It's guaranteed! (Automatic Shower Cleaner)

Update: the product is "The Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner" by S. C. Johnson.

It's guaranteed. It says so on the box.

A bathroom "tool" was introduced a couple of years ago that promises to clean your shower or tub for you. It promises not only to clean them, but to eliminate soap scum, mold and mildew, even if you start with the fixtures dirty.

I looked at them when they were introduced and decided that, while the idea was appealing, the refills were overpriced. I also doubted that I could install the appliance along with my hand-held shower unit, which I am unwilling to give up.

Tonight I saw them on sale, and bought one. What changed? A plumbing disaster last fall.

I haven't cleaned the back shower since my neighbor's kitchen garbage backed up into it last fall. I cleaned the floors. The apartment management had the carpets cleaned. My sister washed the towels that we used to sop up the mess. I washed the tub into which we threw them as they became soaked. I cleaned the sinks where we washed up.

But I haven't dealt with the shower itself. I threw out the damaged blanket and quietly closed the door. And kept it closed.

Other things simply had higher priority. A lot of other things. It's been a tough winter. The fatigue and distraction are insidious. I'm doing better now, but I'm still tired, and there's so much lost ground to recover....

I just looked in the shower a day or so ago. And closed the door again.

But the appliance is guaranteed. If you use it daily for 14 to 21 days, the shower will be clean, even if you start with it dirty. It says so on the box.

We'll see.

Just the headlines...

I haven't been keeping up my blog. I'm tired, and have stuff that urgently needs my attention, but I don't want to leave you all in the dark.

So here are the headlines:

• My sister and I had a good visit.
• The apartment makeover has been postponed until late April or May.
• I've decided to apply for the position teaching Cooking for Life classes for The Cancer Project.
• I've started the telephone Healthy Living coaching program offered in conjunction with my fitness club membership, courtesy of my Medicare HMO. My second session is tomorrow.
• I'm making progress at home slowly.
• I've resumed giving things away by freecycling them. www.freecycle.org

Thanks for checking in!

Genghis Grill

My sister and I discovered a new restaurant during her visit last week.

Genghis Grill is a Mongolian Grill/BBQ. Now, that's nothing new. I've been eating at Mongolian BBQs for decades. This one had some new twists:

. the decor is upscale casual. Well, as upscale as you can be in the ring of restaurants outside a multi-plex theater.
. there are actually pieces of the protein options, not shavings. Big chunks.
. they offer white, brown or fried rice, udon noodles, spiral pasta and tortillas. You can choose more than one.
. the sauce choices include barbecue.
. they offer sour cream and cheddar cheese with each order. What?!

The sour cream and cheese go with the tortillas. If you combine tortillas and grilled peppers and onions with beef or chicken you get fajitas. Or burritos.

There were many "super veggies" to choose from: broccoli, spinach, and some lovely sugar snap peas. There were the usual carrots, celery, onion and pineapple, but also fresh green beans, a bell pepper mix and more. There were raw eggs, for scrambling into your fried rice.

A note to veg'ns: while there are many, many suitable food choices, it's all cooked on one grill.

The end result is a place where everyone can eat, unless someone can't live without potatoes. Heavy on the meat? covered. Vegan? covered, other than the common grill. Low carb? covered. Whole foods? covered.

The price is $7.99 for one trip or $11.99 for a bottom-less bowl. The single trip seems a little high, since they don't offer soup or salad, and you don't serve your own starch, but the all-you-care-to eat option is in line with other buffets. The Future Warrior (child's) portion is $3.99.(?)They offer ooey, gooey, big enough to share desserts for an additional charge.

In Tempe Genghis Grill is located near the theater at Tempe Marketplace, Rio Salado & McClintock.