The I Hate to Housekeep Book by Peg Bracken

[superelectronic]

This is a long shot but has anyone else out there read this book? Printed some time in the early 1960s I believe, the wit and wisdom aimed at Random Housekeepers has made me crease up on many occasions.

I'm trying to think of some of the best quotes but the book is at my parents' house.

Here's one: "Hemlines, like Heroin, are easy to take up but hard to put down". And as a man living with two other men , I concede that "Men, with a few notable exceptions, do what they want and what they think they should do in equal measure". I'm sure there's better quotes but what the hell...

Anyway, I'm sure it would make a perfect accompaniament to a Vintage washday, particularly stateside (Alpha male types may need to approach with an open mind).

Al

 

[dalangdon]

I love all of her books! I am a true "random housekeeper", while John is the epitome of the "spotless housekeeper"

Remembering that book brings up a question I always wanted to ask: What is "sal soda"? She talks about that a lot, and it seems to be something different than baking soda, which she also talks about.

 

[jamiel]

Washing soda.

 

[veg-o-matic]

Read it?

I've practically memorized it! I mean to the point where I can't possibly sift out a single quote from the thousands floating around in my brain.
I've always felt that Peg was one of the country's most underrated humorists; she made a splash with The I Hate to Cook Book, so people considered her a cook and sort of dismissed most of the other stuff she wrote.
I've always loved one of her Ways to Get My Undivided Attention: "How nice you loo--wait a minute, turn around..."
Peg shares a shelf with Betty MacDonald. It seems fitting, somehow.

veg

 

[pturo]

I've read it. Her famous recipie for sweep steak is in it.

 

[maytagbear]

I have a copy ,

somewhere. I, too, suffer from a bad case of random housekeeping.

Peg, in this one, said something about getting a good dishwasher, and then trusting the hot water and strong detergent....a woman after my own heart.

Although I liked Erma Bombeck, I preferred Peg Bracken.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[toggleswitch]

ah the cave-bear emerges. Are you hibernating and frozen?

 

[maytagbear]

Frozen?

It was about 62F here this afternoon. Outside.

L/Mb

 

[toggleswitch]

yes but three days ago it was way below freezing!

 

[maytagbear]

You have email, Toggle.

Plus, that's the way it is in NE Ohio. Often you will go from heat to a/c back to heat in 24 hours.

L/Mb

 

[dalangdon]

OK, so what's "washing soda"? Is that like Arm & Hammer detergent?

Veg, both Peg and Betty were northwesterners. Betty MacDonald is one of the main reasons I came to Seattle in the first place. Peg I just discovered a few years back.

In one of Mrs. Bracken's books, she has a funny little thing about her girlfriends, and what they consider formal attire. It mostly has to do with who will dare to go downtown without a girdle on (or something to that effect) I've looked through her books, and I can't find it.

 

[maytagbear]

Washing Soda

is a laundry booster, in my supermarket, it is on the shelf next to the 20 Mule team Borax, and above the Oxi. It is packed (last time I bought some) in a blue box, with the name "Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda."

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[superelectronic]

Hmmm...very pleasing to see it's a popular tome!

Maytagbear - I know what you mean about the dishwasher advice, and couldn't help smiling when I watched my sister scrubbing dishes with suds galore before loading the machine...she's trully a spotless housekeeper!

The recipes in the book all sound like a licence to have a heart attack to my modern ears - lots of frying bacon in a pound of butter or such like!

Here's to being "but destiny's plaything"!

Best wishes

Al