Tidy Husband

Eligible for the seniors discount and the Happy Meal deal at the same time.

  1. On Recognizing Symptoms

    I should have seen it coming.

    clear glass bowl on white surface

    Photo by Anna Kumpan on Unsplash

    I woke up, let the dog out and when I turned around she was cuddled under a blanket on the couch. Mornings are hard sometimes and I did not think much of it. She came to the table, had breakfast, got clothes on and we were off to camp.

    As we were leaving she talked about her throat feeling funny, but I checked her forehead and she wasn’t burning up so off we got in the car without issue.

    We were talking about the I LOVE JESUS sticker on the back of the Jeep in front of us when I turned the corner, had a look back at her in the rear view mirror and she was white as a ghost.

    “I think I am going to bar…”.

    Barf.

    She barfed all right.

    She didn’t even get the word out, but all the contents of her stomach had no trouble escaping. We’re a mile and a half from home and she’s in the back seat upset and messy and stinky and I’m telling her she’s going to be okay and we will be home soon, - and we were.

    She wanted a hug. I told her no hug until she got cleaned up. BW took over once inside and got her in the tub where there was another round of barfing, but she was in the tub so that’s pretty much the best venue for this event.

    Hosed off, dressed - and she watched Disney on the TV all morning. I think there may have been some sleeping too but I am not sure as I didn’t want to creak down the stairs and wake her if she was.

    By noon she was hoovering a ham sandwich and is fine.

    Myself, on the other hand - got busy cleaning.

    I have been ubering for three years now and I drive days specifically so I don’t have somebody barf in the car.

    All I can say is it’s a good thing I was smart enough to put washable seat covers on.

    I cleaned BW’s car while I was at it.

    The tub needed cleaning, obvs. Heck, the entire bathroom needed a disinfect. I then walked around and disinfected all the door handles and hand rails and anything else my child might have touched

    She lived her best life and watched so many youtube kids videos today. She may have eaten but she still wasn’t 100 percent as she usually gets bored and starts crafting or something and this didn’t happen today. She was on the couch all day.

    Oh, the dog got a bath too - so in between the cleaning, I dropped the dog and picked up the dog from the groomers.

    I figured I may as well mow the lawn next as it needed it and I ran out of excuses.

    Dinner was uneventful, and she even went to bed easily.

    Although the struggle was real today, it’s a lot better now. She is ready to go back to camp and she’s got 10 bucks in her backpack for tomorrow to use for treats when she goes roller skating as a camp day trip.

    I’m going to leave you with this PSA: Car seat covers - don’t leave home without them.

    Trust me on this one,

    TH and Co.

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  2. The Bathroom Sink

    Today BW got another package in the mail.

    Creams and …other stuff.

    “More Face Cream?”, I asked.

    ”Don’t Go there”, she replied.

    I didn’t. I know better. I also told her she was beautiful without any cream - I don’t think she bought it though. It was worth a shot.

    But this got me thinking - what the heck is all this stuff? So, I asked my good friend AI:

    1. ROVECTIN Lotus Water Cream

    • Package Size: 60ml (2.03 fl. oz.)
    • What it is: A calming, moisture-balancing cream.
    • What it does: Formulated with Lotus Flower and Sweet Almond Oil, this cream is designed to soothe sensitive skin while reinforcing the skin’s moisture barrier. It provides hydration without feeling heavy, helping to balance the skin’s water-oil levels

    2. Dr. Ceuracle Vegan Kombucha Tea Essence

    • Package Size: 150ml (5.07 fl. oz.) [Note: This is a guess, as the text shows “150ml” in a different listing, but your image crop shows “250ml/8.45fl.oz.” — I will go with the visible 250ml in your text]
    • (Correction based on your text:) 250ml (8.45 fl. oz.)
    • What it is: A skin-softening essence/serum.
    • What it does: This is a fermented tea essence that aims to calm, balance, and soften the skin. It helps improve the skin barrier and provides deep hydration, giving a “re:” (repair/restore) effect for irritated or stressed skin.

    3. Skin1004 Hyalu-Cica Water-fit Sun Serum

    • Package Size: 50ml (1.69 fl. oz.)
    • What it is: A lightweight, chemical-style sunscreen (serum texture) with SPF50+ broad-spectrum protection.
    • What it does: Provides high UV protection while also delivering hydration (via hyaluronic acid) and soothing care (via centella asiatica/cica). It is meant to feel weightless and non-greasy, balancing moisture and sun defense.

    4. Torriden Balanceful Cica Cream

    • Package Size: 80ml (2.70 fl. oz.) [Note: Your text shows “9ml/0.30fl.oz.” for a different item, but this is likely the 80ml size]
    • (Correction: Based on typical sizing, the 9ml is likely a sample—this product usually comes in 80ml)
    • What it is: A calming and balancing moisturizer.
    • What it does: Formulated with cica (centella asiatica), it soothes redness and irritation while strengthening the skin barrier. It helps control excess oil and maintains a healthy moisture balance, making it good for sensitive or acne-prone skin.

    5. PORE SHOOTER GOMMAGE CLEANSING BALM

    • Package Size: 95ml (3.21 fl. oz.)
    • What it is: A gommage-style (peeling/gel-to-oil) cleansing balm.
    • What it does: This is a pore-refining cleanser that uses a “gommage” (exfoliating) action to gently remove dead skin cells, blackheads, and sebum from pores. It melts into an oil to dissolve makeup and sunscreen, then rinses off to leave skin smooth, clear, and unclogged.

    6. UVshield (MINERAL SUNSCREEN) – Brand unclear (possibly Isntree or similar)

    • Package Size: Not clearly listed (likely 50ml)
    • What it is: A 100% mineral (physical) sunscreen with SPF50+.
    • What it does: Uses zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to create a physical barrier that reflects UV rays away from the skin. It is designed for sensitive skin, as mineral sunscreens are less likely to cause irritation. It also provides “moisture balancing” to prevent dryness often associated with mineral filters.

    7. LOTUSCREAM CALMING/SENSITIVE – Likely a toner or mist (possibly from Rovectin or a similar brand)

    • Package Size: Unclear (could be a small mist or toner)
    • What it is: A calming facial mist or toner.
    • What it does: Infused with lotus flower, xylitol, panthenol, and allantoin, this product is meant to instantly soothe sensitive, irritated skin. It provides a burst of hydration, reduces redness, and preps the skin for the next steps in your routine.

    Summary of the routine (suggested order):

    1. Cleanse: PORE SHOOTER GOMMAGE CLEANSING BALM (to remove sunscreen/makeup and exfoliate).
    2. Tone/Calm: LOTUSCREAM CALMING toner/mist.
    3. Essence/Serum: Dr. Ceuracle Kombucha Essence (for barrier repair).
    4. Moisturize: ROVECTIN Lotus Water Cream (day) OR Torriden Balanceful Cica Cream (night/if extra soothing needed).
    5. Protect (AM only): UVshield MINERAL SUNSCREEN or SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Sun Serum.

    Meanwhile… I use this:

    I don’t have to shoot pores, spread fermented tea on me or have a hydration burst. I thought drinking water was a hydration burst. Or, you could just drink the tea before it goes bad and have more money for -you know-soap.

    If I had to pick a favorite it’s definitely the pore shooter. I can just hear the sounds coming from the bathroom: pew, pew, pew! Those poor pores getting shot down in broad daylight like that.

    Shoot first, ask questions later.

    Until Next Time,

    TH and Co.

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  3. The Ice Cream Truck

    What a day. The Good Kind.

    We spent the day outside. It wasn’t the plan, but that’s what happened.

    It started with her making herself a picnic lunch of strawberries, cucumbers and a chees sand taking it outside with a beach towel.

    “Dad, do you want to come?”

    Dad says YES he would love to come.

    “ I will come out”, BW chimed in.

    And before you know it, the entire family was outside with lawn chairs and snacks and garden hoses and sprinklers and swimsuits. Even the dog came outside and behaved herself.

    Both dog and child are at the right age where the child can walk the dog does not walk the child. I call this progress.

    We went to the park on the swings and then for a walk in “the forest”, which is just a small area that connects two neighborhoods with a small creek behind.

    But the highlight of the day was the ice cream truck. I had gone inside to flip the laundry and then I hear “DAD DAD DAD!! THE ICE CREAM TRUCK IS HERE!!!”

    And what do you know?…it was. So, we made a deal: Ice cream now, but no dessert later.

    And then the three of us sat in the shade and ate ice cream under a tree on a beatiful summer Sunday.

    Lastly, it’s not summer if you don’t run through a sprinkler.

    Diet starts tomorrow.

    Until Next Time,

    TH and Co.

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  4. State your Occupation

    I had to fill out some forms today for the child - the usual - name, DOB and then the one that stumped me: occupation.

    this photo has nothing to do with the story, but …she went swimming today in Canada. She’s been in 4 different countries in the past week.

    Ha.

    If you know me, you know I try to avoid being occupied at all times.

    I call it a skill.

    But what do I put down? Uber Driver? That’s not a real occupation - it’s more a meager attempt to contribute somewhat to the household so BW doesn’t toss me out.

    When filling out the form for BW’s info - that’s easy.! She’s got so many fancy letters after her name on her business cards, I lost count.

    Me? I have 2 letters: DAD.

    That’s all the alphabet a guy really needs.

    Oh! I filled in RETIRED on the form. I figured I’m pretty much there from real jobs. I’ve still got a ways to go on the DAD job though and it’s the best job I have ever had!

    Until Next Time,

    TH and Co.

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  5. And the Award Goes To...

    The Child!

    At pickup I got out of the car and realized she was holding something. But at that distance, I couldn’t figure out what and then I got closer and realized it was…

    An AWARD !!!

    What was the award for you ask?
    ”Nature kid of the week”, it reads on the bottom

    “What is a nature kid”, I asked.

    “The one that comes home from camp the dirtiest”, she replied.

    That sounds about right. NO WONDER she won.

    Despite the rain, it was a good day here. Besides the award she had free ice cream, chips, candy etc. When we asked her if she ate any REAL food at camp she told us “a hot dog”

    I managed to get her a red pepper in her before dinner so I’m calling today a nutritional win, regardless.

    This is the very first trophy brought home ever. We could not be more proud of her.

    She earned this. The rings on the bathtub prove it. :)

    Until Next Time,

    TH and Co.

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