So, a bunch of avid readers have been hounding me for more fotos. Patience. Here´s the thing - the internet here in Mexico isn´t exactly up-to-date. Besides the speed of the antiquated connections, my camera takes such damn good pictures with such high resolution, that I can´t post as many as I would like (I also would like to mention that I have no idea how to post slideshows, and the fine people of Temascalcingo aren´t exactly that qualified in blogmaking.) So poco a poco I will get the pictures to you. My dear mother herself commented that she loved the pictures but wanted more grit, more grime, more real life (how I live) if you will. This put me in quite a position as I can really only post one picture at a time...what shot would be gritty, grimy, and yet painfully honesty while demonstration life here in Temas. After taking hundreds of pictures of the dead dogs that the masses throw in the canals, freshly discapitated chickens, burning trash piles and countless adobe shacks, I decided to keep things simple; a sole picture of the bathroom; to demonstrate lack of the amenity that I once thought I would never lack...running water. Yes folks I said it. I live in a house with no running water. When I want to shave...to the 55 gallon barrel out back, when we want to flush the seatless-toilet...to the barrel, when I want to shower after playing futbol for two hours in the burning Meican sun on Sunday (yes, we won, thanks for asking)...to the barrel. From then on the shower process begins: First one must strain the water as there are many sticks, bugs, plants, and the occasional peso that have found their way into the ballel. Next the transfer: move the water from the ¨backyard¨ to the stove and into the giant pot using the 5 gallon bucket (as pictured above.) Then comes the ceremonial heating of the bath water. 15 minutes later we have a warm pot of almost potable water. Once again a transfer into the 5 gallon bucket and onto the bathroom. Here comes the fun part. Squat on the frigid concrete and gently douse yourself with the water (using the small red cubeta pictured above.) CAREFUL DON´T USE TOO MUCH WATER you still need to rinse. All soaped up, next comes the shampoo. Again not too much you only have 3.5 gallons left (it´s tricky when you have as much surface area as I do) and you don´t really want to make the mad naked-saopy dash to the barrel to repeat the water preperation process again! Time to rinse. The water goes fast so make every drop count. Then the drying process. Towels, and my personal favorite, sunning in front the window as you brush your teeth. Phew...who knew that bathing could be so fun, and imagine I get to do it every day! 02 February 2009
Captain´s Log: Esqueeky Cleen
So, a bunch of avid readers have been hounding me for more fotos. Patience. Here´s the thing - the internet here in Mexico isn´t exactly up-to-date. Besides the speed of the antiquated connections, my camera takes such damn good pictures with such high resolution, that I can´t post as many as I would like (I also would like to mention that I have no idea how to post slideshows, and the fine people of Temascalcingo aren´t exactly that qualified in blogmaking.) So poco a poco I will get the pictures to you. My dear mother herself commented that she loved the pictures but wanted more grit, more grime, more real life (how I live) if you will. This put me in quite a position as I can really only post one picture at a time...what shot would be gritty, grimy, and yet painfully honesty while demonstration life here in Temas. After taking hundreds of pictures of the dead dogs that the masses throw in the canals, freshly discapitated chickens, burning trash piles and countless adobe shacks, I decided to keep things simple; a sole picture of the bathroom; to demonstrate lack of the amenity that I once thought I would never lack...running water. Yes folks I said it. I live in a house with no running water. When I want to shave...to the 55 gallon barrel out back, when we want to flush the seatless-toilet...to the barrel, when I want to shower after playing futbol for two hours in the burning Meican sun on Sunday (yes, we won, thanks for asking)...to the barrel. From then on the shower process begins: First one must strain the water as there are many sticks, bugs, plants, and the occasional peso that have found their way into the ballel. Next the transfer: move the water from the ¨backyard¨ to the stove and into the giant pot using the 5 gallon bucket (as pictured above.) Then comes the ceremonial heating of the bath water. 15 minutes later we have a warm pot of almost potable water. Once again a transfer into the 5 gallon bucket and onto the bathroom. Here comes the fun part. Squat on the frigid concrete and gently douse yourself with the water (using the small red cubeta pictured above.) CAREFUL DON´T USE TOO MUCH WATER you still need to rinse. All soaped up, next comes the shampoo. Again not too much you only have 3.5 gallons left (it´s tricky when you have as much surface area as I do) and you don´t really want to make the mad naked-saopy dash to the barrel to repeat the water preperation process again! Time to rinse. The water goes fast so make every drop count. Then the drying process. Towels, and my personal favorite, sunning in front the window as you brush your teeth. Phew...who knew that bathing could be so fun, and imagine I get to do it every day! 
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