A Good Day

It's a good day,
the laundry is folded
and put away--
at least for a day or two.

It's a good day,
the wind chill factor
is within a tolerable level,
at least while wearing
a hoodie and a wool sweater.


Visit My Portfolio @ Writing.Com

Midweek Reflections on Socks and Laundry

Idal (Justice), 4 ‘Aẓamat (Grandeur), 172 BE - Wednesday, May 20, 2015 8:44 am Pacific Daylight Time

I washed my socks out
today in the bathroom sink
using laundry detergent.

It is unusual for me to wash my socks out using laundry detergent because normally I use either shampoo or dish washing liquid. When I returned home from the laundromat yesterday, I brought the open jug of laundry detergent into the house. Usually I leave the detergent in the car because I don't have a washer or dryer in my apartment and it's easier to keep the laundry soap in the car rather then find a place to store it in my studio apartment.

As I washed my socks
I contemplated the metaphor
of laundry and the meaning of life.

I didn't take my dirty socks to the laundromat because I usually lose one in either the washer or the dryer. When I wrung my wet socks out, after the second rinse, I noticed that I had five socks. Since I wear two socks at a time, this meas I am missing a sock. I guess it doesn't matter where I wash my socks because I'm probably going to end up with missing a sock.

Where do lost socks go
when you lose them in the wash?
Do monsters eat them?

Since I only managed to do half the laundry yesterday, I'll have to do laundry again this month. I'll plan another trip to the laundromat next week sometime. Of course, I could change my mind and go on Thursday of Friday of this week.

Things I’m Tired of

Jamál (Beauty), 6 Sharaf (Honor), 170 BE – Sunday, January 05, 2014 about 10:46 am Pacific Standard Time

These are some of the things I’m tired of dong...

1. ...washing dishes by hand everyday, I want a working dishwasher. Sometimes I enjoy washing dishes the old fashion way and sometimes I would like to put them in the dishwasher and wash them once every two or three days.

2. ...doing laundry everyday, I would like to do laundry once or twice a week, even if it meant going to a laundromat (which I’m usually not crazy about doing).

These are some of the things I’m tired of...

1. ...high power bills, because I’m on a fixed income and it’s difficult to pay them.

2. ...taking a bath in a cold bathroom because I’m attempt to keep the power bills down (I don’t think it’s working).

3. ...living in a house that is too big for me to take care off and feeling like a failure because I can’t keep it clean.

4. ...dentures that need relining when I can’t afford to have them relines.

5. ...having a bad hair day everyday because I need my hair done and can’t afford it because of the high power and other utility bills.

6. ...hearing weird noises that I can’t identify coming from inside or outside the house.

A Productive Friday Morning

Istiqlál (Independence), 16 Masá’il (Questions), 170 BE - Friday, December 27, 2013 about 10:44 am Pacific Standard Time

It's been a productive Friday morning. I finished the last of the leftover coffee a few minutes ago and, right now, I'm sipping it while composing this entry. I found the canister containing my teabags and wrapped candy, so I placed it next to the coffee maker. I finally reset the clock on the microwave, so now it's close to the actual time on my cellphone.

Things I still have to do. I have to finish setting up the coffee maker for morning by filling the water tank and putting fresh grounds in the basket. I also have to do the morning dishes, but I need to do a room check before I start that because I don't want to find any stray dishes, cups, or flatware when the dishes are washed and sitting clean beside the sink. I also have to do a load of laundry, but I'm going to have to do a room check before I start the machine.

If I wait until starting the washing machine before I do the room check then I end up leaving the lid open through the entire wash cycle and have to run the clothes through again. If I don't do a room check before starting the dishes then I usually end up finding stray flatware or cups in the living room, next to the compute, or sitting beside the coffee maker.

Monday's Changing Plans

Kamál (Perfection), 12 Masá’il (Questions), 170 BE - Monday, December 23, 2013 about 10:30 am Pacific Standard Time

Monday's plans have changed again. All this month, I've planned to go somewhere on Monday, but come Monday morning my plans change. This morning, as every other Monday morning, it changed because of laundry. I still have one or two more loads to wash, if I can find something to use as laundry detergent.

I'm out of laundry detergent. I'm out of the other soap I was using as laundry detergent. The only thing I have left is some old bottles of shampoo (at least I think that's all I have left). I'm not sure about using it because I think I was allergic to the shampoo in those bottles, which is why I still have them leftover. As soon as the other computer finishes its virus scan, I'll check my checking account to see if (by some miracle) I have enough money in it to purchase laundry soap.

If I can't purchase soap this afternoon, then I'll just have to wait for a few days until I can figure out where to get the money. I know this is my own fault because the only time I run out of laundry soap is when I don't buy it at the first of the month. Unfortunately, I may have to wait until after January 1, 2014 to purchase laundry detergent.

Monday, Monday

Kamál (Perfection), 10 Sulṭán (Sovereignty), 169 B.E. - Monday, January 28, 2013 about 11:55 A.M. Pacific Time

I remember a song from my youth with the words "Monday, Monday," the next words said something about not liking Monday. I think the Beatles recorded it, but that is all I remember about the song. I wish I could remember more because today I would like to sing that song.

This morning I did a load of laundry, when I went to take the clothes out of the washer they were still very wet. This has happened before, that event was cause by the cord from a pair of slacks got tangled around the agitator. I thought that was the problem this morning; however, when I emptied the washer nothing had gotten tangled. The other possibility is that the load was unbalanced.

If the problem was not caused by an unbalanced load, then I have to call a repairman to fix it. I am not looking forward to that because I will have to wait until after February 4th when my check comes in. That means I have to be extremely careful with the clothes I have and not get anything on them because I do not have the time or the money to go to the laundromat. I still have two or three of Mom's adult bibs in the house, so I may begin wearing those when I eat, just to be on the safe side.

Midweek Reflections on Laundry in Las Vegas

I have decided to do laundry at night. I can put in a load of clothes or sheets before going to bed and take them out in the morning. There was a time when I did not like to do this, but not anymore. It is easier to do a load of laundry every night then it is to do laundry during the day. It might be different if I hung my clothes on the line outside instead of over furniture.

I need to purchase a dryer, but if I do that I have to buy a new one and I do not think we can afford that at this time. A used dryer would be nice, but if I buy one then I have to figure out how to get it home and in the house. A clothes dryer is too big to put in the backseat or trunk of my Kia and I do not have a truck. Even if I did have a truck, I would still have to figure out how to get it into the house.

Doing laundry at night is all right. It is a lot better then doing housework at night. I think I will put in a load of sheets tonight. Then tomorrow I will wash a load of towels. If I wash one load of clothes and hang them across furniture to dry then I can at least keep up with the laundry easily.

Thankful Thursday: My washing machine works

Istijlál (Majesty), 9 Bahá (Splendor), 169 BE – Thursday, March 29, 2012 about 2:03 PM Pacific Time

I think I have posted this before; however, I did laundry today. It is so nice to have a washing machine in the house that works and does not overflow the pipes in the spin cycle. Every time I do laundry, I give thanks for having a washing machine in the house.

I always took the washing machine in the house for granted until had to go to the laundromat. True, going to the laundromat has its advantages. You do not have to hang clothes on an outside line or a drying rack inside the house. The advantage of having a washing machine in the house is the ability to do laundry everyday.

If you do laundry everyday,

it does not pile up

and you can fold put it away as soon as it dries.

If you do laundry everyday,

you can multitask

while the laundry is in the washer.

Family History Friday: My Grandmother’s electric washer

Istiqlál (Independence), 8 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 168 BE – Friday, March 9, 2012 about 11:35 AM Pacific Time

I remember the first electric washing machine I ever saw. It sat in my Grandma Newland’s laundry room. It was not like the automatic washer I use today; Grandma’s washer agitated the dirty clothes, but did not rinse the clothes. Instead, Grandma would take the clothes out of the wash water, put them in a wringer, squeeze the water out, and then put the clothes through the first rinse.

Grandma rinsed her clothes in huge aluminum tubes. Grandma put her clothes through two rinses. After taking the clothes out of the washer and wringing the soapy water out of them, she put them in hot water to rinse the rest out the rest of the soap. After that, she put the clothes through the wringer a second time to squeeze water out of them and then put them in the second rinse.

In the second rinse, Grandma added several drops of “bluing”. She did this to make the clothes whiter, I am not sure how the bluing worked; however, it did work because the white shirts looked nicer and whiter after they came out of the second rinse. After Grandma took the clothes out of the second rinse and put them through the wringer again, she would hang them on the clothesline to dry.

I helped Grandma with the laundry sometimes, especially on Saturday. Grandma would stand right beside me when I went to use the wringer. She always cautioned me not be careful about getting my hand caught in it. I never did get my hand caught.

Thankful Thursday: Today I am thankful that my washing machine does not flood my living room

Istijlál (Majesty), 1 Sultán (Sovereignty), 168 BE – Thursday, January 19, 2012 about 2:45 PM Pacific Time

All right, perhaps “flood my living room” is an overstatement. The drainpipes overflowed during the spin cycle. It wasn’t enough water to flood the living room, but after two or three loads that’s what it felt like.

A plumber fixed the pipes on Tuesday and now they don’t overflow during the spin cycle. I washed two loads Tuesday evening and four or five loads on Wednesday. Today, I have only managed to wash three loads, but that was because I had a medical appointment this morning.

It is cloudy outside, so I’m hanging the clothes indoors on the drying rack. I have to catch up on the washing, so I have to hang them indoors. The clothes don’t dry as quickly indoors as outside, but I have to do laundry and I can’t wait for the clouds to clear.

I am thankful that the water doesn’t overflow the drainpipes in the spin cycle. Now I can wash my sheets without using them to soak up the water in my living room. It feels good not to have to worry about water in the living room. Since I’m drying my clothes in the house, I have to figure out a way to dry the sheets indoors. It is difficult to dry sheets on a drying rack meant to hold clothes on hangers.

Midweek Reflections on Laundry

‘Idál (Justice), 19 Sharaf (Honor), 168 BE – Wednesday, January 18, 2012 about 6:45 AM Pacific Time

The plumber worked on the pipes behind the washer yesterday. He fixed them so that they drain properly when the washing machine is in the spin cycle and releasing water. I can now catch up on the laundry.

I’m not sure how long it will take to catch up completely. I have about five baskets of dirty clothes waiting. In addition, several items lay over a chair in Mom’s room I have to check to determine if they are clean or dirty. However, those will have to wait because I want to get the clothes in the laundry baskets washed first.

Since I don’t have a dryer, I have to hang the clothes in the house or on the line. The only clothes I’m hanging on the line are sheets, I like the way sheets smell when they dry outside. The problem is that I can only hang four at a time and these short days that means I can only wash four sheets and I have more then that to catch up.

In the spin cycle

The washer sings morning’s song

A new day begun

A bright and beautiful Monday morning in Las Vegas

Kamál (Perfection), 8 Masá’il (Questions), 168 BE – Monday, December 19, 2011 about 9:50 AM Pacific Time

The clouds are gone, the sun is shining, and there is no rain predicted for today. I can hang the bed sheets on the line today instead of draping the wet sheets over furniture to dry in the house. It rained on the weekend, but I still had laundry to do. If I do not wash one or two loads, a day I get behind and I cannot take wet clothes to a laundromat.

I just finish hanging the sheets out and I am out of breath. I remember helping Grandma hang clothes on the line. I do not remember either Grandma or me getting out of breath from hanging four sheets on the line. Of course, when I helped Grandma I was a child and in better health. Apparently, Grandma was in better health at 64 then I am.

Today it was easier walking and carrying a clothesbasket outside then last week, so the meds my doctors prescribed are working. In addition, my leg is feeling better and looking better. However, I need to increase my stamina so that I do not get out of breath easily. Perhaps I need to join a gym to build up my stamina because doing laundry does not appear to be doing the job. I will have to talk to my primary care physician when I see her again in January.

The sun finally made an appearance in Las Vegas

Fidál (Grace), 2 Masá’il (Questions), 168 BE – Tuesday, December 13, 2011 about 1:25 PM Pacific Time

The sun finally made an appearance. There are still clouds, but I can see sun and blue sky between the clouds. The sun should dry up the puddle in my driveway quickly. I am doing laundry and hanging the clothes on a drying rack.

I do not intend to hang clothes out today. There are still too many clouds for that. I want the clothes to dry and I think they will do that faster in the house then outside. In addition, carrying a laundry basket full of wet clothes outside is no appealing.

I am thankful that I do not have to go to the laundromat any more. At home I can do the wash clothes between writing or doing housework. If I go to the laundromat, I am limited reading, doing puzzles, or dozing while my clothes wash. In addition, I have to do all the dirty clothes at once. At home, I can do small loads between other jobs.

The only thing I want here at home is an electric clothes dryer. At this point, it is difficult to walk to the clothesline carrying a basket full of wet clothes. Lately, the only clothes I have hung on the line is bed linen, the other things I have hung on the drying rack. I suppose by the time I can afford an automatic dryer it will be summer or my leg will be healed and then it will not matter if I hang clothes outside or dry them in the dryer.

Hanging Laundry outside in Autumn

Jamál (Beauty), 5 Qawl (Speech), 168 BE – Sunday, November 27, 2011 about 2:05 PM Pacific Time

It’s autumn and I have to hang wet laundry outside. I remember my grandmother hanging cloths outside, I always wondered why she got started doing laundry so early in fall and winter now I know. The days are so short that one is lucky to if the cloths dry.

Saturday and Sunday, I washed bed sheets and hung them out. On Saturday, I hung four sheets out (I am only washing small loads) and they were dry before noon. So today, I hung out eight sheets, which dried before noon. I figure I can wash three or four small loads and they will dry (depending on the cloths) before sunset.

I can use my washing machine at home, so I am finally catching up on the laundry. If I washed larger loads, I could catch up faster if I washed larger loads, but I have to work with my physical condition and other work I have to complete. The three or four small loads allows me do the laundry without wearing myself out. It also allows me to time my work while I am online or writing because I have to stop and add the fabric softener to washing machine.

Laundry Day in Las Vegas

Kamál (Perfection), 4 Qudrat (Power), 167 BE – Monday, November 7, 2011 about 3:12 PM Pacific Time

It’s Monday afternoon and the only thing I accomplished this morning was laundry. It took me 2 ½ hours to do three loads of laundry. The only cloths I washed today were mine. I still have some of Mom’s to do, but that will have to wait until Thursday. I still can’t use the washer here at home because it needs a sleeve to prevent the water from over flowing into the wall during the spin cycle.

I could get a lot more accomplished at home if I could do laundry here. I could do one or two loads a day and hang them on the line. I have a wonderful cloths line in my backyard. It’s circular and turns so that I can stand in one spot and hang cloths out.

I like the scent of cloths dried out doors. I remember my grandmother always hung her cloths outside to dry. They smelled so nice and fresh. I use fabric softener; however, I can’t use the fabric softener. When I hang cloths outside they have a nice aroma without using a scented laundry detergent or fabric softener.

How to wear yourself out in Las Vegas

Fidál (Grace), 15 Mashíyyat (Will), 167 BE – Tuesday, October 11, 2011 about 1:35 PM Pacific Time

How do you wear yourself out in Las Vegas? Go to the store and laundromat in the same day. I bet you thought I was going to write something about going to one of the hotel-casinos to see a show or do something else. I just got back from washing three baskets of cloths. Before I took the baskets to the laundromat, I stopped at Walgreens to pick up a couple of prescriptions for my Mother.

I am tired, worn out and sleepy. As I write this, I am yawning. I still have to go to the grocery store and wash four more baskets of laundry this week. No, the pipes behind my washing machine are not fixed, which means I have to take all my dirty cloths to the laundromat. Up until today, my physical limit was three baskets of cloths. I am changing that, especially if I have to go to a store before or after I go to the laundromat. Since I have rested a little, I will post this entry and bring the clean cloths into the house.


I still have to lug three baskets of clean cloths into the house and fold the sheets. All right, I realized when I folded the towels that I had reached my physical limit and would have to bring the sheets home without folding them. I do not like to do this, but there is a limit to how much laundry I can finish in a single day at the laundromat. Tomorrow, I will wash only two baskets of cloths before going to the grocery store.

Laundry Day in Las Vegas

Istiqlál (Independence), 11 Mashíyyat (Will), 167 BE – Thursday, October 6, 2011 about 7:30 PM Pacific Time

Thursday was laundry day. I took three baskets to the laundromat and it took me all morning to wash, dry, and fold them. I had just enough detergent to do the three loads. Tomorrow I have to go to the store for more detergent. Then I have to go to the laundromat again and do three more loads. I should also go to the bank and get some more quarters.

I am tired of going to the laundromat. The only thing I enjoy there is the soda machine because it contains cans of mango juice. Every time I go to the laundromat, I buy a can of mango juice and drink it while I wait for the cloths to wash.

I found a great deodorizer for my car

Fidál (Grace), 11 Asmá’ (Names), 167 BE – Tuesday, August 30, 2011 about 11:45 AM Pacific Time

After I went to the laundromat the other day, I left the bottle of fabric softener sit in the car. I carried all three baskets in the house. I then went back to the car to roll up the windows and lock the doors. The fabric softener and laundry soap sit in the front seat on the passenger side, so I left them both sitting there. When I went back to the car, I could smell the fabric softener rather then my usual weird car smell. Perhaps I should buy a small bottle of fabric softener just to keep in my car.

The choice between laundry and fresh vegetables

Jamál (Beauty), 14 Kamál (Perfection), 167 BE – Sunday, August 14, 2011 about 9:30 AM Pacific Time

The choice this month is washing laundry and having fresh vegetables on the table. I know that sounds like a weird choice to have to make, but that is the choice. There is enough money in one account to pay the Power bill and go to the laundromat or buy fresh vegetables.

I like fresh vegetables and my mother likes them, we also like to have clean cloths. In the refrigerator, I have a bag of celery, a head of cabbage, two zucchini, and an individual watermelon. In the freezer, I have lima beans, green beans, corn, and a bag of beans. I might be able to spread those items over a week, depending on how hungry Mom and I get during that week. After that, my only option is to use canned vegetables for the rest of the month and probably next month as well.

I will pay the power bill online and then on Monday or Tuesday, I will go to the bank and get $20.00 to do the laundry. Considering I will have about four basket of laundry by then, it will mean going to the laundromat two days this week. I will be so glad when the drainpipe behind the washer is fixed because then I can do laundry at home.

A new week begins in Las Vegas

Jamál (Beauty), 19 Kalimát (Words), 167 BE – Sunday, July 31, 2011 about 2:38 PM Pacific Time

I new week begins, a new chance to achieve my writing goals and my housekeeping goals. I have a full week planned, four of those days I have to leave the house. On Tuesday and Thursday, I have laundry to do. I realized today, when I started gathered our cloths in the laundry baskets, I would have to spend two days at the laundromat.

I hope two days is all I have to spend washing cloths because I have other things to do beside laundry. If I do laundry in the morning, then I have a little time before Mom comes home. I do not accomplish much after Mom gets home, at least not while she is awake. After Mom goes to bed, I have a change to get work done.

On Monday, I have an errand to run and then on Wednesday or Friday do some shopping. There is no getting out of the errand or I would stay home all day Monday. Monday is August 1; I like to stay home on the first of the month because I have work online to do. I will get the important stuff accomplished; the rest will have to wait.