It's always hard to take a shower on days like today. It's cold and drizzly outside and not much warmer inside (we snuffed the pilot light on the heater weeks ago and the house is quite cool).

Usually taking a shower is a pleasure, because the bathroom has a little heater, and turning it on ten minutes before takes off the chill. Took off the chill, I should say, since this morning it gave up the ghost.

Showering itself, of course, wasn't the problem. Stripping off to step inside and then, even worse, getting back out dripping wet in the cold was guaranteed to set a speed record towelling and dressing.

But it feels lovely once the body begins to warm back up again, with clothing reflecting back the heat to make it all nice and cozy. A hooded sweatshirt (the punk look) takes care of the wet head, torso and arms. I can stop shivering now.

I'm wondering if it would be worth the expense to get the heater repaired. Right now, clean and warm, my answer is no. Ask me again when I'm dripping wet and freezing the remoter parts of the body.

It's all in the timing.