The Laundromat Matron

Do I look like a Laundromat Matron? I don’t feel like one but yesterday as I enjoyed the quiet of being the only customer in the local Laundromat a gentleman comes in with one load of laundry to do.  He began with “Does internet work in here?” and he kept on until I was gone. 

“Which washer is the best one?”

“How much does it cost?”

“How long does the washer run?”

“Are any of the dryers better than the others?”

“How long does the dryer take?”

Do you think he was hitting on me or do I just look like a Laundromat Matron sitting reading my book?  I am surprised he just ask me to do it all for him!

Gumbling and Groaning

I am still trying to figure out why I dislike Laundromats so much.  I had to go to one today and it puts me in such a sour mood. 

There were three machines available when I arrived.  I would have preferred four but they were pretty large so all of my laundry did fit.  There were a few old men hanging out and I was really glad when none of them wanted to have a conversation with me.  Once I had everything loaded I went in search of a place to hang out. 

We are at an “RV Resort” so the Laundromat is next to the pool – again.  But this time it was early in the day and no one was there so I found myself a shady picnic bench and settled in with my book.

Next thing I know the place is filling up with old people in swimsuits….not a pleasant sight even if I am one of them.  They were all there for pool exercise and soon the CD player was leading them in movement.  It was distracting.  And the dogs in the dog run were barking and the people taking group tennis lessons were bouncing balls all over the place.

Now normally these things wouldn’t have bothered me but I get irritable when at a Laundromat.  So, I went back inside to await the dryers to finish.  (It had been necessary to crowd all of my laundry into 2 dryers because all those old men were using the rest of the machines).

I began folding on one of the two tables and then one of the old men started folding on my table.  Irritating again.

Finally I finished and got home with over a week’s worth of clothes and towels to deal with.  I put on some nice music and am calming now.  Thanks for listening to me whine!!

Bright and Shiny

I wish I was still feeling the frustration that I felt earlier today because then you could feel like you were there with me.  I have recovered and my laundry is done for the week and I am relaxing – but that wasn’t the case earlier today.

I used the public showers at our RV park this morning and when I finished I checked out the Laundromat.  It was empty and shiny and bright and clean.  What a pleasure!  I went back to the rig and began to sort my dirty laundry and collect my quarters and detergent.  Then I enlisted the help of my husband to carry it over to the Laundromat.  Darn, I had 3 loads and in my absence someone had put their laundry in and there were only 2 empty machines.  I grumbled and groaned and then excused my assistant.

I opened the two machines and loaded them up, knowing I would have to come back later to start the remaining bag of dirty laundry.  Then I started trying to figure out where and how to insert the quarters.  It didn’t take too long to realize that quarters were not used.  I started reading every sign in the room that I could find and finally I saw it - instructions telling me that I had to go to the main office and buy a special card to use.  So, my 2 loads were ready to go and I had to leave them and walk all the way to the office.  When I walked away I saw someone heading there with his arms loaded with bedding.  I sort of panicked that he would take mine out and put his in.

The lady in the office said I would have to pay a deposit of $5 just to use the card plus whatever I thought I would need for my wash.  I purchased a card.

When I got back, my luck had changed.  The man with the bedding was nowhere in sight and someone had moved their clothes into the dryers so now I had 3 machines to use and all was right with the world again. 

I really need to learn to just have fun with this laundry stuff. It all works out.

Cross Town Laundry

Meridian, MS

We are staying in an RV park that we didn't plan to be in and also didn't plan to stay so long.  Our plans changed, the place we wanted couldn't fit us in so we came here.  We tried to leave but got stuck in one of their muddy sink holes.  So here we are and I couldn't put off doing the laundry any longer...I was running out of clothes.

So Kirby helped me load up the clothes and we went to the RV Park laundromat.  When we found it, there was a sign on the door stating the machines were broken and to use their second laundry building.  We followed the directions and when we got there, there were only 2 washers that worked.  I had 4 loads to do.  So, on to Plan B.  We returned home, got on the intranet and looked up laundromats in the area.

I made a list of 3 or 4 and we got in the truck and I plugged the first one into the GPS.  Four miles later we were driving in circles looking for this little place.  GPS kept telling us we were there but we still couldn't find it.  Finally, we were pointed the right direction to be able to see it!


It really wasn't too bad.  A little cramped and expensive but the machines worked fine and when I got home and went through my stuff I had 2 more hand towels than I went there with.  I have no idea where they came from.

Open Air!

A new Laundromat today!!  We are at the KOA in Ladson, SC and glad that it is a warm day.  As you can see from the picture, this laundromat is pretty much open air!  There were enough machines but none of the dryers matched and they were pretty old.  It was amazingly uneventful doing my four loads and I was grateful for the folding table - which was covered with yellow pollen!  Our RV is parked just across the road so it was easy to get there and no one to wait on.  In and out in an hour.  Pretty cool!  But did I mention that I spent $14 on those 4 loads of wash?!

Last Time at Oak Plantation

We have an appointment tomorrow and on Saturday we will be leaving Oak Plantation Campground and going to Buck Hall Recreation Center where there is no laundromat.  So today I knew I had better do the wash.

We ran errands in the morning and then after lunch I asked Kirby to help me take the bags of dirty clothes over.  It is close and we can walk but I couldn't carry it all.  He was in the middle of taxes and asked for a few more minutes.  In that few minutes the same lady as last week showed up at the laundromat (I can see it from my RV).  I know she leaves and doesn't come back very soon.  So we decided to wait a few more minutes and darned if someone else didn't show up so I missed my opportunity!

Kirby had an appointment today also (for a massage!) so he helped me out and then left.  I finally got it all going in 3 machines and there was only one washer ahead of me now for the 2 dryers.  Her load was about finished so I gave her extra time and then went to put my wash in the dryers only to find out that she had feed lots and lots of quarters into her dryer and left for an hour to an hour and a half!  More waiting.

So - laundry took extra time today!  And when I did finally finish, Kirby was still gone so I had to make two trips carrying all the nice clean clothes.  Not an exciting story - just what happens when you use a laundromat!

Week 4

Not a thing to report!  Laundry was laundry.  Only exciting thing that happened this week was the appearance of Kirby and Jake in my doorway while I was reading.  Scared the heck out of me!  I went during mid day and decided I liked it much better than first thing in the morning.  First thing in the morning is a rather depressing way to begin a day!  And - Kirby promised to do the sheets during the week so I didn't do them.  One less load!  Ah, the simple pleasures!  See you next week!