Someone informs me his jury duty may come to close this week sooner than expected – good news indeed! Alas there is no parallel in blog-land as “The Great Strike” drags on. I dissuaded The Board of Directors Here at Spo-Reflections from doing their usual solve-all solution of setting fire to as many public buildings as possible. They have noticed there are a good number of comments coming in despite the strike, so I fear they don’t have a great incentive to negotiate a close. Divine inspiration – who needs it? Well, I do. I can only go on writing up things about the house for so long.
This morning I woke up this morning to a miasma next to me in bed. Harper’s been doing that a lot lately. I suspect it’s her new type of treat. Lately she smells a little too much ‘like a dog’ which means it is high time for a bath. Harper does not care for baths. When Someone turns on the taps she has a terrible intuition it’s for her and she goes into her house looking like a prisoner on death row. She puts up with the washing-up with pained dignity. She perks up during the drying off; she finds the rub down with towels jolly good fun. Oh how excited we are now ! She smells quite clean afterwards. I like to put my nose up to her back or belly and take deep breaths.
I recently read in the medical journals frequent bathing (daily) may not be all it’s cracked up to be. It hurts the immune system and it removes essential oils from the skin exposing us to bacteria and it washes away the ‘good’ bugs that defend us from the bad ones. There seems to be some data to support bathing only every 3-4 days as more salubrious towards our health. Really now. I am one of those unfortunates who soon develops the redolence of a old goat if I forgo regular wash-ups. This is especially true during the summer months in Phoenix when rinses become necessary every six hours or so. I would be a bust on camping trips as I would quickly attract buzzards and bears while simultaneously scaring off my tent-mates.
I may be an earthy old bear but I am not one to attract mosquitoes. I seldom get bites for which I am grateful. Apparently I don’t emit enough carbon dioxide or there is “Off!” in my antiperspirant.
In contrast to bugs Harper finds me quite delicious. She will lick my face, forehead, and scalp too if given the opportunity. She doesn’t do that to Someone, much to his dismay. Apparently I am a tasty treat – better than a snozberry.
Well that is enough on this sordid topic. I need to take a shower now as I am post-workout. There is nothing so nice as to wash off the day and get into bed among the flannel sheets and feel warm and clean. Harper makes a good hot water bottle and she smells of Johnson & Johnson. Now to do something about her breath…….
26 comments
March 20, 2018 at 9:08 PM
Ron
The older you get you’ll find the daily showers are injurious to your skin because your skin is dryer than when you were younger and juicier. I try to balance by taking a shower to when I get a whiff of that Musty Old Man Smell, which is usually every second or third day. Of course in the summertime, especially on very warm and humid days, two to three showers in one day is not uncommon. Flannel sheets are great to slid into on a cold might aren’t they?👍😀
March 20, 2018 at 9:12 PM
Urspo
that sums it up nicely, thank you.
March 20, 2018 at 10:37 PM
Ravager619
There is no way I’ll skip a day without a shower. I have noticed as I get older I need to start using skin lotion every so often. My skin, especially on my feet, is drier.
March 21, 2018 at 7:07 AM
Urspo
In summer time I bathe a few times, and there are periodic dips in the pool
In winter I feel less need to bathe. I concur with you I want to be in water once a day regardless
March 20, 2018 at 10:49 PM
Practical Parsimony
I have developed this ability to know when to hold my breath by just observing the guy approaching me in the grocery store. I try to rush past while holding my breath. It is s horrible day when the old guy and I are stuck side by side, neither of us able to progress. This guy usually has on a pair of overalls with a suit coat over it. The coat is usually sort of slick looking in places and distinctly looks like it has never been dry-cleaned and has been slept it. Bathe!
March 21, 2018 at 7:08 AM
Urspo
Dear me! You do encounter the most remarkable people.
Father sometimes called the public ‘the great unwashed’
March 21, 2018 at 3:37 AM
David
Camping – live like a caveman – smell like a caveman, not my idea of fun. I frequently skip taking a shower on the weekends.
March 21, 2018 at 7:08 AM
Urspo
I remember from Boy Scouts we all came home smelling more like smoke than grime. But as we all smelled the same it wasn’t noticed until we were away from each other.
March 21, 2018 at 4:26 AM
anne marie in philly
I skip on weekends, but never during the week. my co-workers don’t deserve to smell my funk, nor I theirs.
March 21, 2018 at 7:09 AM
Urspo
I suspect you are like the saints and have the odor of sanctity
March 21, 2018 at 8:02 AM
anne marie in philly
nah, more like pepe le pew! 😉
March 21, 2018 at 5:51 AM
mitchellismoving
I don’t tend to smell when I sweat. San Geraldo does. The cats will lick him forever. They give me one lick, have a sniff, and have had enough. Mosquitoes ignore him and can’t resist me… whether I’ve showered or not. Oh, and I haven’t had a shower today, nor have I shaved in two days. But I still smell goo-ood.
March 21, 2018 at 7:09 AM
Urspo
oh you tease
March 21, 2018 at 6:33 AM
Tony D
Sometimes it is important just to give a “sink bath” to the privates, as these tend to get musty quicker, perhaps due to use.
March 21, 2018 at 7:11 AM
Urspo
I will try to be tactful here. I recall many times of being offered an invitation for social inspection only to freeze as I approached the target for the miasma coming first was enough to say ‘turn back’. oh the horror.
March 21, 2018 at 8:04 AM
anne marie in philly
ew ew ew, smelly dick syndrome! BTDT, no fun! 😦
March 21, 2018 at 8:00 AM
Todd Gunther
it is snowing here and Warrior Queen and I will be in close proximity to each other for the better part of today without having an excuse to go out, which usually means no excuse to bathe. Talk about horror!
March 21, 2018 at 8:05 PM
Urspo
tut all this talk on line about a few snowflakes. I suppose it can’t be too bad.
March 21, 2018 at 9:16 AM
Old Lurker
It is no surprise to me that you would attract bears. I’m not sure what subgroup identifies as buzzards, though.
Maybe you should report these findings to the BoD before you next have to face them (and smell them!) next at one of their meetings.
March 21, 2018 at 8:04 PM
Urspo
I doubt The Board etc. haven’t willingly touched water since the medieval times. When I am invited to one of their meetings I insist we keep the doors and windows open.
March 21, 2018 at 10:22 AM
truthspew
Indeed – dog breath isn’t pleasant. Nor is that of a cat pleasant either.
March 21, 2018 at 8:03 PM
Urspo
we should be brushing her teeth
March 21, 2018 at 11:06 AM
Steven
I always noticed that my pheromones sent other men after me. So I shower daily to keep my pheromones at bay. 🙂
March 21, 2018 at 8:03 PM
Urspo
Thoughtful of you. Traffic jams must be a rare thing
March 21, 2018 at 12:15 PM
mcpersonalspace54
Love the picture of you and Harper! Bathing Murphy is a major endeavor. He hates it and there is so much of him. I usually take him every three months or so to a groomer. It costs money, but I don’t have to do it. And when he comes home, he smells great for at least a week!
March 21, 2018 at 8:02 PM
Urspo
I like having Harper bathed elsewhere too