I’m stepping off the orange crate for a few days for a badly needed vacation. I had wanted to finish one of a couple of thought-dump pieces in progress, but this hectic week wouldn’t hear of it.

So, in lieu of noggin-provoking prose, I give you a pair of random ideas.

Barbara Ehrenreich knows what she’s doing. I pulled Nickel and Dimed off the shelf yesterday, and plan to finish it with lake air in my lungs. Her writing spells out simplicity, and she doesn’t use words like “lugubrious.”

Combine two parts white vinegar, one part ammonia and one part dish soap to make a cheap spot cleaner for carpet and fabric. Whip it up with a wisk, and use the foam (not the liquid) with a damp sponge. Late-night PBS informs and enriches.

That’s it: a book tip and a household tip. I’m outta here.