Polar mosquitos and the return of Elvis

Yes, it's getting to be full-on winter here in Sichuan, which means that Elvis has again returned. Elvis, the zippered fleece pullover, that is. When we arrived, our apartment's closets were filled full of the legacy leavings of at least eight years' worth of foreign English teachers that have worked here in the past. One of my most cherished finds is a semi-ratty black and gray fleece, dotted with little pills on the fabric, but so warm and comfy that it's rapidly becoming my official second skin from late October until March sometime. Oh, and the label reads "The King - ELVIS Presley" (see photos above and below). What more do you need? A big thank you to Kevin or Sarah or Matt or Heather or Owen for leaving it behind.



If you've been reading the blog for over a year or so*, you may remember that it gets fairly cold here - mostly because "indoor heating" is really "indoor boosting of the outdoor temperature by about 5°F or so". Previous entries here and here, for those interested in the full scoop on this. (Or if you want to see a cold and grumpy Jane wearing cute Eeyore slippers.)

This year's cold doesn't seem as bad to me, probably because it's only the very tail end of November. Actually, the fact that almost every single indoor space in America is kept to a uniform 68 to 72 degrees year round kinda boggles my mind about now. What's bugging me now are the mosquitoes. (Oh, whoops, unintentional lame pun. Oh well...)

It's down to the low forties every night both indoors and out, and there are still one or two of the critters buzzing around within an inch or two of my ear every time I'm at the computer, or if one of us forgets to zip up the mosquito net over the bed. The cold doesn't seem to slow them down at all - if anything, it makes them more annoying. Maybe because they can detect body heat much more easily in the cold? Or maybe it's because they've got to keep those tiny little parkas on all the time as well, and they're just as miffed about it as we are.

*You've been reading the blog for over a year or so? Seriously? And you're, like, employed, and everything? Wow, wonders never cease...