A place for everything

Dear Heloise: My husband and I do a lot of traveling, and it is always a problem finding space in the bathrooms for toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant, cosmetics, etc. He came up with a great solution.

Take a plastic shoe box and fill it with items such as toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant, extra cosmetics, plastic baggies filled with adhesive bandages, cotton swabs, medicines, etc. Put two large rubber bands around it to keep the cover on. It fit s perfectly at the bottom of the carry-on bag that we take on the plane, car or whatever mode of transportation we are taking.

On a recent cruise, the box fit perfectly on a shelf under the sink. We'd take it out and put it on the counter, use whatever of the contents we wanted and put it back out of the way until we needed it again.

It was convenient and kept the bathroom from being cluttered. -- Joan Bedal, Oxnard, Calif.

FAST FACTS

Dear Heloise: Rather than just letting water run through the pipes, here are a few ways I try to make use of the hot water in that first minute before it gets hot enough for doing dishes:

Make juice from concentrate.

Fill ice trays.

Fill the water jug that I keep in the fridge.

Fill milk cartons for emergency water supply.

Rinse items to be recycled.

-- Pam Foster, Roswell, N.M.

NONDRINKER

Dear Heloise: I have found many helpful hints in reading your column in the Portland (Maine) Press Herald, and I'd like to offer one of my own to you.

I do not drink alcohol, but when I'm eating out, especially with other people, having black coffee doesn't quite fit in when others are having wine or beer. So I order cranberry juice in a wine glass, no ice or fruit. It sure works for me, and maybe it w ill for some of your readers who don't drink alcohol for whatever reasons. -- Barbara F., South Portland, Maine

SOUND OFF

Dear Heloise: What bothers me are adults who wear backpacks in public places where there is not much room to move around.

I have been hit numerous times in the head by people swinging around to change their direction. I suffered a bloody nose in an airport once after being hit by a clod with a backpack.

PLEASE, people, be conscious of your movements in crowded places when you are wearing a backpack. -- Judy Larsen, Via E-mail

You are right! Also, please take heed when moving down the aisle of an airplane -- I've been bumped on the head many times by someone's purse or tote. And I thought I was safe belted in my seat! -- Heloise

)2001 by King Features Syndicate Inc.