Family keeps journal about father's progress at hospital

Dear Heloise: My husband and his brothers have devised a great plan to help with communicating information to each other during their dad's illness. With each hospital admission, they keep a journal handy to jot down anything they think is worth passing on.
Each day has a separate entry to avoid confusion. Since there are four brothers, they usually take turns being at the hospital, and the journal has been extremely helpful to keep current in dad's care. The beauty of this system is that they all have access to the information, and nothing is omitted.
As a registered nurse, I think this is a great system for families. It's also helpful to the nurses because they don't have to repeat the information to each family member. If there are additional questions, they are added to the journal. Renee in Alabama
Renee, it can get confusing with all the information that gets shared. A notebook is just the thing to help out, and it helps later on as a written record. Heloise
Fast facts
Dear Heloise: Here is a hint that others can use. Use the cardboard tube inside toilet-paper rolls for:
USaving plastic bags used for fruits, vegetables and groceries. Push the bags inside the tube.
USaving newspaper plastic bags. You can use these bags for cleanup when walking a dog. Just keep a tube in your coat pocket.
UHolding and labeling electrical cords when storing items, or holding the unused parts of the cord when plugged in.
UStoring pens and pencils in a large cup. Use the tubes (cut down to size) to separate pens, pencils, etc. Cathy in New York
Dear Readers: For a fast mirror cleanup, use a little bit of good old vinegar on a paper towel and wipe away spots. Hairspray residue can be removed using a little rubbing alcohol on clean terry cloth. Heloise
Dear Heloise: My co-worker Barb gave this to me and did not remember if she had read it or just started to do it. I think it is a good hint and also recycles what we have. She uses an empty tissue box to put her plastic grocery bags in. It sits right on a counter or shelf.
The bags are handy for reuse, and the box can be recycled if it becomes worn. Mary in Illinois
Dear Heloise: Some cabinet doors have magnet latches that are hard for arthritic hands to pull open. A strip of masking tape over the magnet will reduce its strength by at least one-half. Curt in Arkansas
Sound off
Dear Heloise: My sound off is stores that have as many as 38 checkout counters but have only two or three open at a time, and some of them are for 10 items or less.
It's a puzzle why they build so many. J.B., San Angelo, Texas
XSend a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate