevent alcohol breath It is said prevention is better than cure. Now that we know how to rid the smell of alcohol from our mouths, it is equally important to practice mindful drinking and employ habits that prevent alcohol breath. They include: Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydration is key. This is one of the simplest forms and most effective ways of preventing alcohol breath. Since alcohol is a diuretic, it causes dehydration which may lead to a build-up of toxins in your body, contributing to unpleasant breath. Water, on the other hand, dilutes the alcohol residues in your mouth and helps flush it out of your system. Regularize taking a glass of water in between drinks or watering down your liquor with ice cubes. Doctors recommend consuming at least 8 glasses of water every day, spread out through the day and especially after a night of drinking. This is also a hack to prevent intense hangovers. Talk of killing two birds with one stone! Drink moderately Well, moderation is relative. Different individuals may consider moderate alcohol intake differently. Whatever your moderate is, it’s important to remember that excessive alcohol consumption can cause severe consequences, including the risk of alcohol poisoning, vomiting, and severe dehydration. Truth be told, it is easy to lose count, especially in social settings where the bartender “keeps ‘em comin’. However, a moderate drink is considered 2 standard drinks for men and 1 for women. According to the NIAAA (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism), a standard drink is about 14 grams or 0.6 fluid ounces of pure alcohol. With these measurements, always pace yourself when drinking and know when to stop. Avoid mixing alcohol This is easier than done. It is not uncommon to find a group of friends drinking one brand of alcohol while taking shots of a different brand. It might look like fun but mixing alcoholic drinks, especially hard liquor, introduces compounds with varying levels of alcohol content, leading to a build-up of alcohol metabolites and other volatile compounds in your system which results in a stronger pungent breath.

It also significantly contributes to alcohol poisoning and hangovers. This is often an overlooked truth. To minimize the intensity of alcohol breath, stick to one type of alcoholic beverage a night. If your first order was whiskey, keep taking whiskey for the night. By all means, avoid tobacco products! Smoking cigarettes or using other tobacco products while drinking alcohol exacerbates bad breath. Tobacco independently contains compounds that contribute to bad breath. The combination of alcohol and tobacco can result in a more pronounced breath odor. Even worse, the nicotine in tobacco lingering in the mouth creates a stale smoky scent. We haven’t even taken into account the potential health concerns that result from smoking tobacco, from cardiovascular diseases to respiratory issues, teeth discoloration, and certain cancers. It is therefore advisable to avoid tobacco products entirely. Choose alcohol with lower potency Drinks with lower alcohol by volume (ABV) help prevent alcohol breath as they introduce smaller quantities of alcohol into your bloodstream, meaning the liver will have more time to metabolize the alcohol and clear all metabolites from your system. This slower process leads to a milder alcohol breath. Bottomline Dealing with alcohol breath doesn’t have to cause you anxiety every time you go drinking. By implementing these simple and effective tips into your routine, you can confidently navigate social situations without having to worry about the lingering scent of alcohol. However, if the problem persists, seek medical advice from a qualified professional.

[tricountyanimal]

Recognizing the Signs of Kidney Failure in Pets

Kidney failure is a serious condition that can affect pets, often catching owners by surprise. The kidneys play a crucial role in filtering waste from the blood and balancing fluids in the body. When they fail, it can lead to severe health issues. Understanding and recognizing the signs of kidney failure in pets is vital for early intervention and effective treatment. At Tri-County Animal Hospital, we are dedicated to providing the best care and information to ensure your pet's well-being.

Understanding Kidney Failure in Pets

What is Kidney Failure?

Kidney failure, or renal failure, occurs when the kidneys lose their ability to function properly. This condition can be acute (sudden onset) or chronic (developing over time). In both cases, it’s crucial to identify the problem early to manage it effectively.

Types of Kidney Failure: Acute vs. Chronic

Acute Kidney Failure: Often caused by toxins, infections, or severe dehydration, this type of kidney failure comes on suddenly and can be reversible with prompt treatment.

Chronic Kidney Failure: This is a progressive condition often associated with aging, underlying diseases, or genetic factors. It’s managed over time rather than cured.

Causes of Kidney Failure in Pets

Common Causes in Dogs and Cats

Several factors can lead to kidney failure in pets, including:

Toxins (e.g., antifreeze, certain medications)

Infections (e.g., leptospirosis)

Trauma to the kidneys

Chronic diseases (e.g., diabetes, high blood pressure)

Genetic Predispositions

Some breeds are more prone to kidney issues due to genetic factors. For instance, Persian cats and certain dog breeds like the Shih Tzu and Bull Terrier are more susceptible to kidney diseases.

Environmental Factors

Environmental toxins and poor diet can also contribute to kidney failure. Ensuring a clean, safe environment and a balanced diet is crucial for kidney health.

Early Signs of Kidney Failure

Recognizing the early signs of kidney failure can make a significant difference in the outcome for your pet.

Behavioral Changes

Increased thirst and urination

Decreased appetite

Lethargy or depression

Physical Symptoms to Watch For

Weight loss

Bad breath with a chemical odor

Vomiting and diarrhea

Poor coat condition

Advanced Symptoms of Kidney Failure

As the condition progresses, symptoms become more severe and require immediate veterinary attention.

Severe Symptoms Indicating Progression

Severe lethargy

Swelling in limbs (edema)

Seizures or disorientation

When to Seek Emergency Vet Care

If you notice any advanced symptoms, contact Tri-County Animal Hospital immediately. Early intervention can prevent further complications and improve the quality of life for your pet.

Diagnosing Kidney Failure

Veterinary Tests and Procedures

Diagnosing kidney failure typically involves:

Blood tests to check for elevated waste products (BUN, creatinine)

Urinalysis to assess kidney function and detect abnormalities

Imaging (ultrasound or X-rays) to view the kidneys

Importance of Early Detection

Early detection is key to managing kidney failure. Regular check-ups at Tri-County Animal Hospital can help catch the disease in its early stages, allowing for more effective treatment options.

Treatment Options 

Medical Treatments

Treatment varies depending on the severity and type of kidney failure but may include:

Medications to manage symptoms and slow disease progression

Antibiotics for infections

Medications to control blood pressure

Dietary Changes

Special diets low in phosphorus and protein can help reduce the workload on the kidneys and manage symptoms.

Fluid Therapy

Hydration is crucial. Subcutaneous or intravenous fluids may be administered to help maintain electrolyte balance and hydration.

Home Care for Pets with Kidney Failure

Daily Care Routines

Ensuring your pet has access to fresh water at all times

Administering medications as prescribed

Providing a comfortable resting area

Monitoring and Adjusting Treatment

Regularly monitor your pet’s symptoms and keep in touch with Tri-County Animal Hospital for follow-up visits and adjustments to the treatment plan as needed.

Preventive Measures

Tips for Preventing Kidney Failure

Maintain a balanced diet for your pet

Ensure regular veterinary check-ups

Avoid exposure to toxins

Importance of Regular Veterinary Check-Ups

Regular visits to Tri-County Animal Hospital allow for early detection and prevention strategies, helping to keep your pet’s kidneys healthy.

Conclusion

Recognizing the signs of kidney failure in pets and seeking timely veterinary care can make a significant difference in your pet’s health and quality of life. At Tri-County Animal Hospital, we are committed to providing comprehensive care and support for pets with kidney failure. By staying informed and proactive, you can help your furry friend live a happy, healthy life.

[melbmemories]

Not Melbourne, but interesting historical facts from UK in the 1500's:

They used to use urine to tan animal skins, so families used to all pee in a pot & then once a day it was taken & sold to the tannery. If you had to do this to survive you were "piss poor."

But worse than that were the really poor folk who couldn't even afford to buy a pot; they "didn't have a pot to pee in" & were the lowest of the low.

The next time you are washing your hands & complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be. Here are some facts about the 1500's.

Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and they still smelled pretty good by June.

Since they were starting to smell, however, brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women, and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it . . . hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the Bath water!"

Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof, resulting in the idiom, "It's raining cats and dogs."

There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed, therefore, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.

The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt, leading folks to coin the phrase "dirt poor."

The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance-way, subsequently creating a "thresh hold."

In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire.. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat.

They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while, and thus the rhyme, "Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old."

Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, "bring home the bacon." They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and "chew the fat."

Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.

Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the "upper crust."

Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky.

The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial.. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up, creating the custom of holding a wake.

England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave.

When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive, so they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell.

Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift.) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be, saved by the bell or was considered a dead ringer.

And that's the truth.

Now, whoever said History was boring?

[youaremusic1900]

The History of Sayings!

They used to use urine to tan animal skins, so families used to all pee in a pot & then once a day it was taken & sold to the tannery. If you had to do this to survive you were “piss poor.”

But worse than that were the really poor folk who couldn’t even afford to buy a pot; they “didn’t have a pot to piss in” & were the lowest of the low.

The next time you are washing your hands & complain because the water temperature isn’t just how you like it, think about how things used to be. Here are some facts about the 1500s.

Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and they still smelled pretty good by June. Since they were starting to smell, however, brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women, and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it … hence the saying, “Don’t throw the baby out with the Bath water!”

Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof, resulting in the idiom, “It’s raining cats and dogs.”

There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed, therefore, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That’s how canopy beds came into existence.

The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt, leading folks to coin the phrase “dirt poor.”

The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance-way, subsequently creating a “thresh hold.”

In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire.. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while, and thus the rhyme, “Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old.”

Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, “bring home the bacon.” They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and “chew the fat.”

Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.

Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the “upper crust.”

Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial.. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up, creating the custom of holding a wake.

England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive, so they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift.) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be, saved by the bell or was considered a dead ringer.

And that’s the truth. Now, whoever said History was boring?

[meowmatics]

Why Is My Cat Peeing On My Clothes: Decoding Feline Behavior

Discovering cat urine on your clothes can be a perplexing and frustrating experience for cat owners. The distinctive odor and the added hassle of cleanup and laundry make this behavior particularly challenging. In this article, we'll delve into the common question, Why is my cat peeing on my Clothes? and explore the three main categories of causes: medical, behavioral, and litter box-related. Understanding the root cause is crucial for implementing an effective solution and maintaining a harmonious relationship with your feline companion.

Understanding the Problem

The unmistakable smell of cat urine is not only unpleasant but also poses a significant challenge in terms of cleanup and laundry. Dealing with this issue requires a deeper understanding of the underlying causes. While it may be tempting to solely focus on the immediate problem, a comprehensive solution necessitates identifying the root cause. This article aims to provide insights into the various reasons why cats exhibit this behavior, offering a roadmap for cat owners to address the issue systematically.

Exploring Possible Causes

To effectively tackle the issue of a cat peeing on clothes, it's crucial to categorize potential causes into three main groups: medical, behavioral, and litter box-related. Each category represents a distinct aspect of a cat's well-being and can contribute to this undesirable behavior. By systematically exploring these causes, cat owners can gain valuable insights into their feline companion's health and emotional state, enabling them to tailor an appropriate solution.

Medical Causes

When a cat starts exhibiting unusual urination habits, it may be indicative of an underlying medical issue. Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) is a common culprit, characterized by bladder inflammation and frequent, painful urination. Chronic kidney diseases, thyroid issues, diabetes, senile dementia, and osteoarthritis are additional medical conditions that can impact a cat's urinary behavior. Timely veterinary attention is crucial to diagnose and treat these conditions, ensuring the overall health and well-being of the feline friend. FLUTD (Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease) FLUTD is a multifaceted condition in cats, often caused by infectious cystitis or non-infectious factors like struvite stones. Without proper treatment, FLUTD can lead to severe complications, including bladder stones and blockages. Recognizing symptoms such as frequent urination and seeking prompt veterinary care is essential for managing and mitigating the risks associated with this condition. Chronic Kidney Diseases Impaired kidney function can result in toxins building up in a cat's body, leading to recurrent, diluted urination. Early detection of chronic kidney diseases is crucial for preventing severe health complications. Cat owners should be vigilant for symptoms like loss of appetite, weakness, and pale gums, signaling the need for immediate veterinary attention. Thyroid Issues The thyroid gland, situated in a cat's neck, plays a pivotal role in regulating metabolism and hormone production. When underactive (hypothyroidism) or overactive (hyperthyroidism), it can lead to a range of health issues, including urinary problems. Blood tests at the vet can determine thyroid hormone levels, guiding subsequent treatment options. Diabetes Regulating blood sugar levels is vital for diabetic cats, influencing their urination frequency. Increased thirst, weight loss, and lethargy are common symptoms accompanying this condition. A simple blood test can diagnose diabetes, allowing the veterinarian to prescribe an appropriate treatment plan. Senile Dementia Similar to humans, cats can suffer from dementia as they age. Cognitive decline can result in behavioral changes, including urinating outside the litter box. Managing senile dementia involves understanding and accommodating the cat's limitations, providing support as needed. Osteoarthritis This painful joint condition is prevalent in older cats and can affect their ability to use the litter box comfortably. Discomfort and inflammation make it challenging for cats with osteoarthritis to navigate high litter boxes, prompting them to seek alternative spots for urination.

Behavioral Causes

Understanding the emotional well-being of a cat is crucial to unraveling the mystery of why they might be urinating on clothes. Behavioral causes such as marking territory, stress, anxiety, and seeking attention can contribute to this behavior. By addressing these emotional factors, cat owners can create a more stable and supportive environment for their feline companions. Marking Their Territory Territorial marking is a natural behavior in cats, where they leave pheromones in their urine to communicate ownership. Distinguishing between marking and regular urination is essential, as marking is usually done in small amounts on vertical surfaces. Creating a stable environment and providing vertical spaces can help alleviate territorial insecurity. Stress and Anxiety Cats, like humans, can experience stress and anxiety, leading to behavioral changes such as urinating on clothes. Identifying stressors, whether it's a change in environment, diet, or the presence of a new family member, is crucial. Observing signs of stress, such as excessive urination, grooming, or hiding, allows cat owners to intervene and create a more relaxed atmosphere. Seeking Attention Some cats may resort to urinating on clothes as a way of seeking attention. Indoor cats, in particular, may feel they are not receiving enough love and affection from their human companions. While it doesn't imply negligence on the owner's part, providing additional quality time, interaction, and love can often resolve attention-seeking behaviors.

Litter Box Causes

A clean and suitable litter box is paramount for maintaining a cat's proper toileting behavior. Litter box-related issues, including cleanliness, the type of litter used, and accessibility, can contribute to a cat's decision to urinate elsewhere. Positive reinforcement and avoiding punishment are essential strategies for encouraging desirable litter box habits. Emphasize the Significance of a Clean Litter Box Maintaining a clean litter box is not only essential for a cat's hygiene but also crucial for preventing urination problems. Cats are generally fastidious creatures, and a dirty litter box can be a significant deterrent to regular use. Regular scooping and thorough cleaning are key practices for ensuring a cat's comfort and hygiene. Assessing the Litter Box Itself The type of litter and the design of the litter box can significantly impact a cat's preference and comfort. Some cats may be particular about the texture or scent of the litter, while others may have difficulty accessing high-sided boxes. Observing a cat's behavior and preferences can guide cat owners in selecting the most suitable litter and litter box design. Positive Reinforcement and Avoiding Punishment Encouraging positive behaviors around the litter box is crucial to fostering good habits. Punishing a cat for urinating outside the box can exacerbate the problem and create stress, leading to further behavioral issues. Instead, positive reinforcement, such as treats and praise when the cat uses the litter box correctly, helps build positive associations with the designated toileting area.

How to Stop Cat from Peeing on Clothes

Addressing the issue of a cat urinating on clothes requires a systematic approach that encompasses all potential causes. The following steps provide a comprehensive guide for cat owners to identify the specific cause and implement effective solutions. Stress the Importance of a Systematic Approach A systematic approach involves considering all potential causes, starting with a veterinary visit to rule out underlying medical issues. By systematically addressing each aspect, cat owners can tailor their approach to the specific needs of their feline companion, increasing the likelihood of a successful resolution.

The Necessity of a Veterinary Visit for a Thorough Health Check

A comprehensive health check by a veterinarian is the initial step in understanding why a cat might be urinating on clothes. Medical causes, such as FLUTD, chronic kidney diseases, thyroid issues, diabetes, senile dementia, or osteoarthritis, must be ruled out or addressed promptly. Blood tests, imaging, and other diagnostic tools can provide valuable insights into the cat's health status, guiding the subsequent course of action.

Creating a Stress-Free Environment

Once medical concerns are addressed, it's essential to evaluate the cat's environment for stressors. Changes in the household, new pets, or disruptions to routine can contribute to behavioral issues. Creating a stress-free environment involves minimizing disruptions, providing safe spaces, and offering activities that promote mental and physical well-being. Cats thrive on routine, so maintaining a consistent schedule can also help alleviate stress.

Addressing Emotional Needs

Understanding and addressing a cat's emotional needs are paramount in preventing unwanted behaviors like urinating on clothes. For cats experiencing anxiety or seeking attention, incorporating interactive play, designated cuddle time, and enrichment activities can offer emotional fulfillment. Providing vertical spaces, cozy hideaways, and comforting scents, such as familiar bedding, can create a secure environment that promotes positive behavior.

Maintaining a Clean and Suitable Litter Box

A clean and suitable litter box is crucial to encouraging proper toileting behavior. Cat owners should focus on the following aspects: Regular Cleaning:  Ensure the litter box is scooped daily, and a thorough cleaning is performed regularly. Cats prefer a clean space, and maintaining hygiene reduces the likelihood of aversion to the litter box. Appropriate Litter:  Experiment with different litter types to determine the cat's preference. Some cats prefer clumping, non-clumping, scented, or unscented litter. Offering choices can help identify the cat's preferred substrate. Litter Box Accessibility:  Consider the litter box's size and design. Cats may avoid high-sided boxes or those in cramped spaces. Opting for open, low-sided boxes can enhance accessibility and reduce potential obstacles.

Key Takeaways

Recapping the main points discussed in this article: Identify the Root Cause:  Systematically address medical, behavioral, and litter box-related causes to pinpoint the reason behind a cat urinating on clothes. Medical Attention:  Seek veterinary care for a thorough health check and diagnosis of potential medical issues. Emotional Well-being:  Understand and address emotional needs by creating a stress-free environment and fulfilling a cat's need for attention and play. Litter Box Maintenance:  Maintain a clean and suitable litter box, considering cleanliness, appropriate litter type, and box accessibility. Individualized Solutions:  Each cat is unique, and solutions should be tailored to the specific needs and preferences of the feline companion. Persistence and Love:  Resolving behavioral issues takes time and patience. Approach the situation with love, understanding, and a commitment to your cat's well-being.

Conclusion

In conclusion, unwinding the mystery of why is my cat peeing on my clothes includes an extensive methodology that considers clinical, conduct, and environmental elements. Assuming that you're wondering, why is my cat peeing on my clothes, it's significant to comprehend the main driver. By consulting with a veterinarian to preclude any clinical issues, assessing the litter box conditions, and tending to possible stressors, proprietors can pursue a resolution that encourages a positive relationship with their catlike companion. Persistence, persistence, and a guarantee to the cat's prosperity are fundamental components in effectively defeating this difficult way of behaving. Don't surrender; with the right methodology, a harmonious living environment can be reestablished. Read More: Why Do Cats Stick Their Tongue Out: Decoding Feline Behavior

FAQs

How do I stop my cat from peeing on my clothes? Distinguish the explanation for the way of behaving. Guarantee the litter confine is perfect and set a peaceful, open location. Preclude clinical issues by talking with a veterinarian. Utilize enzymatic cleaners to eliminate any fragrance markings from your garments. Give encouraging feedback when your cat utilizes the litter box accurately. Why did my cat pee on my clothes in front of me? Cats might pee outside the litter box because of stress, clinical issues, or disappointment with the litter box conditions. On the off chance that your cat does this in your presence, it very well may be an approach to communicating pain or uneasiness. Explore likely causes and talk with a vet if necessary. How do you discipline a cat for peeing outside the litter box? Keep away from actual discipline, as it can prompt apprehension and tension in cats. All things being equal, center around uplifting feedback. Guarantee the litter box is engaging, clean, and properly located. Use treats and commendation when your cat utilizes the litter box accurately. Talk with a vet for direction on the off chance that the issue continues. Should I punish my cat for peeing on my clothes? Discipline isn't suggested. Cats don't answer well to discipline and may end up being more worried or restless. All things being equal, address the main driver of the way of behaving. Talk with a veterinarian to preclude clinical issues, make the litter box seriously engaging, and give uplifting feedback to utilizing the litter box accurately. Read the full article

[poophissuperior]

5 Tricks to Stop Cats from Marking their Territory

Our beloved kitties are going to have accidents. Despite our best efforts to litter train them and try various behavioral tricks, our cats still go through a phase of claiming their space that wreaks havoc on our homes. This is a natural way for them to claim a space as their own and to send messages to other animals in the area. For example, they might be telling potential intruders to stay away or letting other cats know that they are ready to find a mate. Unfortunately, this habit of declaring their territory can become a problem when our feline friends decide to do it in inappropriate places, like our favorite rugs or furniture. Thankfully, there are a few simple steps you can take to address the problem, like POOPH products.

1      USE POOPH

Do you love your cat but hate the smell of their litter box? Say goodbye to unpleasant odors with the POOPH Kitty Litter Box Saver. This innovative product saves you time and money by reducing the need to scoop frequently and throw away unused litter due to the stink. Simply sprinkle some into the litter box before your cat goes, and let POOPH's unique odor molecule dismantling technology do the rest. 

POOPH doesn’t stop there, as the brand’s Kitty Litter Odor Eliminator is widely regarded as the most effective solution for eliminating unpleasant scents caused by your cat's waste. What sets POOPH apart from other products is the fact it is odorless, and it does not rely on chemicals or perfumes to mask the smell. POOPH is capable of neutralizing and preventing aromas that might attract your cat to repeatedly use the same area.

POOPH Pet Odor & Stain Eliminator is a top-selling pet odor and stain eliminator that is leading the market. This innovative product uses a non-toxic, mineral-based formula to remove stinks quickly and effectively. It is designed to purify the area and eliminate all types of smells and germs. Cleaning with POOPH is a breeze as it works instantly. Plus, it is completely safe for both people and pets, as well as environmentally friendly. For added convenience, Pooph is also available in a travel-friendly 2oz bottle.

2      Keep Outside Cats Away

Ensure that your indoor feline feels like the only one in the world. You can always place motion sensors outside the house, as well as obstruct specific windows to prevent your pet from catching sight or scent of outside cats beyond the reach of the motion sensor deterrents. Some owners use wax paper on particular windows to restrict visibility when their cat can still see other animals outside.

3      Encourage Body Rolling

4      Stimulate Cats’ Hunting Instinct

Encourage your cat to play in the areas where they have been urinating by using a wand toy. This will help shift their mindsets from being anxious and stake their claims to feeling confident and engaged in hunting.

5      Strategically Place Food

To change your cat's association with making potty on your property, try placing their food in the areas where they have been going. Cats tend to keep their eating and urine areas separate, so this can help discourage the naughty behavior.

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Mysophobia is very severe, and the instinct to keep one's environment clean remains strong, so there is a habit of wanting to toilet at a distance from home. According to Kang Hyeong-wook, any dog that lives on a 1m leash is b퀸메이커 다시 보기 1화+11화 (전편) netflixound to go crazy. If you don't tie or confine them from a young age and let them graze or take a walk, they will try to urinate and defecate outside as much as possible. This is also a kebab depending on the individual, but if it is severe, it barks whenever it is in need, calls the owner like a butler, or if it rains and the owner does not take it out for a day or two, it can be seen that it endures the urine and feces for several days until it leaves. Males are said to mark their territory with their body odor, but this applies to females as well, and they someti퀸메이커 다시 보기 1화+11화 (전편) netflixmes show a cat-like appearance that only defecate in designated areas without specific toilet training. In addition, it is a species that cleans itself like a cat, so it has less smell than a dog, but if the living area or activity area is messy, it is secretly stressed.

The Jindo dog is not the type to get into trouble on a daily basis like a fucking dog. On the contrary, he is usually calm and polite. As mentioned above, the Jindo dog is a breed that prefers to keep the territory it and its owner live in clean, so t퀸메이커 다시 보기 1화+11화 (전편) netflixhey tend not to damage things in their owner's territory. In short, it is a very calm and serious dog at home.

In general, intelligence is higher than the average of all dog breeds, so there are not many cases of being unable to understand words. On the contrary, he is very quick-witted, so he is surprisingly good at following training while sitting down and lying down.

Therefore, as a Jindo dog owner, you will be able to raise it comfortably just by taking it for a walk from time to time. It is only a very dangerous object if aggression appe퀸메이커 다시 보기 1화+11화 (전편) netflixars from time to time. In fact, this is due to the fact that Jindo dogs have a higher sense of territory than other breeds, and even Jindo dogs, which do not bark at all while walking, bark very ferociously when outsiders enter the house.

And this is true of Sapsaree and Poongsan dogs, but Jindo dogs also have the unique nature of hunting dogs. It grows with cats and bites poisonous snakes fearlessly. In particular,퀸메이커 다시 보기 1화+11화 (전편) netflix their obsession with moles is one of the highest among dog breeds, and if they see or smell a mole during a walk, they must dig it out and put an end to it. This is also the case with rats, another enemy of farmhouses. When Jindo dogs see rats, they follow the smell of the rats, fathers, and in-laws, and bite them, or find rat burrows in the area and dry the seeds. It is said that a Jindo dog is better than a cat that onl퀸메이커 다시 보기 1화+11화 (전편) netflixy catches what is necessary. This seems to be an inevitability imprinted in our genes to survive in Korea, where there was nothing to eat. The owner was busy filling his family's stomach, so he inevitably had to set his own territory and hunt and eat in it.

However, the same applies to other livestock, so a Jindo dog attacked the chicken farm next door and asked for 450,000 won, or a black goat grazing nearby while hiking 퀸메이커 다시 보기 1화+11화 (전편) netflixwith the owner, or a stray cat corpse was crushed in the corner of the yard [ 18] There are quite a lot of stories about falling apart. In particular, if the house is close to a mountain and the yard is wide, all sorts of insects are attracted to it, and frogs, birds, snakes, and cats are additionally attracted to eat them. However, if the Jindo dog is released and raised, it creates a scene in which no animals can be seen excep퀸메이커 다시 보기 1화+11화 (전편) netflixt for ants, ticks, and mosquitoes. This is because the Jindo dog chews up all the small things and bites or chases away those considered intruders. There are even mosquitoes and flies that bite and spit them out nearby, leaving flies and mosquito corpses lying around.

And because of this unique tenacity and tenacity, you need to change your mood often through walks and grazing. If the owner is a person whose circumstances are not good, he will be tied in front of the dog house until he dies, which can buil퀸메이커 다시 보기 1화+11화 (전편) netflixd up stress and ignite his already ferocious personality. Suspicious incidents also occurred for that reason.

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Thoughts for Today

Friday. Aloha Friday…… I am looking forward to the weekend. Big plans….. nope. Taking a nap, maybe. I just have today to get through and then, the couch calls my name. A hot cup of tea, snuggly blanket, and my doggos.

Yesterday was a tiring day. By the time I got home, had something to eat, and watched a bit of tv, I was done. Somedays wear you out more than others.

I find that the one company I work for grates on me. They are so unorganized. I asked for Comet cleaner in December and finally got it last night. My new boss called me to tell me that a fellow from the company would make a delivery to the jobsite. I was across the street working at a different company and cleaning there. The fellow showed up with two bottles of Comet liquid cleanser. I shall use it sparingly as I have no clue if I’ll get any in the near future.

Today’s adventure is cleaning for a new customer. She had broken her hip and can’t do things. She has 5 or 6 cats and can’t clean the cat litter. Think about that…….and use your nose for those thoughts. Hazmat suit comes to my mind. I’ve cleaned cat litter that was more like cement. Take that litter pan outside and put the whole mess in the garbage can. The garbage man would have a hard time lifting it. Cement I tell you. Urine odor. Tootsie Rolls of epic proportion.

Over the years, I remember the jobs that would make most people gag. I have a top ten of putrid homes. Most of those came along when I cleaned apartments for a living. Oh, the sights I have seen.

Number one worst was Alice’s townhome. She was a neighbor of ours when we lived off of Mahama Way. She had mental issues but was the sweetest lady. She had cats and a dog. The cats peed up against the kitchen cabinets, the walls, and most everywhere. The rug stuck to the molding along the wall due to the amount of pee. The washer leaked and ruined the floor. The stench was overwhelming. No one else would work for us to help us remove the carpeting and do needed repairs. And we also had another person who lived in another townhome who lived with two dogs who urinated and pooped all over the downstairs carpeting. Her downstairs toilet leaked and was sinking into the floor. Her refrigerator had an ungodly amount of black mold. And these folks never notified management of any issues.

I’ve dealt with poopy diapers left behind when people moved out. I’ve seen maggot ridden food left behind. Plugged toilets…. apples do not flush. Tooth brushes and toys do not flush.

After typing up about those horrid jobs, I should write a book on the horrible things I have seen. It would be titled, “Why Clean Your House?”

At least I haven’t found dead bodies at homes but then again, anything is possible. One apartment manager told me his horrible story of having a tenant who was a great tenant…… she always paid her rent before it was due, never was loud, but……….. one day she just moved and didn’t say a thing. He didn’t get her rent and wondered why. After the necessary time and paperwork filed, he went into the apartment. Dead cats and a dead dog. Knee deep worth of poop all over the entire apartment. The oven was left open and a dead cat was in it. He told me it took him a week of working eight hours a day to remove the filth. He had to change his coveralls nightly due to the stench he picked up.

After you have just read some of the horrendous things I have seen, you know why I like things neat and tidy. I watch YouTube videos on how to clean more efficiently. There are great videos on how to make your own cleaning products. I love using lemons to clean along with lavender. Baking soda is a great cleanser and it doesn’t have a scent. Scrubs up stuff very well. Dawn dishwashing liquid is a favorite. A drop of it along with vinegar and water does a great job. And no, I don’t use newspaper to wash windows……. I don’t read newspapers and I find it to be more mess than it’s worth it. I do dilute Windex as it’s too strong and you don’t need it that strong. My favorite products are Dr. Bonner’s Soaps and cleaner. They have one called “Sal Suds Biodegradable Cleaners”. One tablespoon per one quart of water to clean with and it does make a lot from one container. One half of a teaspoon per gallon of water to mop the floor. Why spend money on fancy stuff that wastes money.

Well, I better go and get ready to hit the trenches of dirt and grime. If you have questions on how to clean something, send it. I like saving other folks money and help them do the dirty work. But then again, I like getting paid to do the dirty work. Nothing feels better than to revive a dirty shower and see it sparkle.

And that’s the way it is………….