Entry 14

My morning routine is so well rehearsed within an hour I was taking some spoiled food to the trash bags in the other apartment as the last part of my daily ritual. As I walked back into my bedroom I was a bit annoyed to realize the smell from the trash must have started wafting through into my apartment. After spending some time trying to open the lock I decided to watch outside a bit just to see what was happening.

I have not glanced outside much more than a moment or two for something like a week now. Not that I really expected anything to change but I figured I might be able to learn something by spending some time watching. As I stood there on the desk chair looking over the barricades I was still irritated by the smell coming from the trash. As I watched outside I finally realized the smell was not the trash but me. I had considered bathing a couple times but was afraid the sound might alert them. I have changed clothes every few days and as I have literally just been sitting most the day they do not get very dirty. I have been out of clean clothes for almost a week now and apparently needed a bath badly.

My solution was simple, I would pour a bath slowly so it would not make too much noise, bathe, and then after bathing I could wash my clothes. Not sure how to clean my clothes after being washed in a bath, but even if I had a washer and dryer I would not be brave enough to risk the noise they make. I started right away pouring the bath and to my dismay realized there was no hot water. In doing the dishes I had never used enough water to have let it heat up and had not realized the water heater had stopped working. I wonder if the pilot light has gone out or if the gas has stopped working. Both the stove and oven are electric so there is no way for me to check without leaving the apartment.

The cold bath was not particularly relaxing but it was actually refreshing to finally clean up and wash my hair. I adding a bit of laundry detergent to the bath and washed all my clothes the best I could by hand. I rinsed them off in the sink and then hung what I could on the shower curtain rod and laid the rest about to air dry. Not a very exciting day but the apartment smells a bit better and I get to go to bed cleaned up for a change. If I pretend it almost feels like things are back to normal, if only for a moment.