Deck Cleaning

It's that time. Well, it's really past that time, but we forgot last year due to the roof redo.
In the past we've always mixed up our own concoction of deck cleaner (part bleach, part Tide w/bleach and water), but after reading the negatives about the use of chlorine bleach and already knowing the negatives about phosphates we bought a ready made formula instead. The concentrated powder uses oxygenated bleach instead of chlorine. They say it's better for the deck and the environment. I was sold.
Now to see the results. Soon we'll discover whether enough of the old stain comes off to use a transparent stain this year.
I keep saying "we", when it's really 99% N.
Guess I'll go back out and watch . . .
Update: the powder worked better than our homemade recipe and the deck looks awesome!

Invent this, please

Oh how I wish I could enter all of F's many appointments once on one calendar (Google?) and have them appear on my cell phone calendar (without one of those spendy data accounts) and a digital wall calendar with a touch screen along with a slideshow of our digital photos on a top panel.

I actually wrote to Google and made the request several months ago, but I suppose they have other more important things to work on. {sigh}

Over 21 (count em) appointments in a two month period - holy moley!

Okay, back to beginning the process of entering them on the cell phone! {sigh}

A camera in the purse - not always enough

I had good intentions yesterday evening. Does that count?
I thought it would be fun to take a few photos during our blood donation process (probably should check with the Red Cross about that, eh?) and create a slide show to add to the blog. Once we both were finished (which is a much shorter period of time now that they've made so many improvements) and on our way back to the cars, my memory lapse hit me. Dang! Now I have to wait until July 22 for my next chance!

Those moments used to happen with unfortunate regularity when we'd dine out. Now it's a strange habit to photo our food before digging in. Hopefully, this won't carry over to other parts of my life. ;>)

My kind of story

Spotted this in the SJ this morning and had to share. Not the kind of situation you want to have in your neighborhood, but inspiring (particularly if you're a small dog) just the same.

Musing over blood date and dog walks

Note to self: remember to tuck extra batteries into purse for camera. (Must be prepared to photograph food!)
This well used brain of mine likes to browse the day's schedule in advance. It does not enjoy those change-in-the-schedule-adrenaline-rushes that come with the realization that I'm supposed to be somewhere 15 minutes ago. Our blood dates can do that to me. I sit down at the computer to engage in my daily routine of winding down after work, enjoying yet another cup of coffee and reading email, blogs and news - when it hits me that I'm supposed to be meeting N in a few minutes. Right now I'm fairly sure it's filed in the mental daily schedule.

During our dog walk last night (felt like a lovely summer evening out there!), Izzy began to growl as we passed by a secluded, shadowed area. I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand at alert. N tried to convince me that she's not always growling at the unknown, but I'm tough to convince in the dark. I was halfway hoping it was one of the dogs we've spotted at the park on their own.

Onward to Wednesday and cheers to being mindful of what's ahead.