Thanks, Linda. I was actually just wondering how the time difference worked out for Tokyo. You saved me the internet search for "world time zone maps." I have an astonishing amount of clean laundry right now. It's still in my car. And I've officially lost my mind under the strain of excitement and nervousness. Here's a rundown of what I did last night: 6:30 p.m. -- Go to laundromat. Haul in 6 garbage bags filled with garments. Procure thousands of quarters. Realize have forgotten laundry detergent. Buy 7 packets of laundry detergent (total = $3.50) from laundromat vending machine, then wondered why the hell I didn't just walk across the street to the grocery store and buy a bottle of detergent. Curse self for stupidity. Sort laundry. Laundromat is fairly empty aside from six or seven people speaking Spanish and attendant (mid-60s African-American man sitting behind counter muttering at Headline News Channel broadcast). Begin loading laundry into assorted machines. Suddenly, attendant stands and rushes to my side. He is upset because I am not using sequential machines, but rather the machines in row that are not marked "Out of Order" or filled with someone else's now-complete-cycled laundry. Attendant begins ranting about people who "leave their laundry unattended," grabs laundry cart, and unloads abandoned, damp laundry in very "that'll show 'em," self-satisfied manner. Orders me to use newly-vacated machines instead of machines in opposite row. Decide to obey, as is not good idea to trifle with those who are criminally insane. Go back to loading laundry. Five or so minutes pass. Attendant is suddenly at my side again, angrily explaining to me that if I was going to do that much laundry, why the hell didn't I save myself some money and use the "triple-loader" machines instead of the "single-loaders." Consider explaining to man that I am making some attempt to sort laundry according to color and/or fabric, but ultimately remember vow to not anger man. Deposit remainder of laundry (contents include socks, cotton underpants, tshirts, silk blouse, velvet skirt, jeans, sweaters, and assorted additional items that clearly do not belong in the same load) into triple-loader to avoid sending man into schizophrenic frenzy. 90 minutes later, while folding now-dry-and-clean laundry, am accosted by man selling video tapes out of cardboard box. Do not want to buy movies from man with cardboard box. Manage to get rid of him. Leave laundromat at 8:30 p.m. Had promised housemates that I would stop at grocery store to rectify fact that household is devoid of both coffee creamer and toilet paper. Go to Super KMart after brief stop at local mall to peruse Kaufmann's clearance items. Try on a few things. All items make me look like squash speared on toothpicks. Leave mall in typical female "oh-god-i-am-so-fat-and-the-fashion-industry-can-go-to-hell" huff. Super KMart purchases: bread, milk, pair of trouser socks, coffee creamer, giant 20-roll package of toilet paper, camouflage-print tank top (it was on sale. i couldn't help it.), new razor (have lost mine) with accompanying blades (blades ($5.99) cost more than razor ($2.99) -- WHY???), cigarettes, bottle of wine, enzymatic animal odor removal solution, large 6-roll pack of paper towels. Also threw in two new pillows (current pillows are old and flat and offer roughly same cranial support as sleeping with head on pancake.) and pillowcases, all of which were part of the "Martha Stewart Collection." Was very angry about this. Did not want to give money to Evil Martha Stewart Regime. But had to admit that $15.50 for two pillows and two pillowcases was pretty good deal. Got home at 10:30. Went to bed. This morning, could not find coffee creamer I purchased last night. Checked whole house and car. Nothing. How on earth did I manage to lose two containers of coffee creamer between KMart, my car, and my house???
posted by Kate at 10:04 AM link/comments
