i'm taking a hydrogen peroxide bath. penny the orange cat sits by the tub. when she went by she did a double take. she never saw a man in her bath before. mom said did you ever see an orange cat? i said, yeah, penny. she was thinking about some designer breed. mom said when i told her about my tinea, i hope you think before you swim in that lake again. she said i wouldn't even drink that water. i think they filter it mom i said. i don't know i don't trust them she said. we saw a program about flint michigan. you ever heard of michael moore? yeah, he's from flint. really? she said. i'm not ready to admit it came from the lake. i've been speculating about that water for years, while swimming so happily. anyway it got me to take a bath. this is my spa in the mountains, the high rise. the train bells are the cowbells on the gently lowing grey cows. this is as close as i'll come in obombaland. (grim vision of his master bath.) r. lit a candle and put some lavender drops and made rose tea. oh my dogs, i felt so righteous and free. it was too hot to read tristes tropiques, and i was too infused and languid anyway, oops, almost fell getting up, so woozy. this is luxury. it's not something i can do at my old crib- there's no hot water.