Chilly morning routine

Erase any questions about climate change. It is not yet the end of September and the weather in this warm climate is cold and rainy. In fact last night I resorted to wearing my flannel pajamas for the first time this Fall, and I also plugged in the electric heater in my bedroom.

This morning I realized I've developed a routine to get out the door by 8:30 for my first class at 9AM. I'm awake before my cellphone alarm goes off at 7. While in my pj's, I fill the tea kettle and light the gas burner for hot water. Then I go back to my bedroom to make my bed and get out my clothes for the day - and that includes black tights due to the chilly mornings. I head back to the bathroom where I finish dressing. (I've been good about wearing skirts to school, but I've decided to wear slacks when it is cold. I plan to model functional fashion for the other women teachers and hope they come to question this cultural rule about what women must wear.)

Back to my routine: When the tea kettle whistles, I pour some of the hot water into a plastic tub in the kitchen sink and mix it with cold water for washing my face. Of course I also use boiling water to make a cup of Starbucks coffee when I have that. After putting on moisturizer and some makeup, I have a bowl of Special K cereal with whole milk plus the requisite daily vitamin and a calcium tablet. Then I head back to my bedroom when my computer resides and check for emails and the headlines in USA.

Notice that I do not take a daily shower or bucket bath. I reserve that for about once a week when I turn on the electricity for the huge hot water tank in the bathroom. I've come to realize how energy inefficient a large water heater is since it takes so long to heat and then I don't use all the heated water. That is, the hot water goes to waste. And do I really need to shower every day? I'm managing just fine.

Before I leave for school I brush my teeth in the kitchen sink and put on lipstick. I pull on boots in my hallway and carry a bag with a pair of shoes plus school books for classes that day. Often I meet up with my neighbor who also teaches at Digah school and walk with her and other children headed there.

Another time, I'll write about my afternoon and evening routine.