Almost Autumn

As of yet, haven't found the money to fix the water heater, so it's still icy cold showers around here. During the 100+ summer days, a quick cool off felt wonderful, like a clandestine skinny dip in my boss's pool. I think I feel a change in the air that has got me pondering the near future, however. Here in So Cal, Fall is a season that never really appears; we usually have hot, hot, more hot, then out of nowhere in late October, miserable damp greyness that sometimes fades into two months of miserable rains, sometimes not. I think, though, this year we may have an Autumn. My room was so cold last night I actually had to sleep with a blanket. Not to mention the three cats who demanded I share. And this morning that icy cold water actually HURT.

So. What's a girl with zero cash to do? I recently tried to heat up pots of water on the stove top, but by the time one batch was done, the last was cold. I must tell you that the thought of a winter with out a bathtub of hot water makes me want to hide in bed for the next 6 months. Even after today warmed up, this morning's chill never left my bones. And in times of stress, as nearly every day for the last few weeks have been, I crave long soaks like other people crave... well, whatever it is you do to drown your sorrows.

I spoke to my Grandma Fran about it. She just returned last month from a visit to my cousin in Mongolia, where, she said, in the summer months, you have to take cold showers because that's when they work on all the plumbing. Fran said that my cousin told her to try to achieve a 'Zen one-ness with the water.' All I have to say to that is "Bullshit."

In the meantime, I'll be day dreaming about this: