Dust

Where I stay, mere kilometers away from the industrial estate, small little particles are borne by the wind across the relatively minute distance, wafted through the windows and deposited all over my father's apartment on a 24 hour basis, where they accumulate in hard-to-reach corners just the way snow eddies and forms snow banks. Only this isn't as pleasant; it's dust.

And this goes on to the extent where within two days, there is enough dust to play tic-tac-toe on my table, and I can trace reminders on the TV set rather than waste a piece of paper to remind me that I need to pay a fine or that my engine oil change is due. The dust is everywhere, ever permeating, penetrating even closed drawers. When I open some drawers that are supposed to be empty, I occassionally observe certain patterns not unlike those seen in the sand dunes of the desert, formed by the dust. Leave the floor alone for more than 3 days, and 2 steps are all you need to make the soles of your feet totally black.

And so this vicious cycle goes on and on. I clean the room. I clean the house. And enjoy the cleanliness for the briefest moment. By the next day however, I can already feel a powdery sensation with my feet when walking, and am compelled to clean my feet before getting into bed; all testimony that the factories are hard at work, doing their best to pollute the air with these little dust nuggets. Sometimes I can't believe I'm actually breathing this shit when I'm at home. Imagine how dusty my lungs must be. And imagine how dusty my place was when I arrived home from the dive trip, after leaving the house empty for 3 whole days. I was practically wading knee deep in the gunk~!

Ok ok...maybe I exaggerate. But, boy was it bad. Crystal and her brother couldn't believe the amount of dust that had accumulated on poor Solid Snake, sitting there in front of my TV.

Cleaning up the dust isn't a solution. Even as I'm clearing away the accumulated dust, there'd be more coming in through the windows, the door, settling on the floor even as my mop and broom works the area. I need a more foolproof idea.

Maybe setting up my windows with static nets, just like the mosquito nets over every opening back in my Grandmother's residence in Malaysia? As the wind blows through the net, the static electricity charges would attract the dirt and dust, allowing fresh and clean air to flow through. Wahaha...what an idea! Eh...who knows where to buy ah?
Er..wait...everytime I want to hang clothes, how? And there's always the potential area of hazard where I might give myself a shock whenever I accidentally touch the bloody net. The dead flies would be a bother to clear...and the lizards in my house will start to die due to lack of food. Another mess to clear...*mumble grumble*

Install vacuum cleaners around all windows and openings? Electrical bill chor leh. Plus the coverage is not comprehensive. Just imagine vacuum cleaners hanging beside all my windows...

Mmm...that Osim air cleaner thingy? Waa...with the amount of dust in the air I think I need 2 for each room. And I'll have to change the water everyday. Think about the electrical bills too...

What else? Masking tape filter paper to the windows? The whole house will become damn stuffy...

How how? Headache...

Haiz...guess I'll go back to cleaning up till I can find me a better alternative.


Riding hard, fast, safely AND taking a few corners.