Yesterday I was driving home from northern Minnesota (where it was equally hot), and when I stepped out of my air-conditioned car my glasses fogged up. This morning the windows of our house were covered in condensation. And those are positives, because they mean we are able to be inside, in air-conditioned comfort.
Lots of people don't have that luxury. I think about the construction workers and police officers and others who have to work in the heat, and about the people living in hot houses that won't cool off, and about the people for whom this is not just an annoyance but a health threat. I worry about the damage we are causing by running all this air-conditioning, and I worry about brownouts and power failures (the power went out at my hotel for a couple of hours early Sunday morning, enough to serve as a warning).
Wherever you are, I hope you have at the very least some protective shade, excellent cross-breezes, and lots of cold water.
How are you keeping cool in all this heat?
(PS, DJan, this is a good time to be living in Bellingham, Washington!)
21 comments:
Hotter than you know what. My windows are covered in condensation every morning, and walking outside is like a blast furnace. Not a breeze to be found, but the sun came out and I prefer that to that dismal stuffiness of yesterday. Egads! I concur, it would be very tough for those outside or without AC. I can't imagine. Ack!
We've had something like 100+ days in a row. We stay inside. Even the water in the lakes is getting hot. 80+ degrees. To save on energy I keep the house at 80. And I just get used to the fact that if I go outside, chances are I will sweat, often, a lot.
The kids and I went to play at a mall play area today. That's usually a winter activity for us! I feel bad for my two brothers who are construction workers. Ick!
Much the same here....near 100 every day this week, but at least it cools off at night. I am grateful that I am able to be in air conditioning when I choose and share your concern for those who don't have that option. I saw some men working on a roof today and felt really concerned for them.
Every day is over 100 lately. I simply stay inside and run the air conditioning. The only time I turn it up is when I leave and at night. Still, I use a fan at night.
I don't think it was so hard to contend with when we were kids because I recall frying eggs on the street.
Guess I'm grateful for Seattle cool. Just over 70 degrees today, with afternoon sunshine. I am ready for it to be a bit warmer, though.
I am thanking my blessings every day. Some people feel cheated out of a "real" summer, but I'm not one of them. Thinking of all of you and hoping it cools down soon....
For some reason, we are being spared down here in the Deep South this week. That whole mess of intense heat seems to have floated up into the northern area of the country...
It can't last forever... no?
~shoes~
Being cooped up inside to escape the harsh weather is even worse in the summer than in the winter! It just ain't fair!
Our heat index it about the same as your's. The doctors told me not to go outside for the next 7 days. And my granddaughter isn't supposed to go out either. She may have walking pneumonia. It is very hot and humid and is like an oven.
Well I think about that, too. Because as I type this, I have construction workers building scaffolding outside the front of my house to prepare to take all of the brick off. And I think "I would NOT want that job." And I think about Neal, walking everywhere he has to go...to chow, to work, to the bathroom in 120 degree heat. With blowing sand. And here I sit in my 72 degree house, sipping ice water and loving life. And hoping I don't lose power. For everyone who thinks global warming is a myth, I say Pft!
Hey Nancy, it's pouring with rain here in Cambridge. But as you say, give it a few minutes... I hope things become saner for you! Indigo
It is so hot here. Yesterday, the temp hit 113.3 on my back deck. It never got below 80 last night. I slept in fits. At least we don't have humidity.
I think of those working outside also. I can't tolerate the heat anymore. I am grateful for my A/C, but I do have my worries for those who don't have these comforts. I am praying for a break in this crazy weather.
I work in a nice, air-conditioned building (where I obsess about all the unoccupied cubic footage that we're burning fossil fuel to cool) but Old Dog works in the heat. He comes home from work half sick from it all summer. And for some reason, his boss decided that this is the week they need to finally get around to working in the ceiling. Grrrr.
Yes, yes-- we're going through the same thing here: temps over 100, and heat indices in the 115 range. I should stop complaining-- I heard on the news tonight that Newton, Iowa hit 126 degrees! There just ain't no way to keep cool other than staying indoors, preferably in the basement!
Our daughter went to western washington university worked and worked even in summers, it was lovely never cool nor really hot, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, it is cool up there all the time, down here in Vancouver, USA (washington) it is the coolest, wettest entire year since recorded weather records, same as Seattle their tourism business and summer businesses have been really hard, people won't go to a town with such cool temperatures and rain..I wish I could wave a magical wand to give you some much needed rain, cool weather actually to the other 42 states that are burning in you know what..Our daughter lives in NYC and she said it is the most miserable weather since she moved there in 2004, she wants to return to Bham as she always called bellingham and rain, clouds and some sunshine now and then which was few and far between, love your blog, you are at least kind and compassionate about people who are enduring the summer of hell heat and humidity and kind in your thoughts and I am sure a wonderful wonderful Grandmother to your grandkids..ciao
It is like a sauna..I am headed to work with no air in the museum..not a fun day..but I hear it is the last for a few days..thank goodness. I like the air at home at night at least we can sleep:)
I feel for you. I hate the heat. When it's cold you can always pile on more clothes, but naked is as naked as naked can get.
I drink a lot of sweet tea to keep cool. I love it!
I live in one of the states not enduring the heat wave (the other end of the state from DJan), and would trade places with you for even a day or two.
Two years ago I moved south from Minnesota where I'd lived for 38 years. Chatting on the phone with friends in the Twin Cities we always talk weather--winter there, winter here. Summer there, summer here.
This year at least for the last week, summer there and here was the same. HOT!
Like you and others who've responded to your blog, I worry about those who must work outside. Being retired is a blessing in more ways than one!
Peace
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