The heat is on in Humidity City
Earlier, one of my cats had slipped outside when I opened the door to collect the newspaper. He stopped short in the middle of the driveway, turned, and ran back into the house. When it's too hot outside for a desert animal, it's too hot.
Houstonians take their hydration seriously. Big Gulps are wedged into the cup holders of cars and trucks, and people carry bottled water, iced Starbucks or iced tea wherever they go from early June into October. Yes, we've got to kick the sugary-drink habit, but don't take our super sizes away.
Yesterday, I pulled into an office-building parking lot, and gaped at an empty spot in the shade of a sheltering tree. I turned the steering wheel so hard it whimpered but snagged the space. Score! Two hours later, I returned to find my car covered in bird droppings. The building's tenants and visitors had avoided that tree for a reason.
Enough moaning! Summer taketh our energy-level with the heat, then giveth back our zippety-do-dah via peaches, berries, mangoes and melons--and ice cream, sorbets, and paletas. Ice-cold watermelon is my go-to dessert when the heat index climbs above 100.
Help out an easily wilted writer. How do you beat the summer heat?
10 comments:
awwwwww this is so sad to read. makes me cry. Calgary has had the wettest June in history over 5 inches of rian this month. yuck. and of course that means temperatures of 50 - 60F only. I WANT SOME SUN!!! Please, I want some sun.
Pat, the thermometer in my car hit 107 on the Gulf Freeway about 6:45 Monday evening. It was only 101 when I went to the post office at 4 o'clock this afternoon. I did go for a walk this morning about 7 AM, but I passed this evening. The only way to beat this is to stay indoors. I really feel badly for people who have no air conditioning when it gets this hot. And it's still June!
I would suggest Louise Behiel head 3 hours north of Cargary and come spend the summer with me. It's been hot and dry here, with very little rain and lots of sun. And wind. But still ... it's nothing like the the Houston heat, Pat. If the temps hit 85F, I start hiding in the house (no air-conditioning required because the downstairs remains cool). It occasionally goes to 95F, when everything heats up, but it's rare for those temps to last longer than a week.
I would've pulled into that parking spot, too, and not thought anything of it. Sorry about the bird dropping on your car. Were they worth the shade?
I'm still in denial about the heat, Pat. I use to have a swimming pool but now I just stay inside during the hottest parts of the day.
My favorite way to cool off/ A movie marathon in a cold theater, preferably watching something set in snow and ice. Does it for me every time!
It sounds as if Calgary's stuck in never-ending April, Louise, and I feel for you. After the winter you endured, you deserve a warm, sunny summer. Warning: Those crocodile tears you shed about Houston's high temps count in Calgary's rain total. Buck up, girlfriend.
I mutter, "It's still June," about a dozen times a day, Kay. I hear you about the people without air conditioning. Today's Chronicle reports 11 cooling centers have been set up in the area. People without air conditioning at home can head for the centers.
Sheila, the bird dropping were totally WORTH the shade. Once home, I hosed off the car--and the water didn't sizzle when it hit metal, so it must not have been hot enough to fry an egg on the hood.
Denial works until I step outside, Lark. Ooh, I like your movie marathon idea. A cold, dark theater sounds heavenly.
We're having a blessedly mile summer for Southern California. I've finally just started using the air conditioner in the afternoons and that's mostly for the cats! Fun post, Pat!
My neighbors with pools are discussing buying ice in bulk to cool the water. Some actually have "chillers" for their pools. Hard to believe I grew up with no AC in school, home or car. Jerre
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