Picture this:

You arrive home from a long day of classes, throw down your bag of textbooks, and sink into some comfy couch cushions. After contemplating your navel for a few minutes, you decide that a mug of hot tea is just what you need to decompress from the day’s stresses. You traipse into the kitchen and turn on the faucet to prepare your herbal bliss, only to discover that no water is flowing—all you hear is a strange knocking sound followed by a distinct hiss. A brief investigation in the bathroom (and a text conversation with Allie) reveal what you feared most: you have no water supply.

This precise scenario is what happened to me yesterday evening, starting at about 5:00. Apparently, the construction around my apartment caused a water pipe to burst, leaving lots of students without water access. While it was annoying to say the least, I will say that I learned something from the experience. Preparing dinner in itself was a lesson in water conservation. I had nothing to wash my vegetables with, save the contents of my Sigg water bottle. I carefully dabbed a wash cloth to scrub my potatoes, and added as little as possible to thin out my chili concoction. Washing the dishes was out of the question—my, what a convenient excuse not to clean up after myself:)

Later, I used about a tablespoon’s worth to brush my teeth, and maybe a bit more to wash my hands. Soon, I became paranoid that I was getting dehydrated. “Gosh, I’m parched. I think I need to lie down…” I am fairly certain that my fears of dehydration were merely fabrications of my active imagination, but still, the whole evening demonstrated how much I take water for granted. I should appreciate this precious resource more often. In the sage words of Kelly Clarkson, water, “my life would suck without you.”

How would your life be different if you had to restrict your water use?

Fortunately, I now have water again and thus have been able to prepare some tasty meals…and do those pesky dishes.

Wednesday

Sweet potatoes and chili are a match made in heaven, I tell you.

Thursday

Announcing the return of Java Oats. Today’s combination featured coffee, unsweetened chocolate Spirutein, and banana. Sure, it looks like baby poo, but I promise it was tasty.

I have my first midterm tomorrow (!), so I spent much of the day studying. I was not so immersed in my books to skimp on lunch, however. I relied on a Salad Lady favorite, and it was phenom, as per usual.

I am now off to study more and, if the spirit moves me, fold some laundry. Ugh. Is it the weekend yet?! Good night, all.

Filed under: Meals