Get off the phone and pay attention
Dear Heloise: I had to laugh when I read the let- ter about “phubbing” from R.T.K. of New York. This is because even my dog, a small male lap chihuahua, resents my being on the phone or even reading the paper when he wants attention. He will swat the paper or the phone down, and then sit on it. He has even figured out how to scroll on the phone screen with his paw if he can get to the screen. He once removed my email app. So, even animals resent being “phubbed” — the act of snubbing some- one in a social setting by look- ing at your phone instead of paying attention. — Rolanda Mayer, via email
Hair control idea
Dear Heloise: I have never been happy about using hair- spray on my hair, mostly because it sprays very widely, over-spraying the room and filling the air that I have to breathe.
One day, when I was putting white moisturizing cream on my face, I looked in the mirror and saw strands of wispy hair that had escaped from where they had so care- fully been placed minutes before.
Then, the thought came to me: “What would happen if I gently put moisturizing cream on them?” So, with a very light, nearly invisi- ble coating on my fingers, I gently touched the naughty strands. Sure enough, they instantly snapped to atten- tion and allowed me to put them in place. Wow!
Then, I rubbed a tiny bit of cream onto both of my hands and gently patted the hair on my whole head — just the surface hair. It also gave the hair just enough weight to get under gentle control. I am so pleased that I never expect to use hair spray again. — Priscilla Zanni, Vancou- ver, Washington
Vinegar hints
Dear Readers: To remove a hard-water buildup on drinking glasses, soak the glasses in warmed — not boil- ing — household vinegar for around an hour; then scrub with a nylon net scrubber. If this doesn’t work, the glasses may be etched, and nothing can be done.
Not only is vinegar cheap and safe, it has a wide variety of household uses with clean- ing, cooking and beauty. It can make your windows and mirrors shine. For more vine- gar hints, I have put together a six-page pamphlet enti- tled “Heloise’s Fantabulous Vinegar Hints and More!” You can get this informa- tive pamphlet by sending $5 and a long, self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Helo- ise/vinegar, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. FYI: To clean plastic uphol- stery, wipe it down with a mixture of half white vine- gar and half water. —