As I mentiond months ago, we’re gonig through this renovation . . . which thankfully is coming to an end. To see pictures of the early renovation, click here.

Unlike life on the east coast, here our washers and dryers are in our kitchens — or in our case, an alcove called a laundry room. So, of course, as the kitchen is being remodeled, I have no in home laundry.

First, there was the search for a Laundromat. As it turns out, there are no Laundromats here — just Coin Laundries. The ‘Laundromat’ is a trademarked term owned by White Westinghouse. It was brought into our lexicon in the late 1930s. Well, that was lesson number one.

Second, I realized that the best thing I ever did was purchas a washer and dryer. Six years ago, when we bought our first house, was the first time in my life I had complete in home laundry service. I tell you — it was a revelation. Not only could I wash clothes (naked, if I wanted), but I could wash them any time of day or night. No longer did I have to share a laundry and time it so I could move fast enough to make sure my wet laundry didn’t get dumped on the floor. No longer did I have to deal with dryers which superheated my laundry and reduce my elastisized underwear to shreds.

So, it was ironic, that I had to bundle my dirty clothes into my car and seek out a laundry. I ended up in coin laundry rich Hollywood.

In the fifteen years, since I was at a laundry, things haven’t changed much. The cost to wash your clothes is still way to high — $1.25 per load. The washing machines are still super small. The dryers are still too hot, and now instead of taking dimes, they take quarters — each quarter for ten minutes, no less.

They’re still filled with college students, young actors, and homeless people. There’s still nothing to amuse you there — no where to sit — no television. Just elevator (or laundry) music.

People have asked me again and again, how was life with no kitchen. I’m telling you, it’s not bad. With prepared foods from Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods, and a mircowave and coffee maker (for tea) — it’s really just fine. It’s the lack of laundry that was far worse.

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