Cloudy in Beijing Blogging about my time in China

My cactus is dead

Or at least dying. I bought it a few months back to decorate my apartment. It's only a few inches tall and along with its pot, can be carried in the palm of your hand. Once, it had a fat yellow bulb on top, loaded with spines. Now I look and I see that the nub has shriveled and deflated into a green lesion hanging off the cactus.

The untimely death of my cactus has likely been due to the cold temperatures. One major drawback to my apartment is how there's no central heating in it. Instead I rely on two air conditioners, one in my study and one in my bedroom, to keep me warm. Often times I cover myself in a blanket or walk around in my winter jacket rather than waste the electricity.

But today has been rough. Even now as I type my feet are numb.

I woke up this morning to 13 degree weather, the coldest day thus far in Xi'an. The air conditioners had been off all night. I shivered like an icicle as I put on my clothes. At times, my breath became fog. And everywhere I go in my apartment I feel like I'm stepping on ice. I have a habit of walking in my socks. Unfortunately my apartment floors are all tile and thus absorb cold quite nicely; I miss carpet.

Oh well. My electric bill will certainly go up these next few weeks.