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The Life and Times of a Filipino-American

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Archives for December 2020

December 6, 2020 By Phillip Retuta

Old Wives’ Tales: Wet Hair Horrors.

I searched “wet” in my Flickr library. Here’s a photo I took in 2008, in my hometown in Illinois.

I just finished taking a shower a few minutes ago and am writing this as I’m about to go to bed. My hair is still wet, and as I’m lying on my pillow, I can’t help but recall the stories my parents had warned me about when I was a kid: if you sleep with wet hair, you’ll go blind.

I don’t know the scientific facts regarding wet hair and the total loss of vision. Maybe some unwashed shampoo will somehow seep into your pillow and blind you in your sleep. Perhaps excess moisture will puff up your face so much, your eyelids swell shut. In any event, as someone whose life centers around visual acuity, losing my sight would mightily suck. Water is water, and unless you’re drowning in it, I find it relatively harmless.

Another old wives’ tale my parents would tell me is that if you go out with wet hair, in the middle of winter, you’ll get pneumonia. During this COVID crisis, that would be catastrophic. Who needs to suffer from a debilitating lung infection? My habits will take of that, thank you. Luckily, however, I’m not going out that much these days — if at all. Still, when we were able to step out of the house without fear, I can’t help but count the numerous times I’d shower and then immediately rush to work. Winter, summer — it didn’t matter. And come to think of it, I haven’t really been sick at all these past few years.

Maybe it’s me, but I don’t make an effort to dry my hair after a shower; I don’t blown dry it, and I rarely put any product. A simple scrub through a towel is all I need, and I’m ready to go about my day (or in tonight’s case, go to bed). I’m a pretty low-maintenance guy when it comes to looks, but perhaps this is one of the many fucking reasons I’m still single.

No, as far as I can tell, wet hair won’t kill or maim you. I suppose just be careful around low-hanging ceiling lamps without lightbulbs…

Filed Under: Memories, Ramblings, Supernatural

December 4, 2020 By Phillip Retuta

Baby, It’s Cold Outside.

A citation from the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development because the NYC Department of Buildings hasn’t turned on our gas.

Day 264 of self-isolation and Day 125 without gas.

December is here, and despite global warming giving us above average temperatures, it’s freezing in my apartment — it’s about 35 to 40 degrees outside. We still don’t have gas for heating or cooking, and our landlord provided us with a bunch of ceramic space heaters. Currently, I’m running 4 of them to keep Dusty and myself warm, as well as wearing a coat inside (Dusty is even wearing a jacket, and she loves to nestle in front of the heaters). Sure, I could find a new place and easily break my 2-year lease renewal that I signed a month before we were kicked out, but I love my apartment: it’s quiet, it has a perfect backyard, and most importantly, it’s rent-stabilized. This apartment is a rarity in NYC.

The landlord finished installing new gas lines about two weeks ago, and we’re all waiting for someone to inspect the building one last time and turn on the gas. Half of the building is vacant, and I’m fairly certain it’s in my landlord’s best interest to get these units reoccupied — and no new tenant wants to move into an apartment with no heat or working stove.

Funny thing, one of my neighbors complained to the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development about the lack of heat in our building. The building was cited and subject to fines for each day we don’t have heat. Of course, we’re waiting on the NYC Department of Buildings to send a Master Plumber to turn our gas, and subsequently, our heat. One department versus another department. We’re in bureaucratic hell, and it’s cold.

Oh, and my council member has yet to respond.

Filed Under: Home Life, New York City, Ramblings

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Born 1983. Art Director, UX/UI and Digital Designer. Illustrator. Dog Owner. Coffee Enthusiast. Pizza Lover.

I love over-thinking the simplest of things and making stuff at every waking moment: comics, food, videos, photos... you name it. This blog is a record of my work, my exploits, and my philosophical, political, and psychological ideologies. So enjoy reading my dumb ideas and inane rants that I'd otherwise be ashamed to verbally speak out in public.

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