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People in laundromats
If you really want to see a cross-section of your community, don't bother with Wal-Mart, go to the laundromats. Particularly if you live in a really cross-cultural area.
I live in a small apartment complex so I can walk to work (most of the time). While there is a laundry room on the premises, it's under-equipped (four washers/dryers, all medium capacity, for 28 units...you do the math) and not terribly convenient, so I generally load up the car and hit the laundromat. It's often a free-for-all in there. Mom brings the kids along and they run wild (I recall going to the laundromat with my mom when I was young, but boy, I had to help her and if I didn't have to, I was expected to behave), people commandeer two or three laundry carts even though all of their clothes are in machines, arguments break out over people encroaching on someone else's "space", etc. Last night really stood out, though. A middle-eastern woman (can't be more specific than that, I didn't recognize the language though she also spoke English) brought her two young sons with her. She allowed them to bring in their little scooters, and they proceeded to race around the place, bumping into people, laundry carts, etc. Her only comment to them was, "Don't go outside." Most of the rest of the people, myself included, kept to themselves, glancing at her with an eye roll or two, but eventually I think someone said something to the management as the kids suddenly stopped riding around. Or maybe one of them ran over her toe... I don't know ME culture, but I'm dumbfounded that such activities wouldn't be frowned on anywhere on the planet. Boys will be boys (and both of these were adorable, just being boys), and it's the responsibility of parents to guide and direct them. Why that mom didn't seem to give a rip I don't know, but I'm going to guess they don't get to act that way at home. Anyway, for true down-to-earth entertainment, save a washload or two and visit your local laundromat. You never know what you'll find...but I can tell you you'll never see a supermodel there. |
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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC] ..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis. |
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BTW you should visit a laundromat in my hood, full of hotties...you would think it's a Victoria Secret Xmas show.
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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue). |
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Nothing but snow and rain up here these days. I've heard the weather is warm and sunny down South about now. I'd been thinking about hopping over to Palm Springs for a little while for a taste of sunshine. But, THAT sounds a lot better. ( ) Plus it's way past time to put my SEC car cover in one of those big HD-type washing machines, and get it taken care of. It's awful dusty. Could be a fun road trip. I like LA weather, and haven't been back since early December I think,
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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ... 1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold) 2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp 1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k 2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold) |
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No boring West Side for this hipster, East Side all the way.
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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue). |
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As interesting as your experience was, I'll guess the laundromats are not on average attendance "a cross-section of your community" or any. Most people seeing poverty in the rear view mirror with some distance seldom attend. In fact making the investment in laundry machines if possible is a long term financial benefit - like not borrowing money and the like. Some better off people use them for the nasty jobs, only. Some because of circumstance like: travel, school, or what ever. I'd bet serious money there is a strong inverse correlation between wealth and attendance. Most people who don't have to attend, do not. Unless you are in Jorn's neighborhood. What was that zipcode again?
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I have an upper class Pakistani/American female acquaintance who complains that at her local mosque the women's section has been taken over by immigrants who have no idea how to discipline their children. She wont go there anymore.
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1977 300d 70k--sold 08 1985 300TD 185k+ 1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03 1985 409d 65k--sold 06 1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car 1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11 1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper 1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4 1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13 |
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Back in 2010 I was renting an apartment and I hadn't yet purchased a washer and dryer so I frequented the laudromat. I was in an area of somewhat older money with nice houses and good schools but also a lot of apartments in the area so the mix of people was good. I never had a bad experience there but I was definitely persuaded to purchase a washer and dryer quicker than I initially planned.
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1984 300SD Orient Red/ Palomino 1989 560SEC 2016 Mazda 6 6 speed manual 1995 Ford F-150 reg cab 4.9 5speed manual |
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Years ago when I live near the U Cal a laundromat I frequented often featured hotties with time on their hands.
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1986 300SDL, 362K 1984 300D, 138K |
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We use laundromats when we travel in our camper. It's a great place to meet the locals and get some insight into the local culture. I remember in particular a very nice older couple we met in the laundromat in Pictou, Nova Scotia.
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1977 300d 70k--sold 08 1985 300TD 185k+ 1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03 1985 409d 65k--sold 06 1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car 1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11 1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper 1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4 1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13 |
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When I first moved to a remote corner of the Navajo Nation, I used to have to drive an hour to the nearest laundromat. I'd be the only male and only non-Navajo in the place. It was a hoot watching old ladies dripping in silver and turquoise washing hand made navajo blankets (that collectors would pay thousands for) and home tanned sheepskins in those big industrial sized washers. I bought a set of machines after my first year and hauled them up there. It got old....
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You're a daisy if you do. __________________________________ 84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold 04 Honda Element AWD 1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler 1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4 1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting |
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When I was young and divorced I met a young woman here in Lafayette at the Laundromat. She was tall and pretty good looking with an excellent figure. We talked and I learned that she was a nude model for the art classes over at Purdue. I cannot remember why I never went out with her because the door seemed open to that....perhaps it was a little too open for my (relatively) conservative values.
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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC] ..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis. |
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You could have at least signed up for the art class.
__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08 1985 300TD 185k+ 1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03 1985 409d 65k--sold 06 1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car 1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11 1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper 1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4 1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13 |
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