Ok, before we get started…

Getting old is sucking. I’m babysitting this weekend for Dusty and Willow, my son’s two Labradors, and his Labradoodle, Oliver. Great dogs, and Rousseau loves the company. So anyway, I’m taking everyone outside this morning, right? Well, coming back in, I missed a stair, and fell. Something’s all sprung out of whack. My whole right side wants to fall off. I’m serious. I think I broke myself.

Time was, I’d fall down and get right back up and not worry about it. Not so anymore. I’m coming to grips with my mortality; the impermanence of my joints, bones and muscles. And brain. Ugh.

But enough misery….on to brighter subjects:

A new category! The FinkWeb Public Service Announcement.

Every once in awhile, I come across (or remember) cool ways to do simple, everyday tasks, or to handle common problems or inconveniences. As I discover/think of/remember them, I’ll pass them along to you. And you don’t even have to buy the book. Behold:

Avoid the Itchy Scratchy

Avon’s Skin-So-Soft works perfectly as a mosquito repellent. I don’t know why or how, but I’ve used it since my sons were little. It has always worked; and it smells nice and powdery. I understand that Avon, not a company to miss out on a windfall marketing boom, now makes the stuff in a spray bottle, labeled specially as a repellent. I’m sure other brands like OFF! have jumped on the bandwagon as well. But in a pinch, get out the SSS bath oil.

And speaking of pinching….

How to Get the $#*% Coffee Filters Apart

Ever try like mad to get the coffee filters to separate in the morning, only to want to throw the whole pile of them in the garbage and go to Starbucks instead? Well, struggle no more, my friend. There’s a simple solution. Just use your thumb and index finger as pincers; as a lobster claw. Yep, it’s as simple as that. Pinch the top surface of the stack of filters, and one will immediately come loose from its mates. Guar-own-teed.

If you have cool ideas, don’t post them here — rather, email them to me and I’ll include them in the next PSA, and credit you. Address:

Fink out (to the kitchen to get the Tylenol).