Tag Archives: laundry

Adventures in Laundry

Posted on November 17, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought I would give my readers an update on the washer/drier adventure I had on Saturday. As I mentioned in Saturday’s post, a work friend sold me his old washer and drier at a very attractive price. Saturday was the day to go get it, and several family members came over to help and/or point and laugh.

The original plan had been for Steven and me to go get the appliances after he got done work at 2:30. I had had some vague thoughts of going earlier by myself but thought better muscles than mine might be a good idea. My sister Cheryl had expressed an interest in going to the Herkimer College Craft Fair, which was that day. Since I was hoping my Dad would help us install the things and my nephew Dan might help us get them down the basement stairs, I suggested a family party. For one reason, my Mom and niece Dana would probably like to go to the Craft Fair, and Dana would have to bring my delightful great nephew Shepherd. I just can’t get enough of little Sheppie.

It was not until Saturday morning that Cheryl had the excellent idea that Dan accompany me to get the appliance so that it would not be so late by the time we were installing them. I greatly appreciated that thought, since I had to be at Ilion Little Theatre around six for Lunch Hour (remember that? I’ve only mentioned it several dozen times).

Driving out to get the washer and drier was an adventure in itself. My work friend lives way out in the country, near East Winfield. We took the twisty, hilly Route 51 out of Ilion. It’s always fun to drive these country roads, and in some places the views are magnificent. Saturday the views were not seen at their best, because of rain and, oh dear, snow, but we enjoyed what we could see.

After returning with the washer and drier, we had the fun of maneuvering them into the house and down the basement stairs. I was glad to have the help of several family members, because I am not much help in these situations. I was helpful enough to make coffee at least. Then I enjoyed some time with Shepherd while Dad and Steven worked on getting the appliances hooked up.

I wanted to feed my helpers so called Salvatore’s and ordered pizza. They came through with their usual prompt, polite delivery of delicious food. Before we enjoyed the pizza, Steven and Dad ran into a couple of problems with the drier. Steven had to run out and get a new clamp for the hose.

I put in a small load of laundry to test the washer. When we had previously had a washer (before the flood of 2013), we had a slight problem with overflow when it emptied. Dad brought his snake and snaked the pipe. Alas, it was not the miracle we were hoping for. I felt that mopping the floor was a small price to pay for in-house laundry, but Dad cleverly solved the problem by moving the hose so the washer could empty into the sink instead of the uncooperative pipe.

That problem taken care of, we discovered that the drier plug did not fit our outlet. Undaunted, I carried the clean laundry upstairs and found places to hang everything. For sunny days I have a clothesline, but Saturday was not. Dad drew a diagram of the plug needed and showed Steven how to install it. We made plans to take care of that little chore on Sunday.

I cannot express how happy I feel to be able to have clean clothes without an expedition to the laundromat. Sometimes it is almost worth it to go through the stress and pain of not having something in order to savor the joy when you get it back. I say ALMOST. In any case, it made a nice little Mohawk Valley adventure to fetch and install our new (to us) washer and drier, especially as some of my favorite family members were involved (not that I play favorites amongst my family — don’t get jealous, other family members who might be reading this) (oh yeah, like my family bothers to read my blog).

Or I Could Write a Better Blog Post

Posted on February 21, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

I feel less ill than I felt yesterday, yet more ill than I felt this morning. However, I am not making this post to whine about my ills (although, as I pointed out yesterday, a sorrow shared is a sorrow halved), but to tell the rest of the story I began yesterday. I think that will work for Lame Post Friday.

To re-cap for those just tuning in: I was at work. I was supposed to do laundry after work but had forgotten detergent and quarters. I called my husband Steven on my first break. I laid out what I saw as my options:

“I can go home, upset the dog, get the detergent and quarters, get a late start on the laundry. That would have the advantage that the detergent definitely would not be frozen.” With the weather we have been having lately, that is a concern. “Or, I can go to the ATM and get some money out.” After all, it was payday, there should be money in the bank. “Or, I can go to Wal-Mart, buy socks and underwear, and bag laundry till next week.”

“Do that,” Steven said. Do I have the world’s best husband or what?

I called my house a few hours later, leaving a message I hoped Steven would get on his lunch break. I told him I was going straight home and to bed after work. I would go commando and find some socks somewhere for Friday. It’s not that I need to inform my husband of my every move. Only I was sure he expected me to stop by his place of employment and say hi after I had purchased the underwear.

I hope none of my followers are hitting the “stop following” button because I’ve been talking about my underwear. This isn’t usually that sort of a blog. I’m sure I’ll feel better tomorrow and write a nice blog post. Happy Friday, everyone.

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Posted in humor, Lame Post Friday, personal and tagged blog post, blogging, health, ill, laundry, underwear. Bookmark the permalink.

Not Exactly Armani

Posted on January 21, 2015 by mohawkvalleygirl

One of my first stops on my busy day Saturday was the Salvation Army Thrift Store in Ilion or, as I like to call it, Salvation Armani (full disclosure: I did not think of that myself; I stole it from a lady who wears thrift store finds with as much panache as if they were Armani). I wanted two more skirts and possibly a blouse for my character (I believe I’ve mentioned I’m in a play).

I play a crazy old lady. I wore one of my own skirts for rehearsal and some people in the cast declared it perfect for my character. Cue jokes about my wardrobe and crazy old ladies, but you won’t make me laugh. I know it was type casting. The skirt is a colorful, voluminous affair. I hoped to find a couple more that were similar. I had flowers in mind, but anything big and bright would do.

I walked down the skirt aisle, at first seeing nothing then throwing several possibilities over my arm. The first one was black and white checks. I wasn’t in love with it but thought at least the shape looked OK. Guess which was the only one that fit me.

Actually, that’s not true. A few of them fit OK but seemed wrong for one reason or another. Additionally, I wanted to purchase something I would be likely to wear myself, in case it didn’t work out for the play. The black and white checks were growing on me. And the skirt had pockets, one of my favorite features.

I also went through the jumpers and dresses. One dress I tried on might have worked, but no way on earth would I have worn it in real life. I put it back on the rack. I thought, two skirts would be all right. I could wear the same thing in Acts I and III. People often repeat outfits in real life. Hell, I wear the same skanky BDU pants to work every day (and you needn’t say TMI; how can it be too much information when EVERYBODY already knows).

A search for props was fruitless, but I quite by accident found a book about Queen Elizabeth I. Score! I love that period of history. I quickly glanced through the other books but with no further luck.

At the checkout I paid with my bank card, chattily telling the clerk I needed my cash for the laundromat. This led to a conversation about laundry in which another customer told me that bleaching my whites would eventually cause them to yellow.

“Use Oxyclean,” she advised. “Or baking soda.”

“Baking soda is a miracle drug,” I said.

“I clean everything with it,” the clerk volunteered.

“I brush my teeth with it,” I shared.

“That’s right! You can brush your teeth with it.”

We parted friends. This is how I like to shop.

The Salvation Army Thrift Store is located at 164 W. Main St., Ilion, NY. Phone number is 315-894-9028.

Tsk-Tsk Tuesday

Posted on February 26, 2014 by mohawkvalleygirl

Note to Self: When planning to do laundry after work, write two blog posts the day before, so you only have to hit “Publish” after doing laundry.

Note back: Yeah, good luck with that.

Yes, it is another Tired Tuesday, and I knew it would be. I tried to have a Mohawk Valley adventure yesterday after work, but the exhibit I had thought to visit had closed on the 20th. Let that be a lesson to me to pay more attention to dates when I see these things in the paper. In my defense… OK, there’s really no excuse. Go ahead and make that tsk-tsk noise at me, if that’s what you were about to do.

I had thought to patronize a couple of local businesses before and after doing laundry. Doing laundry itself is, of course, always an adventure, but not always one worth writing about. We did stop by one place, but I neglected to make a note of hours, phone number or other useful things I like to include. Perhaps I could find out this information and use it in a future post.

My novel limps along. I’ve been working on that during breaks at work, rather than trying to come up with stuff to write here. I’m thinking when the novel starts to progress a little better, the blog posts will improve too. We’ll hope for the best.

In the meantime, here is another fairly ridiculous post and I feel too tired to come up with anything better. Please stay with me, dear reader. I’m sure better days are coming.

At Least I Have Clean Socks

Posted on August 28, 2013 by mohawkvalleygirl

I was going to put “Underwear” instead of “Socks,” but felt certain some wise ass would say, “TMI!” my most loathed and abhorred thing to hear (except, possibly for “We have to talk”) (and now I’ve given myself the heebie-jeebies, just thinking of those two things).

My computer is telling me “heebie-jeebies” is misspelled, but the dictionary says it is correct (I was going to put that in the above paragraph in parentheses, but feared having too many parenthetical comments) (oops).

Where was I? Ah yes, another post on Why I Can’t Write a Post. In today’s case it is another Blogger’s Sick Day, though, because I have a dreadful headache. I will take time to share two things that made the end of my day a little bit brighter.

As you may have guessed by the headline, we did laundry. And we didn’t plan ahead enough to have something in the crock pot waiting for us when we got home. And we didn’t have our act together enough to order something for pick up on the way home. And I was hungry enough to get irritated (oh, all right, I’ll admit it doesn’t take much) (there I go with the parentheses again).

Enter my wonderful husband, Steven. I was going to grudgingly accept the idea of sandwiches when he suggested taking some good rye bread we happen to have and some deli ham and cheese and making grilled sandwiches. How good did that sound! Yummy! How does such a little thing as some time on a frying pan transform pedestrian, blah, at-least-its-food into a tasty treat suitable for blog mention? I don’t know, and it’s not the day for half-baked philosophy, so let’s just enjoy. I did.

I went to check my Facebook notifications before making my blog post and discovered… I won a Croghan Bologna contest! I LOVE Croghan Bologna! I’ve been scheming how to talk Steven into a road trip to or through Croghan, NY to get me some. I know it will make a great blog post.

So my headache is still with me, but my day is brighter. And perhaps by tomorrow my blog will be more interesting. As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

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Posted in blogging, humor, personal and tagged Croghan Bologna, food, headache, laundry. Bookmark the permalink.

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