I'm not bad for 57...

Yesterday, Blog, I saw on Yahoo News that people were praising 80s beauty Bo Derek for looking amazing at the age of 56. Well, I'm still 56 for the next 17 days, so I was curious to see how Bo looked. Particularly since about six months ago I started a personal campaign to improve my skin. So, here's the photo of Bo that accompanied the report:

Don't get me wrong, Bo Derek is a much more beautiful woman than I ever was or will be. And I think she still looks great. That said, I looked at this photo and thought, "Whoa! I guess my beauty routine is working!"

Blog, the point of this post is not to crow, but to share what I've been doing since I guess I've proven it's successful. I know there are plenty of women in the same spot I was in six months ago, asking themselves, "Can't I look younger without surgery and/or horrifically expensive salon appointments and products?" I am totally turned off by ideas like chemical peels and botox injections, and Blog, if you had a face you would be too.

So, by contrast, here's a shot taken today of me, with no makeup whatsoever, and no Photoshopping.

I dare you to click on it and see the bigger version. Scrutinize, compare. Not bad, eh, Blog? Especially considering I never go anywhere without makeup and here I am, boldly sharing my naked face.

If Bo's face is that of a typical 56 year old--well golly.

Okay, now let's talk about my skin care regimen, which I guarantee will NOT give you the same facial features as I have, so if you're as pretty as Bo, just imagine how you'll look!


MORNING STUFF

1. I wash my face in the shower, so this is when I use my Spa Sonic, which I purchased for $50 at Walgreens. This is a cheaper and just-as-good alternative to the $120-200 Clairsonic. I read that this sort of "skin brush" system is really worth the investment and I believe it. I'll explain a little later why. For soap I just use my regular bath gel.

2. Using a cotton ball, I apply a toner that aids in cleaning pores and helping dead skin cells to slough off. My choice based on web research was Clinique's Clarifying Lotion. The large bottles are $22.50 but they last quite a long time. The stuff really refreshes skin without a drying effect.

3. I finish with moisturizer over my whole face and neck, and a "serum" (more concentrated moisturizer) around my eyes and mouth where the skin doesn't produce much natural oil. I've tried a number of products for this and to be honest, I just look for generics and on-sale options. Those Walgreens and Target equivalents of the pricey stuff seem to work just as well, and they save you a lot of bucks, Blog.

4. About skin color correction: I went through a whole bottle of the highly-recommended Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector and didn't really notice much difference. I guess I just have to rely on makeup for that!

Speaking of, here's my made-up face...still without any Photoshopping...  Now look at Bo, who is, after all, wearing makeup. Now look back at me. Yeah.

EVENING STUFF

1. I wash my face nightly with Clinique 7-Day Scrub Cream. If you splurge on only one facial care product in this post, this would be it. Forget about your St. Ive's Apricot Scrub--for one thing, I read that it really tears up your skin. I've tried it, and a lot of other scrubs, and nothing compares to 7-Day Scrub Cream. It feels great, washes off super easily, and really does the job with exfoliation. So part with the $19.50. It hurts, I know, but it's worth it.

2. I use makeup remover to make sure I'm not leaving anything behind. This is a new thing for me, and I've been using Clinique's Take the Day Off Makeup Remover. I like that it doesn't leave my face feeling oily. I have nothing to compare it to really, so if you have a better option than the $18 this costs (again, it lasts a long time), go for it.

3. Then it's a repeat of the toner and moisturizers. I do use a "night cream" at night, which translates to "moisturizer that leaves your face shinier than you want your daytime moisturizer to do." My pillow doesn't mind if my face is shiny, Blog.

TANNING / SUNSCREEN

I am a maniac about sunscreen: SPF 30 goes on my face if I'm planning on being outside for more than a few minutes.  But thanks to the wonders of chemistry, I do sport a pretty nice looking fake tan. On my daughter's recommendation, I purchased Neutrogena Build a Tan from Target for a mere $8, and I'm sure it will get me through at least one summer.

I used it every three days till I built up a good tan, and now refresh by using once a week.  All over, so no tan lines! It is almost scentless, doesn't stain your hands or clothes, and feels fine on my skin, especially if followed by body lotion. Genius!

Bo Derek, as you may recall, sported a very dark tan back when she starred in "10." And I fear maybe in the intervening years she skimped on the sunscreen a bit. Take my word for it, folks--sun protection is #1 for delaying the effects of aging on your skin!

THE BEST FOR LAST:  THE FACEMASTER

You may have heard of this contraption, which is sold and marketed by another celebrity of yore, Suzanne Somers. The Facemaster uses microcurrent--low electrical charges from batteries--to stimulate the skin. This is actually a tried-and-true technique employed for year by salons and professional beauty technicians. As I understand it, the microcurrent (a) causes muscle-twitching that exercises and firms muscles, and (b) stimulates the production of collagen, which is what gives younger faces tone and smoothness.

All I know is, gosh darn it the thing really works. I use it faithfully 15 minutes every other day, and I have absolutely seen results. It reduces small wrinkles like crow's feet and mouth lines. It also builds up the tone of the face which actually works like a face lift. With more collagen in your face, your wrinkles and folds just fill out.

Plus, it's really refreshing to use, especially in the morning when your face could use a wake-up. I sit at my computer desk, put a slide show on my screensaver, turn on Sirius XM Spa, and enjoy.

The Facemaster retails for a daunting $200. But here's a tip: I found a slightly used one on eBay for only $50! A lot of people find they just can't keep to the regimen of regular use and so decide to sell their units. Frankly, with what I've experienced, I'd pay $200 for one...but $50 was way better, Blog.

OTHER TREATS

Occasionally I will treat myself to other beauty treatments that a person can do at home:

1. Facial steam--Fill a sink or large bowl with very hot water. Add your favorite essential oil if you like. Place your head over the water (not in!) and cover head and bowl/sink with a large towel. This opens pores and is great for preceding a facial.

2. Deep cleaning facials--There are lots of reasonably priced facial products around, and again you can snag bargains if you watch sales or shop at places like T.J. Maxx. You can also find lots of recipes for make your own facials online. I like mud facials in particular...feels like you're deep cleaning your pores.

3. Aspirin facial--This is my personal fave home facial, Blog. Aspirin contains salicylic acid, the main ingredient in acne treatments and chemical peels, but much milder. Just crunch about seven uncoated aspirins to powder and mix with a lotion like Oil of Olay. Spread on your face, leave ~10 minutes, and wash off thoroughly. This treatment, combined with the exfoliation in your normal routine (toner, face scrub, face brush) over time works just like expensive, drastic chemical peels. It all works together to keep fresh skin cells exposed rather than buried under the old-looking, dead ones.

That's it! So my equipment outlay was $100 and the ongoing expenses are perfectly manageable. I probably added about an hour and a quarter to my weekly time spent on grooming, which is sure worth it as far as I'm concerned. The routine is actually pretty enjoyable...

Especially because it works, Blog!  Even on non-movie stars like me.

Anyone else have tips for skin care, please do share in the comments!

Go shopping at the store that is your own home

Blog, I had a sorta cool idea the other day. Well, yeah, I'm just a font of sorta cool ideas, aren't I? Anyway, you know how sometimes a person just gets an urge to buy something new? I was thinking how, with all the possessions some of us have in affluent nations like the U.S., we can actually satisfy that huge by shopping at home. And no, I don't mean on the Internet.

Here's the thing. Everyone has stuff. On a packrat scale from 1 to 10, in which 1 is "live like a monk" and 10 is "should be on Hoarders," Davie and I are about a 3.5. Nevertheless, we have lots of stuff in our house we seldom think about. We purge our home every six months to a year, so virtually all of it is Keeper Stuff and worth owning.

So why not occasionally take a look at some of said forgotten stuff and see if it can't be enjoyed for awhile? It's almost like getting something new and costs nothing! Let me give you some examples, Blog.

I recently got new salt and pepper grinders from a Pampered Chef fundraising party. In putting them away, I found myself once again organizing my spice cupboard. In doing that, I found a number of spices I've hardly ever used. Like garam masala. I got it for one recipe I wanted to try out last year. So I thought, why not make that recipe again and get some enjoyment out of this spice I own? So I did, and it was even tastier than I remembered. (Here's the recipe for Hot Dogs a la Rose.)

Meanwhile, a couple days ago I tossed out a plant that had seen better days, and used the pot it was in for another plant that needed more space. In the original plant I had put some glass rocks I got from who-knows-where, who-knows-when. (We all have some belongings like that, right?) So, I cleaned up these rocks. Like rocks often do, they looked better wet than dry. So I tried the same trick on them that I often use on polymer clay items: I painted them with a couple coats of Future acrylic floor polish.

What will I do with these rocks? I might just put them on display, or incorporate them in an art project. At any rate, I will enjoy them until it's time to rotate them out for something else cool that I own. The key to this idea is clear from two famous adages: "Familiarity breeds contempt" and "Absence makes the heart grow fonder." We take for granted what we experience every day...we love stuff that has been gone awhile. So, Blog,  why not get more out of what we already have by replacing familiar stuff with sorta-forgotten stuff?

A few ideas of where you can shop in your own home forgotten stuff:

• Boxes of clothing you wore years ago. Some may be back in style or can be converted to a fun new purpose like a costume or a throw pillow. That tie-dyed tee shirt would work for either!
• Wedding presents on the back shelves. Make use of that vase, dish, or candle holder out in the open for awhile.
• Your old photo albums and scrapbooks. Seriously, when's the last time you just sat down to enjoy old memories? So many of us take photos or scrapbook, going through a lot of effort, but forget to enjoy the fruits of our labor later.
• Your jewelry box. A lot of people fall into the rut of wearing the same rings, necklaces, etc. Bring out something new--it might go great with some outfit you got recently!
• The scented candle cupboard. If you're like me you have a bunch but can't possibly display them all. Bring out a new one and burn it for a fresh experience for your nose.
• Your recipe box. Take a run through your collection; I'll bet you find something you love to eat but forgot you know how to make! 
• Your cosmetic cabinet/drawer. Another thing a lot of us have is soaps, lotions, facial scrubs, and other spa-items we haven't touched in awhile. Give yourself a facial, a bubble bath, a foot massage.
• Your game cupboard. I bet somewhere you have an old board game you haven't touched in a decade. Might be fun to play again some night!
• The closet where you keep the pictures you took down. We all get tired of the stuff on our walls and replace it from time to time. But the replaced art can be nice enough to keep. So why not see if there's some piece their you'd like to look at on the wall again?

You get the idea, Blog. Now, imagine if we all thought about shopping at home once a week...we'd get a lot more enjoyment out of our own belongings, and it wouldn't cost us a penny! I'm just sayin'.

Jackson Galaxy said to get a cat tree

And Blog, the man was right.

Davie and I met Jackson Galaxy through Animal Planet, where the cat behaviorist has appeared as a guest many times. Now he has his own fantastic show, "My Cat from Hell." It's not just for people with problem cats (or as Jackson might put it, cats with problem people). No, Blog--this show teaches you super useful things about being the guardian of any cat. And today I'll tell you about only one of them.

Jackson has pointed out several times in the first two episodes of MCFH that many cats are "tree cats." While some are "bush cats" and feel most comfortable in settings low to the ground, it is instinctual for most cats to enjoy being high up. And when they have access to high spots--shelves, rampways built by handy folks with power tools, and cat trees--many cats are much happier.

So, we decided last weekend to get a cat tree. I researched the heck out of the subject (like I obsessively tend to do) and found this economical, well-reviewed, simple cat tree available from PetSmart.


What I like about this tree:

1.  It's tall. Which is the point. The upper shelf of the tree is about five feet high, putting a cat there at eye level with humans, which is nifty.

2.  It has curved perches. I read on a blog that platforms that are curved or nest-like are appreciated by many cats, because they feel less likely to fall.

3.  It looks good in our house--matches the carpet and doesn't have too big of a footprint.

4.  It's sturdy and stable, but light enough to move from spot to spot.

Which I did. First we put the tree by the patio doors, the intended spot. It lets the cats watch the trees and birds outside. Then I moved it to the living room, where they could look out another window or just nap by us while we talk or watch TV. At night I moved it next to my computer desk, so Cody could hang out with me while I worked. Beats the heck out of his former fave spot, draped over the keyboard!

It's possible to enhance a simple cat tree like this too.  I added a second dangle, using some chain I had and securely stapling it to the wood through the carpet. We have several dangle toys so now can change them up easily on the tree. I set up the tree next to a silk tree for some fun foliage to hide behind. I installed a catnip fish on a wire out of the silk tree, within batting range from the upper perch, and that was a big hit.

All our cats find the tree intriguing and fun. Tiny tuxedo cat Selke digs the lower perch. Our Norwegian Forest Cat Alice seems to be a bush cat, but she likes staring at her siblings and playing with the lower dangle toy. Cody (our brilliant tabby) has definitely fallen in love. I made a video of Codes demonstrating for you some of the awesome things a cat can do in a cat tree. I hope you'll watch...it turned out really kind of beautiful (I love the background music) and sure captures the happiness that can come from a cat tree.

 

Thank you, Jackson Galaxy! You've made our cats' lives (and ours) better already. Next up: I've started getting Cody used to a harness and he's going to learn to walk on a leash, like the cat we saw on Jackson's show. As much as he loves being on the patio, Codes is going to flip over being able to go for walks and explore!

I heart my Thunderbolt - a review, with love

I have returned at last, Blog, for I just have to share about my crazy love affair with my new Thunderbolt phone, which I got last Thursday. I was the very first person to buy one from my local Verizon store because the T’bolt launch date was the exact day I qualified for “New After Two.” Ah, kismet.

Please meet Tybalt, over whom I am so unreasonably giddy as to be singing things like “Longer” by Dan Fogelberg. Okay, that’s an exaggeration, but I do really adore this phone. The reasons why may be no big deal to recent iteration iPhone and Android phone users, so if so, bear with me. To a person who had a 20-month old Blackberry (wow, 20 whole months), Tybalt seems to have come from the future.


1. Speed. I’ll say it again. Speed. I live on the south side of Milwaukee, a city slated to get 4G service by the end of 2011. But I got Tybalt home and discovered that our area actually has it NOW! Whoa, you should see the fastness, it’s almost as good as browsing on my PC, speedwise. Even in 3G areas it is ridonkulously fast.

2.  When you wake Tybalt up, the home screen does what the local weather is doing. Like the clouds part, or it rains and some windshield wipers flash by, or lightning streaks across the screen. I mean, not only does Tybalt know where I am and what the weather is there, he acts it out. Gosh. Okay, that’s fun but I guess I need to focus on more serious issues. (But it is WAY fun.)

3. He is a kickass phone. As in phone. As in crystal clear sound like I used to have on our landline but gave up to save money so I could justify paying for a smartphone. Imagine it! A great phone!

4.  He’s a GPS at no extra charge! I never got GPS on my Blackberry because it was $10/month extra, but not Tybalt. Not only does he know where I am, he knows what direction I am facing. Seriously! Also, I can say at him where I want to go (like “Kohls”) and he finds the nearest Kohls, maps the route, shows me where and can even vocalize turn-by-turn directions! Boo-yah.

5.  A press of a button (the Places app) reveals cool stuff nearby. Restaurants! Bars! Attractions! Gas! Not only that, there are reviews and info and of course, mapping. A vacationer’s dream I tell you.

6.  A way better version of Facebook. FB is key to me, and this version is ten times better than the FB app I had before.  Heck, all the apps seem cooler. You should see the nifty way WeatherBug looks on here, with all the sliding around of panels and stuff.

7.  That spready-finger feature. Yeah, I know this is not exactly cutting-edge, but I love being able to use my fingers to make an area of the browser screen larger. Links work so much better, too. I’ll just say I’m coveting a tablet way less now.

8. Angry Birds. Wow, it’s all they said it was and more. I won’t miss Bubblechain after all.

9. Glorious picture and sound. Yeah, I’m not talking about a TV. The image is so awesome, and the speakers real nice, and I can plug in headphones and get really great stereo sound. Oh Tybalt, is there no electronic device you can’t stand in for?

10. And all that jazz. Where do I stop? There’s a barcode scanner, a really excellent flashlight that I’ve already used, front and back cameras, very convenient syncing of all my email accounts, contacts, bookmarks, calendars, gazillions of apps like Walgreens (where my entire library of photos are stored online) and eBay and YouTube, crazy plentiful customization features, yada yada.

My Blackberry tried to do things, and sometimes did them okay, but often did them half-assed. My Thunderbolt does all things well. (Okay, he can’t totally replace the TV yet, but wait till Hulu is made Android-accessible. And Netflix, what about you too?) Tybolt can do GPS, game device, music player, computer, camera/camcorder, and...wait for it...phone.

You can use a Thunderbolt as a substitute nook or Kindle also, but I’m afraid I also have to hang on to Cranny--he still makes for a better ereader. I have to keep ICU, my real camera, too, but I’m guessing I could stop carrying him everywhere with me and reserve him for vacays and siteseeing trips. Now Abbott Labs just needs to find a way to integrate the continuous glucose monitor into an Android phone and I will only need one device on me to live!

Okay, okay...to be fair, there’s one thing I still kind of need to live, and that’s my PC, Gaiman. But only because I wouldn’t want to try to write a novel on a phone. Or for that matter, Blog, a blog.

I can haz Turbo Track?

I'm using LOLcat speak today, Blog, because it's Turbo Track Day!  The day I've been waiting for ever since, while desperately trying to think of birthday present ideas for myself, I decided to find the coolest cat toy I could...and discovered the Turbo Track.  What, doesn't everyone ask for toys for their cats for their birthday?  Heck, it will be Alice's birthday too, so it's not totally insane.

Anyhoo, my Google searching for the best cat toy led me to the highly admired Bergan Turbo Track.  It was developed by a cat psychologist (why didn't I choose that career?) and got raves all over the Interwebs.  I wasted a good hour watching YouTube videos of cats playing with their Turbo Tracks and they all looked fascinated.  (It didn't hurt that the feline star of Turbo Track videos, Venus, looked just like Cody.  Or that the Turbo Track box cat looked like Alice.)  It was a mere fifteen bucks, how could you go wrong?

Well, as you can see from the photos, Codes and Pookers love the TT.  As I type this, Cody is in the living room behind me going as mental over the TT in "8 Track" configuration as he ever has over catnip.  He's been at it for ten minutes straight, which in cat-minutes is like 75,803 hours. 

Now, it may seem a little wack that I wanted a toy for my cats for my birthday.  But I bet a lot of pet owners get that.  First of all, watching the antics of our furry companions is often more entertaining than having antics ourselves...especially if you, like me, are a member of the over-50 crowd.  Secondly, I kind of dote on, especially, Cody, and so it's fun to give him something for the occasion. 

And thirdly, tomorrow is my birthday party with the family, and it will also be a present to me if my dad and daughters and their beaux and the adorable daughter of one of their beaux enjoy the cats with their Turbo Track.

Just look at Cody's crazed face in this photo!  Isn't making your American Shorthair get just as wild as your tiger the best present a girl could wish for?

And of course, what better way to kick off the first day of my Birthday Week (the actual day is Wednesday) than to spend an hour making a funny cat video?  Well Blog, of COURSE I had to immediately make my own Turbo Track Cat Video!  And here it is!

Hold the phone, Blog!  Our third cat, Selke, has actually emerged from whatever dimension in which she dwells most of the day away from prying human eyes!  I must go now and see if there's any chance I can get her into the Turbo Track.  Odds are against it, but you never know.  She's a cat, and it's a Turbo Track, and this toy is pretty dang irresistible, they say....  Hey!  Selke!  Get your bulemic-but-cute-self over here and check this out!

Blog interviews Cranny the nook

As you know, Blog loves to interview gadgets. So he’s taking over the blog today to introduce you to my new Barnes & Noble nook ereader. Take it away, Blog!

Blog: Cranny, welcome to the blog and to life at Magic House.

Cranny: Thanks, Blog. I’m really here representing both myself and my twin, Nicher, who is Davie’s nook.

Blog: I heard Davie came up with both your names. I get “Cranny,” but what’s the deal with “Nicher”?

Cranny: Well, Davie was thinking about various synonyms for “nook” and thought of “niche.” Being a French word, it put him in mind of French-Canadian hockey players. And in hockey, player nicknames often are derived by adding “-er” to the last name. Hence, Nicher.

Blog: Fascinating explanation.

Cranny: I tend to be fascinating. I’m just sayin’.

Blog: As do all ebook readers, I’m sure. So, how is Diana liking you so far?

Cranny: She says I’m easier to hold than a book, and page turning is less effort too. And she’s already excited about one day in the future having most of her personal library portable in my memory. I can hold about 1,500 books.

Blog: Pretty sweet! I like your cover, too.

Cranny: It’s functional for protection, but also expresses Diana’s fun and funky personality. Davie went for more of dignity and elegance for Nicher.

Blog: Not that Davie would claim to be either dignified or elegant, of course. But Nicher is very sharp-looking, that’s sure. Now I’m curious...Diana has waited a long time to get an ereader. Why did she finally pull the trigger?

Cranny: I’m the new Wi-Fi version of the nook, and cost only $149. That made her and Davie sit up and take notice. Davie reads tons of books and was looking both for a way to save money and shelf space.

Blog: He’s not a pack rat.

Cranny: Not in the least. So an affordable ereader seemed just the ticket. Diana reads away from home a lot and just wanted the portability. I fit in her purse easily and am really light.

Blog: Tell us a bit about E ink. That’s what makes you different from using a smart phone or iPad as a book reader, correct?

Cranny: Indeed, Blog. The Kindle and the nook both use E ink technology. That means the screen is not a backlit LCD screen like on phones and computing devices. My screen is like electronic paper: black and white and doesn’t give off light. Which means you can read me outside in bright light. And I’m easy on the eyes. And I don’t use a lot of power.

Blog: Speaking of using power, obviously you’re a green technology in more than one way.

Cranny: If everyone read their books, magazines, and newspapers on an ereader, it would save ridiculous amounts of trees. Do you know what traditional book publishing does in this regard? Books that aren’t sold in stores in a limited time typically are not returned or redistributed in some way--they are destroyed. It’s understood in any print run that a large percentage of copies will end up as trash.

Blog: I’m not an eco-maniac, Cranny, but I hate to think of all that waste.

Cranny: Digital content is so cheap to produce, store and distribute. That means older titles can stick around for decades, finding new readers.

Blog: I’m sold. But I noticed before you brought up the “K” word. Why was Diana sold on Barnes & Noble’s nook rather than Amazon’s Kindle?

Cranny: There are a ton of reasons. For a very fair comparison of the attributes of each, you can visit this comparison page on the Barnes site. But Diana’s main reason stems from her experience publishing books sold for the two ereaders.

Blog: Are these reasons that would matter to people who simply read, rather than sell, books?

Cranny: Most certainly, Blog, and I will explain. Some years back, Amazon used to sell ebooks in several formats, including pdf and Microsoft lit. Diana sold many books that way. But then Amazon decided to make their own ebook reader, and pulled all those hundreds of thousands of titles from availability.

Blog: I don’t get that.

Cranny: They wanted to control the market, so they weren’t going to sell any formats of ebooks other than the format designed for their machine. If buyers wanted to get ebooks from Amazon, they would have to buy a Kindle to read them. And if they wanted ebooks for their Kindle, they would have to buy Kindle versions from Amazon.

Blog: I’m not sure that’s the American Way.

Cranny: Happily, I have anecdotal proof it’s not. Barnes & Noble launched nook two years after Kindle appeared. They already offer more ebooks than Amazon carries, and at least in Diana’s case, they already SELL more. It’s only logical. Customers can install free B&N Reader software on their computers or smart phones and read B&N ebooks on any such device, not just the nook. And publishers can provide their titles to Barnes in simple pdf or ePub format. Diana has told me what a challenge it is producing titles in Kindle format; she didn’t even bother with one of her novels to go through the trouble. It’s the same for other publishers, which is why B&N has more ebooks to sell.

Blog: So in a sense she bought the nook for ethical reasons.

Cranny: Ethical AND practical. Which horse would you back in this race?

Blog: Gotcha, Cranny. Well, you have many reasons to be proud to be a nook.

Cranny: I have easily customizable wallpaper and screensavers, and a built in mp3 player and speakers, too.

Blog: So Diana can rock out to “Code Monkey” by Jonathan Coulton while reading The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest?

Cranny: Well, she could...had she not already bought it in hardcover.

Blog: Hmmm, a shame.

Cranny: It’s really good, but it would be better weighing nothing, rather than over two pounds. That’s three times what I weigh.

Blog: Even if you were loaded with 1,500 books.

Cranny: Even if.

Blog: Sweet. Well thanks, Cranny. I’m convinced the publishing paradigm needs to shift your way, and I think it will. Very exciting stuff.

Cranny: One more thing, Blog. Diana told me to tell readers that nearly all her books are available for nook as well as the-ereader-who-shall-not-be-named.

Blog: And they are damn cheap that way.

Cranny: Starting at $1.71, Blog!

Blog: Rock! Let’s get reading!

Cranny: You read, I display.

Blog: Right.

Blog interviews Son of Hibachi

From our Consumer Tips and Patio Parties Department, Blog is here today to introduce you to the newest member of our household at Magic House.  Please welcome Son of Hibachi!

Blog:  Glad to have you with us, Son of Hibachi!  Whoa, saying that out loud I just realized the pun.

SoH:  Ah yes, it is funny, you think?

Blog:  Very clever and late-night-TV-infomercial-worthy, Son.  So by way of introduction, what brings you to Magic House aka Chez Diana?

SoH:  Well, you see Magic House patio has fine gas grill, very fine, but nothing which might incorporate charcoal briquets.  Diana recently enjoyed her daughter's Smokey Joe cooking with mesquite charcoals.  Big tasty.

Blog:  I see, so she had a hankering for that wood smoke flavor.

SoH:  Yes, yes!  And for hibachi cooking of her childhood, you know how in 1960s American suburbs, they love hibachi.  And from the Interweb she learned about me!

Blog:  And what's your schtick, Son?  You don't look exactly like a hibachi or any other grill.  And what the H-O-double-hockey-sticks is a Snuff-Out Pouch?

SoH:  I am happy to tell whole story of use of Son of Hibachi, Blog.  You begin by unfolding Son to open position, like so.  And put charcoals on each side, like so, and some in center tray with little firestarter maybe.  Put on some lighter fluid, good douse.  Instruction say not needing to put on side coals, but maybe better you do.

Blog:  Following you so far.

SoH:  Light coals in center tray, then fold up Son of Hibachi.  Clip at top like in picture, this all makes chimney effect to light charcoals!  Very clever!

Blog:  That IS clever.  And may I say, you're sort of an Asian Billy Mays, aren't you?

SoH:  Billy Mays, greatest master of all infomercials!  I humbly thank you for comparison.

Blog:  You're welcome.  So I imagine with that "chimney effect" the coals are ready faster than with a traditional grill.

SoH:  Yes, yes.  Maybe ten minutes, Son is ready.  Open up, spread coals out, maybe rearrange.  Then put on food, like tasty tequila lime chicken prepared by Diana.

Blog:  Yummy.  And then you work like, well, a charcoal grill!

SoH:  Yes, you see in photo, result of cooking is tasty grilled tequila lime chicken.  But now Son of Hibachi do even more crazy stuff!


Blog:  Not anything like on those wacky Japanese game shows where people jump through weird cutout shapes to avoid being knocked into the pool...

SoH:  No, no, ha ha!  No, Blog, not like game show.  Like this:  fold up Son again, push in ash drawer and top clip, creates vacuum to extinguish and save coals!  Also burns off grills to clean!

Blog:  Wow!  Do you need an oven mitt to do that?

SoH:  Not even.  Aluminum legs and handles stay cool to touch.  Then, in goes Son of Hibachi to Snuff-Out Pouch!  That finish job, and also you can right away put Son in garage or car.

Blog:  While you're still roasting hot?

SoH:  They make pouch from same stuff as firefighter suits.  Will be very warm but not hot to burn you, Blog!

Blog:  Sweet!  And what might I have to pay to get my own Son of Hibachi, Son?

SoH:  Order straight from website www.sonofhibachi.com, 75 American bucks, free shipping!  Very heavy with cast iron, but still, shipping free!

Blog:  Well, I'm sold and I know Diana is too.  Otherwise why would she have me interview you for no remuneration from the manufacturer, just as a service to our grilled-meat loving readers?

SoH:  Good for corn too!  Very good for corn and veggies!  170 square inches for any food that won't fall through slots.

Blog:  So you won't be good for making bacon spaghetti for Diana's dad next weekend, then.

SoH:  Not so good for spaghetti, fall through slots.

Blog:  Sort of like on those wacky Japanese game shows where people jump through weird cutout shapes to avoid being knocked into the pool.

SoH:  Blog very funny guy.  Very funny anthropomorphized being with masculine vibe.

Blog:  Right back atcha, Son.