Is there a road trip in your future? You can leave the kitchen sink behind, but it might benefit you to pack an easy-to-use portable washing machine.

Why? Because sharing a hotel room can suck. I know from experience.

Hotels in Toronto aren’t cheap. Unless you’re willing to take your chances on a rundown joint that still uses colour TV as a selling point (which I’m not), you’re likely to shell out at least a hundred bucks a night to stay in the city. Airbnb is a more affordable alternative, but it can be hard to find a decent place on the outskirts of town.

So when I make my yearly pilgrimage to Anime North each May, I always shack up with four to six particular friends and split the bill. It’s the only way to make the trip affordable for the likes of us.

Sharing a hotel room with a half-dozen fellow geeks can be a blast. I’ve made some great memories playing board games on a king-size bed with pizza boxes scattered everywhere.

Here’s the thing, though. As much as I love my fellow nerds, we always don’t have the highest regard for personal hygiene or personal space. Pack six of us into a tiny hotel room and it can get real gross real fast.

The best solution? Come prepared. Arm yourself with appliances to fight the good fight.

1. Portable washing machine. No, I’m not talking a bucket and washboard: I mean an actual modern washing machine. I didn’t even know these came in portable form until I went looking for it, but it’s a lifesaver. This easy-to-use portable washing machine from Costco is a bargain at under $500.
2. Portable dishwasher. Hotel rooms don’t come with a kitchen sink, and it’s probably inadvisable to pack your own. Bring a portable dishwasher + a few plates and forks and you’ll instantly cut down on the amount of trash in the room. The best portable dishwashers even come with a water softener to cut down on the streaky-glass effect.

Sure, this is probably overkill for a weekend away. But for a longer road trip? Definitely preferable to living in a filthy hotel room.

Has anyone else ever brought a portable washing machine on a trip? What’s the best portable dishwasher you’ve used? Any tips on training your friends not to store garbage behind the headboard? Let me know what you think.

Welcome students!

Thought I would start this website in order to post lessons, study materials, fun stuff and more.  You can find all classroom information on this blog (eventually), so you don’t have to hassle me every time you need info on the assignment due next week (I’ve got a life too as a teacher!).

There will also be available readings on here if I’m able to find the publications online.  I’ll also post interesting readings/articles that are relevant to our lessons.  I’m also going to try to set up some sort of forum, so if you have any thoughts or ideas you’d like to share, you’re able to with the entire class!

With that being said, here’s a funny Shakespearean parody video:

I’m also looking into ways of submitting your assignments online.  As this is an English class, I don’t need your assignments to be hand written or anything.  Plus, it will save paper which is always a positive!

So that’s it for now.  Please check back as I will be using this blog more often to post assignments and required readings!

Thanks everyone,

Mr. Johnson