Do You Have to Use Special Toilet Paper in your RV? "The Great Toilet Paper Experiment"

When we bought our new trailer last week, Greg, the guy who taught us how to operate it, told us to buy special, biodegradable camping toilet paper.  So, I did.  

Yesterday, I decided to hold a little side-by-side toilet paper experiment using our regular brand, Scott, and this special stuff, Monex.  Nobody is paying me for this (they have no idea that I even exist) ... with Dana Dog as my witness!  She was watching me take pictures for this post.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

"The Great Toilet Paper Experiment"

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

I have been purchasing Scott toilet paper for years.  I am a loyal customer.  The rolls last longer, and they contain no perfume.  We are on a septic system, but with all the detergent and other things that go into that thing, I doubt if a bit of perfumed toilet paper would hurt things much anyway.  I usually get my toilet paper at Bi-Mart when it is on sale in a twelve pack for $9.99.  That comes out to .83 cents per roll.  If it isn't on sale the cost is near $1.00 per roll.  With Scott, you get 1000 single ply sheets per roll.

There is only one brand of special RV toilet paper in the camping department of Bi-Mart, and it is distributed by the same folks who make the chemicals for RV toilets.  A four pack of Monex sold for $3.99, or around $1.00 per roll.  With Monex, you get 500 two-ply sheets per roll.  So, I do think that it is more expensive.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Yesterday, I took a strip of each kind of toilet paper ...

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

... here is a close-up shot ...

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

... and filled two identical glasses 3/4 full of tap water ...

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Then, I let them sit for about 18 hours to see which brand would disintegrate the most during that time frame:

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

When it looked like things were not going to progress any further, I began taking pictures.  I took two identical knives and scooped up what came out with the first dip.  This is where you are going to have to trust me ... the Monex came out with a huge amount of paper, and the Scott came out with a tiny bit.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Common sense tells me that in a small holding tank for a trailer, the Scott would just take up less room.  So, that is what I am going to use in our 5th wheel.  Come to find out, ALL toilet paper is biodegradable, even if they don't put that on their packaging.  Some toilet paper contains dyes and perfumes and are not recommended for trailer tanks, but I feel that Scott brand is a superior and less expensive product than Monex.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

This is just my simple research and common sense opinion ... and I am throwing out a disclaimer here:  Decide for yourself; I'm not responsible for what goes on inside your RV tank.

Happy Camping!

~ Kathy M. 

P.S. - Cary was very impressed with my experiment ... it was like being in science class all over again, lol.

At Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy, if you miss a day, you miss a lot!  All material on this post is copyrighted and not for use without my permission ...Please click here to go to my home page and see what is happening in Mayberry today.  

Monday's Musings:

Hello Friends!

I hope that you had a great weekend.  We did, but I mostly just puttered around and started putting things into the 5th wheel.  It is so big inside and I'm still not used to the idea of having it.  We just sit in it's living room and look at each other, wondering where we should take it first.  If you want to see pictures of it, here is the link to that post: 2013 Forest River Wildcat.

When we brought it home on Friday, I brought Dana inside to show her around.  She made it up the stairs easily enough and I was grateful for that because sometimes her hips bother her.  She was checking everything out, smelling the new smells.  Then, the dog who would never think of going potty in the house, squatted down and peed on that brand new carpet!  I couldn't believe it.  My daughter is a gangster.  

Today there are two new posts below this one:

[]  "Ship and Boat Replica's from Astoria, Oregon"

[]  Z is for Zebra "Zelda's Story"

This has been a super busy month of posting, and today is the last day of the 2012 A - Z Challenge. This post is number 61 for April, and I know that is a record for me.   I just checked, and this is my 1677th post.  Dang.  I think that I am addicted.  On the sidebar, I have links to many of them that have to do with travel, history, stories, tutorials, decorating posts and more.

Thank you so much for your visit.  I appreciate each and everyone of you.  Have a wonderful week, and remember to celebrate the positive portions of everyday life! 

~ Kathy M.

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

At Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy, if you miss a day, you miss a lot!  All material on this post is copyrighted and not for use without my permission ...Please click here to go to my home page and see what is happening in Mayberry today.  

Ship and Boat Replica's From Astoria, Oregon:

I have always enjoyed "miniature" ships and boats.  I took pictures of these when we were in Astoria, Oregon in March, and thought that you might like seeing them too.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

These two were at The Ship Inn restaurant.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

The photos below were taken at The Columbia River Maritime Museum, beginning with the steemer T.J. Potter:

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

... and some others:

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

At Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy, if you miss a day, you miss a lot!  All material on this post is copyrighted and not for use without my permission ...Please click here to go to my home page and see what is happening in Mayberry today.  

A - Z Challenge: "Z" is for Zebra ~ "Zelda's Story"

During the month of April, I am participating in the Blogging From A-Z April 2012 Challenge, where we post everyday except for Sundays. I have decided to make flashcards for the letter of the day out of my photos, and then use the picture as a writing prompt.  I am using my Thesaurus to make a story out of words beginning with the letter "Z", and to have it make sense.  I have no idea of the twists and turns that it will take, and usually crack myself up when I am all done.  Hope these little ditties make you smile too.

Thank you for your visit!  I'll be by to visit those who leave me comments, and also visit as many others as I can. If you like what you see, please feel free to become my newest follower. ~ Kathy M. 

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

"Zelda's Story"

 by Kathy Matthews

Zelda was into the zodiac and was a zealot for zebras.  (She also had a lot of zits.)  With zero tolerance for zoos, Zelda had to admit that if it wasn't for zoos, her chances to see live zebras would be zilch. 

One morning, Zelda awoke feeling like a zombie.  Usually zippy and full of zest, she was just not in the zone.  Partying last night with Zane had zapped her energy.  Her tummy was hurting, and she suspected that it was the zakuska that they had eaten at Zito's. 

Zelda laid back down on the bed, zonked out, and dreamed of Zachery, her favorite zebra at the zoo.

The End.


Yay, I'm all done!  This is the last of my 2012 A-Z Challenge posts.  It has been really fun this year, and thank you so much for stopping by to see me.  The complete list of challenge posts are located on the top of the sidebar for right now.  Eventually, I will move them to the bottom along with last year's challenge posts.

  A to Z Participant List

Following the theme of the of the alphabet, I am also featuring this out-of-circulation book created by a couple of Oregon ladies in 1983.  Please come back tomorrow to see the next page in the series:

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

At Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy, if you miss a day, you miss a lot!  All material on this post is copyrighted and not for use without my permission ...Please click here to go to my home page and see what is happening in Mayberry today.  

A - Z Challenge: "Y" is for Yellow-jacket

During the month of April, I am participating in the Blogging From A-Z April 2012 Challenge, where we post everyday except for Sundays. I have decided to make flashcards for the letter of the day out of my photos, and then use the picture as a writing prompt.  I am using my Thesaurus to make a story out of words beginning with the letter "Y", and to have it make sense.  I have no idea of the twists and turns that it will take, and usually crack myself up when I am all done.  Hope these little ditties make you smile too. 

I might have messed up on this one too.  Is this a yellow-jacket or is it a wasp?  Either way, they are mean and don't die when they sting you, so I don't like them.

Thank you for your visit, and please come back again tomorrow! I'll be by to visit those who leave me comments, and also visit as many others as I can. If you like what you see, please feel free to become my newest follower. ~ Kathy M. 

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

"Yolanda's Story"

by Kathy Matthews

Yolanda Young loved yellow.  Her hair was yellow, her car was yellow, her house was yellow, and most of her clothes were yellow.  So was her itsy bitsy teeny weenie yellow polka dot bikini.  In fact, Yolanda was the reason that Bryan Hyland even wrote his song by that name.  He used to watch her as she tanned in the yard, yackity-yacking on her yellow phone and thumbing through her yearbook.  That young man thought that she looked yummy, yet awfully yellow.  

Yesterday, Yolanda was yawning when a yellow-jacket landed on the yams she was eating.  Thinking quickly, she yelled, grabbed a yardstick and smashed that yellow-jacket back into yesteryear and yon.  Her dog yipped at the splattered yams, which met yeah, this yield looks good! 

The End.

  A to Z Participant List

Following the theme of the of the alphabet, I am also featuring this out-of-circulation book created by a couple of Oregon ladies in 1983.  Please come back tomorrow to see the next page in the series:

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

At Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy, if you miss a day, you miss a lot!  All material on this post is copyrighted and not for use without my permission ...Please click here to go to my home page and see what is happening in Mayberry today.  

Friday Update:

Hello Friends!

Thank you so much for stopping by to see what is up in Mayberry today.  The weather report is short and sweet:  we woke up to a trace of snow on the ground (again) and partly cloudy skies.

I don't have a Book Blurb Friday post for this week.  Lisa has put her blog on hiatus to spend more time with her family, due to her father-in-law's illness.  Please continue to lift their family up in your prayers.  Thank you so much.

Here are links to my most recent posts for this week, just in case the one that you wanted to check out is already buried:

[] The Letter "X" ~ "Xylina Exhibits Her Missing Tooth"

[] 2013 Forest River Wildcat ~ Pictures of our new 5th Wheel.

[] The Letter "W" ~ "William and Wendy's Trip to Wildwood Falls"

[] Sepia Saturday #123 ~ "May Day History and Celebration Ideas"

[] The Letter "V" ~ "Vex-Con and Billy the Exterminator"


We are going to pick up our new 5th wheel this morning, and take a class on how to operate the many do-dads.  It has certainly been a very exciting turn of events around our house the past couple of days! 

A month ago, I was checking into returning to school to get my Master in Education and finish up my dream of becoming a kindergarten teacher.  I received a lot of support from family and friends for my idea.  The program that I originally looked into was a two year program, with classes being held MFW evenings.  The idea of that just about strangled me, as well as the thought of the cost involved. 

Then I found a program at another school where you took online classes for one year and meet one Saturday per month in a town a few hours away.  That one seemed much more doable.  Not sure if I will move forward with the returning to school plan or not, but it is still an option for the future. 

On the day that I met with the adviser of the first school, I picked up a book that I had on hand about Kindergarten, and this card was tucked inside of it:
 

Helen is one of my school friends, and she must have given this card to me around ten years ago.  When I read it last month, I took it as a good omen about returning to school.  Now I'm thinking that it just could mean to enjoy spending time with my husband, traveling around visiting family and friends old, new and as yet unknown.  I kind of feel guilty though, as if that is all too easy.  Grateful, but guilty.  I'm sure that I will get over it, but it still puzzles me.  Could it be that it is okay that things are as good as they are?

When I first moved to Mayberry, I was a single mom with an 11-year-old boy, living in a 365 square foot cabin with a big dog and three cats.  I worked part-time cleaning houses and was going to school full-time.  All I am trying to say is that we never know how things are going to turn around and work out.  Never give up!  Work hard at whatever you are doing, try to keep growing and improving yourself, and then see what happens.  

If nothing else, your struggles will give you good insight and provide fodder for your writing.

Have a wonderful weekend,

~ Kathy M.

"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness.  Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans:  that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too.  A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no person could have dreamt would have come his or her way."      William H. Murray

At Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy, if you miss a day, you miss a lot!  All material on this post is copyrighted and not for use without my permission ...Please click here to go to my home page and see what is happening in Mayberry today.  

A - Z Challenge: "X" is for X-ray

During the month of April, I am participating in the Blogging From A-Z April 2012 Challenge, where we post everyday except for Sundays. I have decided to make flashcards for the letter of the day out of my photos, and then use the picture as a writing prompt. I am using my Thesaurus to make a story out of words beginning with the letter "X", and to have it make sense.  I have no idea of the twists and turns that it will take, and usually crack myself up when I am all done.  Hope these little ditties make you smile too. 

Thank you for your visit, and please come back again tomorrow! I'll be by to visit those who leave me comments, and also visit as many others as I can. If you like what you see, please feel free to become my newest follower. ~ Kathy M. 

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 "Xylina Exhibits Her Missing Tooth"

by Kathy Matthews

 

Xylina was not excited about her missing tooth.  It had been x'd out on Xmas Eve and showed up clearly in the x-ray.  It was exasperating!

The End.

Sorry, but there were only two "x" words in my Thesaurus!  This is actually my own x-ray, taken in one of those surround machines at the dentist a couple of years ago.  Luckily I have facial skin that covers the missing tooth.  I bit into a bagel twenty years ago, and the tooth cracked and I opted to have it pulled by Dr. Branson, the man who invented the round toothbrush.  The End.

    A to Z Participant List

Following the theme of the of the alphabet, I am also featuring this out-of-circulation book created by a couple of Oregon ladies in 1983.  Please come back tomorrow to see the next page in the series:

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

  Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

At Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy, if you miss a day, you miss a lot!  All material on this post is copyrighted and not for use without my permission ...Please click here to go to my home page and see what is happening in Mayberry today.