America produces more waste per capita than any other country in the world. And recycling, which was once considered the solution to that problem, isn’t really working anymore. Recycling works, but it’s not magic. As America continues to lead the world in per capita waste production, it’s becoming more and more clear that everybody-- manufacturer and consumers-- “over-believe” in recycling.
Recently, I’ve noticed I’ve had more issues with bad breath.. I’m guessing it’s the mostly due to the overly sweet carrot pancakes I like in the morning, with the shredded carrots trapping pieces of blueberry or apple in my mouth. Or maybe it’s the aftertaste from the Stevia which I admittedly use too much of these days.
Daily Hygiene Habits
The most effective way to eliminate bad breath is through a consistent oral care routine:
Brush twice daily: Use fluoride toothpaste and brush for at least two minutes, especially after meals.
Clean your tongue: Bacteria often collect on the back of the tongue. Use a tongue scraper or your toothbrush to clean the entire surface once a day.
Floss or use interdental brushes: Cleaning between teeth removes food particles and plaque that toothbrushes cannot reach.
Clean dental appliances: If you wear dentures, retainers, or mouth guards, clean them daily and remove dentures at night.
Hydration and Dry Mouth Relief
A dry mouth allows bacteria to thrive, leading to odor:
Drink plenty of water: Sipping water throughout the day washes away food particles and supports saliva flow.
Stimulate saliva: Chew sugar-free gum or suck on sugar-free mints, preferably those with xylitol, which can help inhibit bacterial growth.
Avoid drying agents: Limit alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco, all of which dry out the mouth.
Dietary Adjustments
Limit pungent foods: Onions, garlic, and certain spices enter your bloodstream and are exhaled by your lungs for hours after consumption.
Eat crunchy snacks: Apples, carrots, and celery act as natural toothbrushes to scrub away bacteria and stimulate saliva.
Use natural fresheners: Chewing on fresh herbs like parsley or mint can neutralize odors due to their chlorophyll content.
Reduce sugar: High sugar intake fuels the growth of odor-causing bacteria.
Quick Fixes and Home Remedies
Mouthwash: Use an antibacterial, alcohol-free mouthwash to kill germs without drying your mouth.
Baking soda rinse: Mix half a teaspoon of baking soda in warm water to neutralize oral acids and limit bacterial growth.
Green tea: Drinking green tea instead of coffee may help as its polyphenols fight odor-causing bacteria.
As they say, April Flowers bring May showers or so it seems when you look at the forecast for the second half of the week. But it was a good weekend, bar some maintance issues with the bikeand the SuperDuty getting, well SuperDuty gasser gas milage. Lol, I shouldn’t ever look at that screen.
It says 13.1 MPG based on all trips since I got it from the manufacture, 🛻 having driven around 300 miles now though a lot of them were city though climbing the hills and mountains, and some off-road/dirt road doesn’t help. It keeps dropping. Back wheels are super light without the cap or gear in the back, which will definately help on the steep dirt roads and getting going. Lot of torque on those rear wheels with that big-beefy 6.8L engine, and that’s not even the Godzilla. Still I was hoping for better, though I suspect it will improve on longer trips. Honestly though, I should just not look at that screen. Rarely did on Silverado especially after it was lifted, because the speedometer was never right.
I wanted to go to Game Farm Preserve in Berne, ⛰️ but once I got to the hill yesterday morning, fairly bright and early, the county had a big sign saying “Park Closed – Do Not Enter”. Apparently the demolished some of the old buildings like the ruffled grouse hatchery. Honestly I didn’t think it needed much work, though the road to the lodge at the top of the hill was pretty eroded. Well I guess it’s good that county took over the preserve, as the rural town of Berne really didn’t have the resources for upkeep of the property, and it’s better to see it preserved then developed, as there are some nice views of the Switz Kill Valley and South Berne from there. 📸 It was good going up the hill, I got to try out the four-wheel drive on SuperDuty and on way down the hill descent control. The hill descent control is interesting, it reminds me a lot of engine braking or riding the brakes but without actually having to hold down the brake. Good for going down steep, rough roads without the vehicle speeding up. 🔘 You accelerate and brake like normal, and when you take your foot off the brake it doesn’t accelerate unless you press the gas, the ABS and engine vaccum hold the vehicle back. Also played with that a bit more on Boys Camp Road in afternoon after visiting the observation tower.
Ended up heading up to Gifford Hollow Road and riding up Partridge Run Road. 🚴 Riding I caught the derailuer multiple times in the spokes which wasn’t cool, but I think this morning I have it bent straight enough to ride. What is happening is the spoke guard, now missing, kept hitting the cassette keeping the wheel from freewheeling, which caused slack in the chain, which caused it to jump off the cassette and hit the spokes. Didn’t break any spokes, but yeah, not cool. I am going to order a new cassette, chain, and spoke guard today. While technically the lack of a spoke guard is the immediate concern, if I am going to pull the cassette, it’s going to be replaced. I’ve found on my bike, despite what the bike shop says, even when you measure chain stretch, if you don’t replace the cassette and chain at the same time, you have problems. The crank can be cranky between low and high at first but those chains stretch enough quickly that I find that crank, which is the extensive part, rarely needs replacement. Plus I don’t really have the low range working properly on my bike.
Rode up along Partridge Run Road, checking out the falls, 💦 and then up past White Birch Pond, Fawn Lake, Tubbs Pond, Upper Wood Duck Pond, then up along Bradt Hollow Road to Cook Hill Road, then to the Bradt Hollow Cementary, 🪦 up and over High Point Road, over Sickle Hill to Ravine Road past a surprising number of homes with burn barrels and that off-grid homestead, then over to the Gulf. Lot of black flies, so I didn’t spend a lot of time hanging out and reading. 📚 As I had kind of planned for part of the afternoon. Drove over to Boys Camp Road, did the observation tower 🔭 and hiked the little accessible nature trail, then drove over past Crystal Lake and then Route 358 overlooking the Catskills. 📸 Beautiful spring day, and it was nice to get out and enjoy the fresh air even if at times the black flies were bad. It was good to try out the capacities of the SuperDuty and just drive it a bit, even if gas milage was what I expected it to be. But I make good money these days, 💰 and it’s not a commuter vehicle. Those SuperDuties (and Silverado HD trucks) are really popular out in the country, even if you don’t see them as much in the city. 🛻 Went to mom and dad’s for Sunday dinner 🍽️ and to wash my wash and empty my slop bucket, 🪣 then did an evening hike at Holt Preserve and watched the sun set. 🌇
Well I want to head in early to work, 🚲 as I am not totally certain of my bike adjustments, and I have a lot of things that need to get done once I’m in the office. 🚿 Shower and was the grease off my hands, 🤲 get to work, order the bike parts and this evening I will stop by Hannaford and get some groceries. 🛒 I was going to stop at Walmart last night but with no way to easily lock the bike 🔒 without the truck cap, I decided I better wait, and just get groceries on the bike ride home this evening. Later in the week, if it’s raining out I could decide to drive in and stop at Walmart on the way home. 🌲 I do got the Pine Bush Dinner on Thursday, and I want to ride to that, despite the rain and my concerns about riding the bike without a spoke guard and the worn out chain. 🔗 Though I do hope to order those parts and hopefully have them installed by then.
That dashboard screen, a glowing fright, Of fuel consumed in thirsty flight, The numbers low, the logic thin, For thirty-threes and heavy tin.
But those who count the cost of miles Forget the currency of smiles. I didn’t buy this rig to creep Through city lanes while others sleep, Or sit at lights in grey despair, But for the crisp and mountain air.
To find the hollows deep and green, Where only 1-ton steel is seen. It rides up high, a factory grace, To find a remote camping space, Without the sway or lifted doubt, Just solid axles, heading out.
Past silent farms and forest floor, Away from every city chore. So let the trip computer weep, I’ve got a mountain road to keep.
The tailgate is my favorite chair, With campfire smoke and messy hair. For every gallon that I spend, There’s joy around the river bend.
