I’ve got one of the worst colds of my life. Likely brought upon by Leta having a cold and the SXSW comedown. Matched with chaotic weather: cold/warm/cold/warm. Normally, I’m a big believer in the Zicam swabs, but I just couldn’t be bothered this time. I’ve learned my lesson. Also, I’ve been thinking about the Neti pot (see image of woman on left) or as doctors like to call it, that crazy thing that you pour salt water through your nose with. It’s pretty dry here, and I’m wondering if a daily shot of saline through the nasal passages would avoid the problems I’ve been having. Plus, the shock value of walking around the house with a blue piece of plastic rammed up my left nostril and water pouring out my right nostril is near priceless.
And now, Handy Advice Corner™!
If you live in an older home where the construction isn’t drywall and studs, but lathe and plaster over studs, you can’t go wrong with the duct tape of screws, the drywall “grabber” screw that is 2 or more inches long. Drill a pilot hole that is one-quarter the diameter of the grabber (one of the smallest bits in a drill bit kit, like 1/32 or so) and you’re set. I hung pictures using toggle bolts and/or nails and it sucked. Had to drill massive holes and then the toggle hangs out at a crazy angle. With nails, the sumbitches cause cracking and chipping.
When we installed curtains in the front room and in Leta’s room, I used 2.5 inch grabbers, with starter holes and it was like butter. On the outer walls, we have bricks, so I had to fight a few of them, but they go in smoother than anything else I’ve tried. On the inner walls, it makes for less of a headache when trying to hang pictures, and less damage to patch if you change your mind about where you want to hang what.