The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1301434
Katiedid Versus By Katiedid Langrock Laundroportal My husband has been do- ing our laundry. He has al- ways done our laundry, but lately, it has be- come suspicious. Three hours for two loads? Hmm. Though yes, I realize that tim- ing does work out, it's the glee with which he takes the hamper full of clothes to our RV campsites' laun- dry facilities that leaves me curious. He's never experienced such joy when doing our laundry at home. One could surmise that he simply is grateful when we come across a washer and dry- er, because that means he isn't washboarding our clothes and line-drying them, which, I ad- mit has become a far less plea- surable experience now that we have entered autumn, with its cool weather and even cold- er rainfalls. However, I suspect that something far more se- cretive and nefarious is afoot. I suspect that laundry has be- come the new bathroom. Long has our culture lam- pooned the lengthy duration of the man in the bathroom, a time of escape from family, from responsibility, from hon- ey-do lists. The patriarchal bathroom break was typical sitcom fodder in the late 1980s and the '90s. On its surface, I cannot fault this desire for alone time and the need to take it in one of the few places where a closed door is (at least some- times) respected. As a child, I used to escape the noise of my home by bringing a chap- ter book into the bathroom. Since I've become a mother, these attempted escapes for a moment of soli- tude have only in- creased. (Howev- er, they're becom- ing less success- ful.) The notable dif- ference between my washroom vis- its and my hus- band's is the ac- cessories. Name- ly, what I enter the facility with I exit with. I enter with a chap- ter book; I leave with a chapter book. On the other hand, my husband can enter with noth- ing and return with a new so- fa, Dodgers memorabilia and a crossbow, as if the bathroom is akin to Mary Poppins' hand- bag. "What? " he'll say as I look at him. "What were you doing in there? " I'll ask. "Shaving," he'll reply. "With an arrow tip? " He doesn't know what I'm talking about. He never knows what I'm talking about. I stick my head in the bathroom and look around, trying to find this portal to play. When I escape to the bath- room, it is accompanied by children rattling the door- knob and saying, "Mama. Ma- ma. Mama. Mama." I leave with a to-do list of everything that needs to be cleaned. My husband walks out with a pep in his step and, are those new slacks? Wait. Did you just get a haircut? He swirls his brandy and says he just took a shower. He questions what on earth I am talking about. Wait a minute. Where did the brandy come from? I'm pretty sure the laundry facilities have the same type of wardrobe access to Narnia that our bathroom has. Not the RV bathroom; it's far too small to contain any portal to another dimension. That explains why doing the laundry has become his new escapism of choice. It explains why I'm still trying to lock myself away in the bath- room for 10 minutes of alone time while living in a 32-foot motor home, but my husband suddenly never takes more than two minutes. He doesn't need it anymore. He has laun- dry. Three hours of alone time later, my husband returns with warm, clean, folded laundry, hot dinner leftovers and a new pet mongoose for the kids. Look, I'm not angry. I just want in. I've tapped every inch of the walls in our bathroom. Nada. Yesterday I followed my hus- band into the laundry facility and began opening the lids of the machines. But I was caught by my husband before a ma- chine had the chance to suck me in to the amusement park of the other realm. I do the dishes, but the suds don't expand into a gi- ant bubble that I float away in like Glenda the Good Witch. Where is this portal? OK, maybe I'm exaggerat- ing slightly about the things my husband returns from the bathroom and laundry facil- ities with. We don't actually have a pet mongoose running around the RV now. But some- times it feels true. So very true. Maybe it's just because he looks so relaxed after that alone time. Maybe a little downtime makes all people look as if they're emerging from other dimensions with a hot meal and a new haircut. Maybe I need to start doing the laundry. From now on, that chore is mine! Hold up. Have I just been tricked? Follow Katiedid Langrock at instagram.com/writeinthewild. by $15, the minimum pay- ment becomes the number of acres multiplied by $15 . For farms with a low APH yield for soybeans, that al- ternative minimum may come in handy. Alfalfa is covered under CFAP round two as well. See farmers.gov for more infor- mation on the program. For more information on farm programs, contact Hans at the Purdue Extension – Posey County office via hschmitz@purdue.edu or 812-838 -1331. Monday 8-7 • Tuesday 8-noon • Wednesday 10-7 • Thursday & Friday 8-5 eye exams • dry eye solutions prescription lenses • eye disease treatment Call to book your appointment today for safe in-offi ce treatment. Don't Neglect Your Eye Health. We're Open to See You Now! Dr. Clint Shoultz 715 S. 9th St., Petersburg 812-354-9400 Locally Owned and Operated The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, October 21, 2020 D-7 FOOD Continued from page 5 To enter the Birthday Club, email your name, ad- dress, phone number and birthdate to birthdayclub@ pressdispatch.net. Only the person's name, town and birth- day will appear in the paper. As an added bonus, one lucky person each month will receive a free three month Press-Dispatch subscription. This month's birthdays have a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Sue's Flowers, Gifts and Country Gather- ings, in Oakland City. THIS WEEK'S BIRTHDAYS Patty Drew ................................ Petersburg ......... 10/21 Michelle Genco .......................... Petersburg ......... 10/22 Mary Joan Eisele ....................... Petersburg ......... 10/22 Beverly Kay Reynold .................. Petersburg ......... 10/22 Krista Robinette ........................ Petersburg ........10/24 Tabitha Gibbs ............................ Petersburg .........10/24 Ariel Moade .............................. Petersburg ......... 10/25 Jim Williams ............................... Winslow ........... 10/25 Pete Fox .................................... Petersburg ......... 10/27 THIS MONTH'S SPONSOR Flowers, Gifts & Country Gatherings 310 W. Morton St., Oakland City 812-749-4500 • www.SuesFlowersIN.com Sweet's Column By Barbara Sweet Hi stars and welcome to the big stage all lit up in bright au- tumn lights and dec- orated to help cel- ebrate with all our stars who will have a birthday or anni- versary in the week of October 22-28. Don't be shy. Come up onto this stage and take a bow. October 22-Mi- chelle Genco turns 54; Crystal DeJarnett Corn. October 23-Jeremy Good- man turns 20 ; John Goodman turns 20 ; Tyler Erwin turns 29. October 24-Justin Hart turns 34; Jake Braunecker turns 29. October 25 -Alex Tuell turns 16; Zac Stephens turns 31; Evyn Fraley turns 34; Sheli Cockerham; Ryan Williams turns 18; Travis Lee Meyer Tolson turns 4; Nikita Chuyd- hury turns 28. October 26 -Ashton Shaw turns 15; Skylar Shelton turns 15; Trenton Hickman turns 19; Donald L. Boyer turns 82; Der- ek Michael Virden turns 4. October 27-Kaitlyn Shelton turns 13; Jeff Harting turns 61; Arthur and Cynthia Fraley cel- ebrate 11 years. October 28 -Tim Ashby; Son- ya Stafford-Hume turns 46. May all our stars have a re- ally great day and may all your wishes come true. Keep in your heart and in your prayers all our stars who have COVID-19, those with colds and allergies, those go- ing through surgery and re- covering; and those who suf- fer with the aches and pains of everyday life: Jeanette, Benny and many other stars we may all know. Winslow has lost two more of our fine stars. Marie Lemond, 74, passed on Oct. 7. Marie and Rufus were always at the Winslow Lions Club events to take the children for a ride on the kiddie train. Alan Nelson, 78, passed on Oct. 10. I first knew him as he sat with the talkative group of guys at the old Trading Post table. To those stars and family who knew Marie and Alan, re- member all those great times, and share your memories and more memories will be added. Winslow is saddened to lose these two fine citizens. EVENTS October 24-Winslow Ma- sonic Lodge pork chop din- ner, carry-out only, starting at 11 a.m. $10 per plate. October 31-Halloween. Winslow American Legion and Winslow Lions will have a Halloween contest at 4 p.m. behind the American Legion; Sweets Column Halloween Yard Decoration in the city limits of Winslow. We will give out a small treat to those who decorate their yard to bring smiles to the faces of kids and adults. November 1-Daylight Sav- ing Time ends, set clocks back one hour. November 3-Election Day. Get out and vote for the right person for the job. Winslow and Petersburg se- niors will not meet again until Governor Holcomb gives the okay. Sweets Column, Winslow, IN 47598 received no post- cards this week. Winslow Patoka River is still low enough that you can see the limb debris sticking out of the water. The swampy areas are low and the White River has gone down a little more. We had light rain on two dif- ferent days but it was not enough, mostly one-tenth of an inch. Then, two mornings we had fog and one morning, it lasted until 9:45 a.m. Winds were strong and took more leaves off the trees to cover the ground. So, the mowers will be out to mulch them up or the rakes will be used to gath- er them into a big pile. Maybe the kids can jump into them for loads of fun. I haven't seen the autumn colors in Brown County, but the autumn colors in Pike County are so beautiful in the Town of Winslow, on Hwy 61 in Campbelltown, on Hwy 64, Ashby Lake area and the Pike State Forest, you don't have to go to Brown County un- less you want to. Also, in the Brownstown part of Winslow, in one section of the spoil- banks, there are all of the col- ors and the walnut tree was green one day, then a bright yellow for two days, and now it's almost bare. I haven't seen a tree do that before. Up until Tuesday, Oct. 13, the windows were opened for that nice, fresh air, but then that north wind blew in and the windows were closed, with the heater turned up again. I love to have the windows open. On one of our days out, we passed by the Hwy 57 family, where they were stargazing with a big telescope and lying on a hammock. We spoke to a couple that had attended the Christian GB Church, that is now Grace GB Church, T.J. Maier, Tim, Connie and Lau- ra, and ate at two of our favor- ite spots, Arby's and Dairy Queen. We didn't see Jea- nette because she was getting fitted for her new teeth. Then we heard she was in the hos- pital, but now she is home and doing well. Since COVID-19 hit Pike County, we were put in the red category for almost a week, but last Wednesday, Oct. 14, we have dropped down into the yellow category. Our Pike County schools are also on a yellow hybrid schedule until Nov. 9. We all are still wear- ing masks and social distanc- ing, and only go to events and stores when we need to do so. Winslow has lots more yards this year with Halloween dec- orations in small amounts or the whole yard is decorated. One yard has a blow-up mum- my and a green one-eyed mon- ster. I have also seen ghosts, graveyards, skeletons, scare- crows, pumpkins, mums, spi- ders and webs, just to mention a few. Kids and adults will love all the houses and yards, and smiles will stay on their faces for blocks and blocks. I can't think of anything else to talk about, so the lights will start to dim for this week. Keep an eye on family and friends. Slow down and see all the won- ders in your area. As always, smile, wave and say "hi" to ev- eryone you see this week. Explore a $ 0/month Medicare plan. Now through December 7 you have the opportunity to upgrade your Medicare coverage. Our Simplete Medicare Advantage plan increases benefits, lowers costs and includes these member-only benefits: • Dental, vision and hearing benefits. • Full prescription drug coverage (with $0 deductible). • Air ambulance coverage. • $0 primary care provider visits. Simplete is powered by Health Alliance Medicare – a Medicare Advantage Organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Simplete depends on contract renewal. Other providers are available in our network. For accommodations of persons with special needs at meetings, call (877) 561-8307 (TTY: 711). H1463_21_87604_M MDMKSI21-CRMaepprintadBW-0620 Find out more during a FREE webinar. Register at simplete.org/CRM21. Talk one-on-one with a Medicare expert today: (877) 561-8291 (TTY:711). Available daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time. Voicemail is used on holidays and weekends from April 1 to September 30.