Pig Pen’s, Pig Sty’s, and Practicality

“I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig, you get dirty; and besides, the pig likes it.”

~George Bernard Shaw~

Hygiene. Let me rant about hygiene for a minute, or two, or…..

I know the majority of us were raised to do a couple of little things every day:

1. Shower/Bathe
2. Brush Teeth
3. Brush Hair
4. Put on Deoderant
5. Put on clean clothes/underwear/etc.

Not what I would consider complicated stuff. In fact…it is pretty no-brainer stuff.

Here is my problem then. Call it Pet Peeve #1 because nothing else is more important. How on earth can people not notice when they stink? And how…do you tell them, politely, you don’t want to be around them because they stink? I have to add here…for those who know me… I don’t mean my version of polite but the society acceptable version of polite. My polite is not so polite, which is why I’m asking.

Here is the core of my problem. I have been around the same person, every day, for almost a year. When I say every day I mean EVERY DAY! Now, in this time I have went through 4 or 5 tubes of toothpaste – with only ten teeth to brush you don’t need much… I’ve went through numerous bottles of mouthwash, and countless things of deoderant. Bottles of body wash, shampoo, conditioner, body sprays, and bottles of perfumes.

Sounds pretty normal right? Well….this person I deal with every day still has the same tube of toothpaste, bottle of mouth wash, stick of deoderant, bottle of body wash, and has only bought shampoo once. They buy the spray on deoderant which smells up the house but does NOTHING to make them smell better. Whenever they use it I can’t breath for about half an hour….maybe that’s what they’re going for though?

Don’t get me started on their laundry either! I am now officially missing five towels – I have a total of 8 “good” towels. The only reason I have the towels I do have is because I throw them in my laundry and wash them. I probably wouldn’t be able to find any otherwise. I’m convinced the missing towels have become lost in their disgusting pile of laundry.

The last time I remember them doing laundry was when I asked them to throw a load, of my clothes, from the washer into the dryer. It doesn’t really get their clothes clean though. Worse yet, the pile of dirty clothes they have continues to grow! I think it is alive and is starting to multiply. I fear for the rest of us living in the house. I just know one night I’m going to wake up and be attacked by a living stack of gross, disgusting clothes. My life will be over! I just hope they put “Laundry finally killed her!” on my tombstone – to bad it won’t be my own laundry…

We all know what is acceptable by societies standards. We know, if someone smells, they are either going to be shunned, made fun of, or become the target of hazing. Possibly all three. In some cases, like the one I’m in, shunning has become part of life. I have been avoiding the person as much as I possibly can. It’s hard to do considering they live in my house.

They’re clueless! It is so beyond my understanding as to how they could be? How does one not know they stink? I know when I stink, or at least I like to think I do. If I can smell myself then shower is the first thought on my mind, not the last. I avoid everyone and everything until I can get a shower, or cleaned, or deoderized, or brushed, or perfumed, or….

So….

I have told them straight out, in my version of polite. It worked for about two seconds. Then they went right back to the old way. I’ve tried hinting but I might as well be talking to myself. At least I’d listen. I’ve reached my wits end. Next step…they move out. I cannot, will not, live with stinky, smelly, disgusting, or downright idiotic. No one should have to either!

I’ve been patient, understanding, polite, and forgiving. My nice side is running out of niceness though. If I was at work I could talk to HR. I wonder if I could get the HR person to stop by the house and tell them? Maybe if I bribe the HR person…..hmmmmm…. I probably couldn’t afford it.

I have friends who would willingly help me out. Unfortunately, their polite is similiar to my polite, which is why they’re my friends. :) I love my friends. They’re so awesome!

I think it all comes down to what we’re taught growing up. I am really thankful I was taught the important things – like cleanliness. My parents were very intelligent, and sometimes convincing, when I was growing up. Teenagers can sometimes be rebellious when their parents give them good advice…can’t say I was any different.

So…. for tonight, I wish you pleasant dreams, pleasant smells, cleanliness, and pleasant situations. Our own choices often get us where we are…whether we like to admit fault or not. It is what we do after we’re in those situations that matter most. Whatever it was that got me here, it is my choice to do something about it or be miserable. The first step is admitting there is a problem ya know. :)

Tomorrow a new day begins, and a new chance to make a difference. Goodnight my friends.

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