Glass Recycle and A Walk in the Park

It’s starting to get hot around here. Walking in the neighborhood is like a concrete jungle so we prefer the shaded park. We don’t plan to go to the enclosed space mall either. It’s taken us a while to get back up to our two mile per day walk after being out of practice in March/April. So today we decided to kill two birds with one stone. The glass recycle bin is located in the community library parking lot that is by the park. So we collected all the bottles and drove over in the car. After dumping the glass, we started taking the shaded paths a few times around. I still find it amazing how many people do not wear masks or even attempt to move away to the other side. Because of our health care background and age, we wouldn’t leave the house without a mask - for everyone’s benefit. Regardless, I try to ignore and avoid them and enjoy the landscape around us. There are stretches that are very peaceful - and I’m always on the lookout for the cardinals. Last week we came across a heron, a duck, and a box turtle. Today the bees were out and the summer flowers are all starting to bloom. The deer must all be in hiding. When we were done we got back in the car and took a spin around the neighborhood. It’s a great alternative - we were less “sweaty” because we didn’t walk from our house and back in the intense heat, the flowers were in bloom, for the most part the path was clear, and the car got some wear and tear. Now we are sitting on the balcony before “breakfast” and I’m writing my blog - without a mask. That feels so normal. 

Glass Recycling - Look for the Purple Containers

We received a notice late last year that the condo would no longer be recycling glass along with the cardboard and plastic down the recycle chute. You could put the glass in the garbage chute - or take it to a purple container dumpster somewhere in Fairfax County. We pass by a purple recycling container that is located at the Dolley Madison Library in McLean Central Park where we walk almost every day. We oftentimes hear the glass shattering when it is dropped from the high point of the container. Since it’s too bulky to drag along the glass  - mostly wine bottles, spaghetti sauce and dressing jars  - when we are walking, we started collected the bottles over time and put them in a canvas bag. Today we thought was a good day to dump the glass so we drove over to Dolley Madison Library parking lot after lunch. No one was there, but we had several items to dump. If you like dropping glass from a six foot height you would enjoy the experience. I’m not sure what a short person would do to reach the small spaces designated for the drop off. So now we feel we did our civic duty - until the next time. 

Rain X on Glass Shower Door?

We just had our tiny bathroom renovated. We took out the old iron cast bathtub and had a shower installed with glass panel doors. When we renovated our bathroom in our Midwest house many years ago, the glass shower doors didn't stay crystal clear. Over time, they developed a white scum even though we used a squeegee every day. We really didn't want that to happen again. So after reading about what bathroom shower cleaner to use, my husband came across the idea of using RainX on the glass - the stuff you use on car windshields. The principle is the same so why not give it a try? So we got a spray bottle of the stuff, followed the directions, and waited for today to see if it made any difference after taking a shower. I have to say all I noticed was a barely visible light film on the glass and I'm not sure the water drops were being repelled? The glass just fogged up like it always does and I didn't see any droplets of water. I still squeegeed the doors but didn't spray them with the shower cleaner first. Maybe I should wait to see what happens over the next few days before I make a final judgement. All I care is that the RainX didn't ruin the glass and hopefully it will just wash away over time.