Signing for deliveries leaves office workers in dark

Dear Heloise: I work in a high-rise apartment building. We receive and sign for deliveries, and we have people who service the elevator. We, the office personnel, then sign on the little gadget when the person says to.

My concern is, how do I know what I am signing for? The guy who has delivered six boxes for various people might have decided to keep one, and I signed that I received it. Nothing shows on the screen except the place to sign. The same is true for elevator services. He may have said he worked for six hours when it was only one. How do I know what he put? A Concerned Heloise Reader, via e-mail

You don’t, unless you ask to see the whole invoice/bill or a printout. Heloise

Dear Heloise: I really had to chuckle when I read your column about marking underwear with a “1,” “11,” “111.” It reminded me of when my two boys, Mike and Rob, were in their early teens. There were always mounds of socks in the laundry, and they never knew which belonged to whom. I thought I had a good solution by putting an “R” and an “M” on the toe of the socks with a laundry marker. This worked until Rob came home one day very upset! The kids in gym class thought that “mommy” had put the R there because he didn’t know his right foot from his left! That was the end of my great idea! Anita Fuzesi, Old Bridge, N.J.

Dear Readers: Here are some ways to use paper that has been shredded in a paper shredder:

UStuff gift bags, boxes or baskets.

UFluff up a pet bed. Stuff inside — it absorbs odors and is easily changed.

UUse when making papier-m ¢ch crafts.

UMake biodegradable mulch by mixing the paper with dirt.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: If you have a hard time opening a ring-top can, try this: Slide the tip of a teaspoon underneath the ring, then lift up the ring to pull. I also have the spoon right there to spoon out cat food or whatever is in the can. I’m sure there are other “tools” that can get these cans open, but this is what works best for me. E. Sadler, Missouri City, Texas

A good hint to ease frustration with those rings! They are convenient but sometimes can be a pain to open. Heloise

Dear Heloise: I am annoyed that manufacturers of both toilet and facial tissue now only make white tissue. There are some of us who really prefer colored tissue and like that it adds a touch of color to the room. I think there is one manufacturer that still makes a limited selection of colored tissue, but it’s really hard to find. A Reader, via e-mail

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