it's a typical morning when I wake up sweating

I don't like to sleep with the air conditioner on because it wastes a lot of electricity and you generally cool down a fair amount when you sleep. Lately though, I've been waking up feeling a bit dewy. That is the lady-like way to say "sweaty." It's not super fun, but I just sort of deal with it because I'm frugal. On the plus side, I look like I just worked out vigorously, which is supposedly a very attractive look.

I come into the kitchen to scrounge up breakfast and...damn, I have dishes to do. Boo.

 

This usually seems to consist of yesterday's breakfast dishes, as I haven't gotten around to cooking dinner for myself yet. I am fed lunch at school during the day. This morning, I reused my coffee mug and spoon and rinsed out the espresso pot. I'm pretty concerned about cleanliness.

I also start my washing machine, which is in my kitchen. Because I don't have a dryer, I need to do laundry in the morning so I can hang dry it in the south-facing room. I also have to do laundry frequently because I only have so much space for drying. More on that later.

 

Hello washing machine. You are all in Chinese and I don't understand you.

After I get back on track for breakfast, I look in my cupboard.

 

 Oh, haha! There is nothing in there.

There is some peanut butter. Which I've subsisted on for several days now. The thing is, if I make the commitment to feeding myself better, I must go to the grocery store. This starts a long chain of emotional distresses including locating the store and beginning an aimless and ultimately fruitless search for things I need, like butter. I come home with little, though last time I did locate some salt (among bags of MSG!!) and put seven eggs in a plastic bag. Six out of seven returned home intact.

Anyway, the point is that shopping and cooking here are more of a chore than a hobby, though I hope to change that soon.

My camera batteries died while I was cooking an egg and making coffee, but I eventually ended up with a delicious sandwich and some strong espresso. Yum! I have decided, however, to abandon the nasty cheese I bought at the store. It is gross. Think Kraft slices but white and watery. Ew.

  

Earth and moon. Plate and cup.

Right. So then I had to dry my laundry from earlier. I trapped myself in a corner with a pole and sheets (whoops) but clambered out and took a picture.

 

Raawr! Attack of the sheeeeetttsss!

Now, I'm sitting in my apartment writing to you, dear readers, freezing because I turned on the A/C in order to help dry my linens. I would hang it outside, but the pollution makes stuff smell really strange and, as I mentioned earlier, I lost some choice items out my window. Those have been retrieved, by the way.

Today, I'm going to a big Costco-type store to find some nice things with which to cook. Then, I'm going to meet my cousin Abby and her husband! They are passing through Shanghai on their way back from Vietnam, so I'm lucky to see them.

Have a wonderful day!

ellen