Dear Heloise >> I think the reason that pears (and some other fruits) don’t ripen is because grocery stores refrigerate them and try to extend the amount of time they have to sell them. The refrigeration slows the ripening process, which cause the fruit to stay hard and sometimes rot before it ripens.

When time allows, I ask the produce person if a particular batch of fruit has been refrigerated. I won’t buy pears or peaches that fall into this category. If we boycott these items, maybe grocery stores will get the message and stop mistreating these wonderful fruits.

P.S. Thanks for all your wonderful hints!

— Judy B., Colorado Springs, Colorado

Judy, if a pear does not ripen, it’s usually due to about four main factors factors:

• Bitter rot: a fungal infection most often seen in warm and humid weather.

• Brown rot: another fungal infection that can and does affect many fruit trees.

• Codling moth damage: This causes a hardening of the fruit and is difficult to cut through.

• If, however, pears rot from the inside out, this is mainly due to the fruit ripening a bit earlier that the rest of the crop. It was harvested after reaching its peak ripeness. The exterior may look and feel firm and smooth, but it’s brown and often mushy on the inside.

— Heloise

Dear Heloise >> As a retired Navy wife, we were always warned by base housing officials not to put holes in the wall. But if we did, we had to make sure that we did not fill it with toothpaste! The reason is that toothpaste attracts roaches, silverfish and other bugs. Today’s toothpaste is even worse, since it has artificial sweeteners that are much sweeter.

Also, a new family who moves in will end up getting blamed for the insects because someone once used toothpaste to fill the holes. If you put a hole in a wall, fill it with the appropriate product from a hardware store.

— K.M., Colonial Beach, Virginia

Dear Heloise >> I’m 82 and take 17 different meds. So, in my wallet, I keep a list of all of them, along with the amount, when they are supposed to be taken, and what they are for. On the same list, I have all six of my physicians’ contact information with their phone numbers and their specialties.

When I go to the hospital, they need to see all of this info, so I include emergency contacts, phone numbers, and even my date of birth. My insurance info is also included, as well as my medical insurance and Medicare numbers. It’s a lot of info, but very necessary to keep handy.

P.S. Thank you so much for your daily ideas.

— Howard Zeff, Mission Viejo

Send a great hint to Heloise@Heloise.com.