Journal of a Sabbatical

November 4, 1999

another day

3:31 PM: Crows begin flying to night roost tree

Today's Reading: Home Comforts by Cheryl Mendelson

I picked up some gingko leaves outside the Andover Bookstore.

I finally gave in and bought Home Comforts. I'd heard the author interviewed on NPR about airing out bedding and other housekeeping stuff and wanted the book but felt embarrassed to buy it. When I brought it with me to Starbucks, M&M exclaimed they'd heard her on NPR too and had immediately turned their mattresses and aired out their pillows. This book actually tells how to do all those basic household tasks that I somehow either escaped learning or forgot how to do. This is not impossible Martha Stewart projects but practical stuff that makes keeping house manageable.

Later this same day I find myself looking up how to get rid of the smell of cat urine. I was changing Wilbur's litter box, evidently at a time when he wanted to use it. Clumsy me spilled some of the litter on the floor instead of into the trash bag. In comes Wilbur in search of the box, which is empty and set out of the way so I can sweep the floor. He smells and sees litter on the floor where the box should be and does his business right in front of me on the floor as I look on in horror. I clean it up but the odor lingers. The book recommends various things to try and tells horror stories about people not being able to sell their houses because cat pee sank into the porous concrete floor and stinks every time it gets wet. Fortunately, the bathroom floor is linoleum and I'm not planning to sell my unit any time soon.