I ALMOST just posted two paragraphs about how I hate to complain about anything (yeah right) but that the water in Texas is really disgusting. Filling up the bath for Finn this morning, I could smell such a strong mixture of dirt and chlorine, it made my nausea much worse. Drinking from the tap is a huge mistake! I am not sure I can even brush with it anymore, it makes me so sick to smell. I will probably start taking a water bottle in to brush my teeth. I know my heightened sense of smell at this time makes it much worse, but the water is making me gag. That is what I ALMOST wrote a big long post about. Then it took me about two seconds for my mind to think about Haiti, which it is wont to do 300-400 times per day, and I felt very ashamed of myself.
Dear People Whom I Love In Haiti,
I am so sorry that I was so selfish that I would even allow myself to think for one second that I am not so blessed to be able to just turn on a tap and have clean, healthy, water pouring from a tap. I can push my glass up against a lever on my fridge and have a cold, clean, and nice tasting drink any time I want. Outside I can turn on a hose and water my lawn or even just wash off the driveway. I can bathe myself and my children twice per day, if I want. I can stick my clothes in a washing machine and have them come out fresh and clean in 45 minutes. I can wash my dishes with running water--or even just put them in a machine that will do it for me--WITH clean water! I can do my business in a clean toilet, just flush it, and have it clean again. I am never worried that the water I am using to wash my food might cause my kids to get a parasite. I'm never worried that if I take that drink of water that is available to me--because its SO hot and I am about to die of dehydration anyway, might give me cholera and kill me. I don't walk miles to a pump and carry back water in a bucket on my head or two across my shoulders. I have clean, safe water just pouring forth out of about 10 different places in my own little home at any moment. I am so sorry for forgetting. I wish I could give you my water. I'm trying to help make things better for you, but I know it is only a drop in the bucket. If I could, I would give you my Utah water and would keep the Texas for myself.
I'm trying not to be so quick to forget. I'm sorry.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Water
Posted by Perla at 8:08 PM
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7 comments:
When we were in Georgia, I remember thinking how crazy it was that we had to buy all our drinking water. And, when I showered, I felt sort of like I was showering in fishy/smokey water. We are very lucky in UT. BUT, yes, we are very lucky PERIOD. Great reminder about gratitude and about the things we not only take for granted but complain about when literally they are a tremendous blessing.
Well, at least you can stop yourself from complaining because I can't! I HATE the water here! And, if I hadn't been cleaning my house today, I would have been writing a 40 paragraph post about how much I hate the water here. I was talking to a gal at church on Sunday and she told me that it actually is the best time of year right now for water - that in the summer when the algae blooms on the lakes the water just reeks coming out of your faucet and it tastes like dirt! Ugh! I can't imagine that it can be any worse! We bought a Brita but that doesn't seem to do much. I've been buying our water in jugs at Kroger - 3/$1.25 and it is better than tap but I'm seriously considering doing something professional when I get to my new house. I really miss the soft water I had at my old house too. I guess I should not complain though, you are good to remind me of that. Tell you what, I'll help you be organized (or organised, whatever) if you'll help me not complain. But some days I may not be so nice if you tell me not to complain. I'm onery like that sometimes and there's no way around it. This is why God send you to Texas - to keep me in line.
The water in Texas is the worst!!!! Midland actually has the hardest water in the country. Our fluoride levels were also at toxic levels. I would highly suggest an RO system. Either that or a whole house filtration system. The RO is cheaper :) You can tell who grew up drinking the tap water, their teeth are brown.
Be prepared to change out water heaters every few years also. If you are getting the nasty white film on your dishes buy some lemishine. Works wonders!
On a brighter note, your toilet bowls should stay cleaner due to the chlorine in the water. That is one thing I have had to get used to here in Utah. The toilet bowls gets so brown and gross so quickly.
Miss you guys!!
you're funny, jana! i don't like it when people tell me not to complain, so i won't tell you! we got a really good, new fridge because my nephew works for whirlpool and got us a sweet deal. the filter in it is good, so i haven't had to actually purchase water. that is a pain. but the water still doesn't taste as good as it did in ogden straight from my mom's tap. i miss soft water, too. hopefully we'll get/have one in our new house.
danielle, we miss you, too! what is an RO system? how is charlotte's hand?
Perla, RO is 'reverse osmosis'. The system filters almost everything out except the hydrogen and oxygen. Bland is better than bitter. We have a small RO system in our home to get 'clean' water for salt water aquariums.
I've lived in both Texas and Maryland, and I think it is a toss-up as to which has the worst water. But, you are right, it is usable and available. Thank you for helping me keep things in perspective. Everything, not just water!
Thanks for the reminder that I take almost everything in my life for granted. I'm going to try harder~ promise! Hope you are feeling okay, and you look beautiful as always:)
You are so right about how fortunate we are with our EASY ways! Thank you for the reminder to be grateful!
Congratulations on your little bun! Whoo-hoo! You look so dang cute pregnant too!
I really did LOVE the hunger Games and am looking forward to the next two books in the series. I'll let you know how I liked the ending of the last one. Oh, and since I am waiting for them to become available at the library, I am trying out other books by Suzanne Collins... really like!
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