things i think about while powerwashing 143
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I'm not sure why I'm writing this post. But I wanted to share it with the world. For the first time, I washed my shoes in the washing machine.
I've had this pair of white 1080s from New Balance for about a year now, putting it through all types of weather, New York grit and grime to the point where this post-wash is what I'd consider a success for washing.
All I did was take out the soles and the shoelaces, releasing each shoe from its structural bounds, then tossing them into the washing machine with a laundry detergent pod.
I set it to cold, and watched with bated breath. The water level in the machine slowly grew, and suddenly the machine spun and the shoe hit the glass with a resounding thud. I changed the cycle to "Delicates" after that.
Despite me doing it for the first time the concept is not lost on me — esteemed subscriber Serena Chang had mentioned tossing her Air Force 1s in the wash before. I would've done so if I had remembered before my own pair was tattered beyond repair.
Prior to washing my shoes with a machine, I had twice tried to use an old toothbrush with dish soap to try and get the stains out. There was some semblance of success — the dirt on the "N" of the "NB" of the shoe started to fall off. Impatience got the better of me, and I let the machine finish the job.
If I had kept brushing, would it have made much of a difference?
In the process of answering this question, a few more popped up:
- How much time would I have spent? Would it be worth the money saved? The energy and environmental cost?
- Would washing it by hand be in any way better than washing it by machine? I was not using a particularly soft brush — it could have been quite abrasive.
- Do I believe that I possess the knowledge to surpass what a machine could have done? Or do I believe that I could have done so?
In trying to answer the first two questions, I found that my answer to the third was the best: I don't know any more than I had started out with.
I had done no research. All I knew was to take the laces and soles out for handwashing, which was advice given previously. The only answer I have for myself is that my shoes are a lot cleaner than they were before, it took minimal effort, and I have no idea about the long term effects of what I had just done to the washing machine and to my shoes.
And, that it was easy :).
museum of the week
I HAD to wait to rewatch The Exorcist before posting this one! Spoiler alert: someone gets possessed and has to be (lol) exorcised. So imagine my surprise when walking down the halls of the Museum of Moving Image when I saw demonic Reagen herself (no picture included for everyone's Monday morning).
Joined by esteemed subscribers Emily Ding and Jennifer Wang, I made the journey up to Astoria to check out what they had going on. I've biked through a few times, but never went into the inner portions (besides going to help pick up a FB marketplace item).
The museum itself is deceptively large - the futuristic lobby betrays the size of the complex, with the true grandeur of the display only being apparent on the third floor (which I only got a few minutes in before closing). The second floor is the literal definition of meandering through decades of filmmaking history: starting with a special exhibit on Jim Henson, creator of The Muppets and the creator of characters in Sesame Street, then going through a hall of old theater posters, a theater showing reruns of the Superman cartoon that feeds into a small exhibit of arcade machines.
And of course, an exhibit full of movie props! There was a whole section on The Exorcist (a fave!), as well as masks from famous characters like Chewbacca of Star Wars and The Mask from ... The Mask (1994).
Our little museum group had a little too much fun on the second floor perusing the displays when we realized we only had like 20 minutes to see the last floor - which just happened to have a Mission Impossible exhibit going on. I've only seen the first one but it was cool to see behind the scenes looks for all the crazy stunts they did including the one where Tom Cruise/Ethan Hunt jumps off the cliff in a motorcycle.
Definitely recommend. Try to budget half a day if you really love movies!
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- Anon catches up: Anon from power washing 76 doing a long distance relationship CA-NY is now doing short distance relationship Long Island City - Astoria
- Anon wants to skip the scary part: I wish it was Thanksgiving right now
- Anon yearns for the dribble: nba is back and i miss sim sim !
- Anon can't take it anymore: Just found out NCIS is STILL AIRING I can never catch up at this rate
animal of the week
*SEND IN ANIMAL PHOTOS TO THIS GOOGLE FORM! https://forms.gle/NT3nSkKVbpkjCr1u8"
Sorry guys I forgot to post the actual picture for this one last week so I am republishing it. BUT in more important news you can now use THIS google form to upload animal photos! Keep in mind that you do need to be logged in to google to upload an animal photos.
Esteemed subscriber Emi Chan is back with more! I do think Yakisoba as the name of a snake is quite interesting but apt since one is a noodle and the other is a danger noodle. What does Yakisoba watch? Law and Order SVU? Like I have recently???
Pet corn snake Yakisoba devouring a mouse. Her other hobbies include chasing fingers and watching television.
Send me your animal photos at ryan@torrtle.co OR at this form https://forms.gle/NT3nSkKVbpkjCr1u8!
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