Dear Kid,

We’ve now established that there really isn’t anything good about not having a washing machine (except for fab friend Joshua who is looking for a reason to learn how to do laundry in a stream with a rock. Or so he says. But his washing machine is functional, so he may be exaggerating a wee bit.).

In case you weren’t sure, I can now also report that there really isn’t anything good about going washing machine shopping.

I had hoped to walk into the Washing Machine Store, glance around, see the big sign (with an arrow) that said “This Is Your Washing Machine and We’ll Deliver It Tomorrow”, hand over a credit card, and go about my day.

It didn’t work out that way.

Six stores, 4 phone calls, 500 texts, three hours, and 2 cups of coffee later, no decision. But after dinner last evening, Dad and I ordered a washer and dryer. And bought suet for the birds.

The machines won’t be here until Thursday; the birds will be fed later today. And Pi has already lined up some of her friends’ moms to do laundry because she can’t possibly go almost a week without clean clothes.

If you think she doesn’t have a large enough wardrobe, you’d be wrong. If you think she takes crazy good care of her clothes, you’d be wrong. If you think her soccer uniform needs to be washed before playoffs and she can talk people into doing all sorts of things including doing her laundry, you’d have hit the proverbial nail right on its proverbial noggin.

The Puppy is fine with not having his linens washed for a few days. In fact, he says he prefers it that way.

Do not ask if I am thrilled with the new washer and dryer we’ve chosen. Do not ask if my heart is going pitter-pat with anticipation of having new appliances. The answer would not be enlightening. Nor would it set a good example, although you might learn some new words. It’s a washing machine and dryer, not a piece of jewelry or a great pair of shoes.

I’m considering following Joshua’s example and finding a good rock.

Love, Mom

Dear Kid,

I love The Skimm. Love, love, love (and thank you to Auntie C to who introduced us to The Skimm).

But it’s thanks to The Skimm that I now know The World Has Gone Too Far. Khloe Kardashian has a fitness closet.

Not sure I should know anything about Khloe. Not sure I should know she has a fitness closet. But now I do and it has given rise to Some Thoughts.

First of all, how many pairs of fitness shoes can one person have? (Did I really write that?) Even for me, it seems excessive when one individual has more pairs of shoes than DSW. At some point, you just can’t even wear that many in year.

And how many different closets does one person need? What’s more to the point, how do you remember which closet something is in? Hmmm….are my red pants in the red closet or the pants closet?

And how many black sweatshirts does one human need? I counted 18 or so in the picture. Really? Even Pi doesn’t have that many and she seems to have accumulated a ridiculous number of sweatshirts in recent years. Is it possible that Khloe has multiple clothes closets but not one single washing machine? Seems unlikely.

It’s not that I begrudge her excesses (well, not exactly). She can afford it and the sports clothing and closet building industries are grateful for her desire to accumulate and organize. I’m just sort of stunned by it.

I aspire to get to the financial point in life where I have the wherewithal to be able to build and fill such a closet. And I hope that if I ever get to that point I choose to spend my money elsewhere.

Love, Mom

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