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Jul 19 2013

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100 in the shade

7/19/13

It is crazy hot today in New England. 100 in the shade and this is one of the cooler spots inland. I wonder what people without electricity are doing today? I remember old movies of people in Africa and on islands, wearing white suits and panama hats. Women and men laid in hammocks and fanned themselves with large wooden hand fans, that looked like pingpong paddles. I tried to imagine myself wearing a white suit and tie and a white panama hat in this heat. I couldn’t. I once had a job that required wearing a tie. Thankfully the building was airconditioned.

I shouldn’t complain about the weather, because I live in New England, but it never gets this hot here. I heard we broke a 100 year heat record. That isn’t very encouraging. Today every one experiencing extreme hot weather should stop for a while and have a glass or two of cold water, put on a hat if you are outside, and stay in the shade. Even insects and animals are doing that right now. Why are they so much smarter than humans? I watched a news report yesterday with a reporter interviewing some people who were jogging in the extreme heat. The reporter acted as if it was normal for someone to jog in 100 degree weather, and didn’t ask the guy why he was jogging, she merely asked him how he was handling the heat. The jogger wiped his forehead with his teeshirt and smiled and said,” Wow it’s really hot, I need some water.” I think the guy needed a psychiatric examination.

I can remember several decades ago, when I worked in a major city. It was a hot summer day like today during rush hour, as all the cars were backed up on the main street out of the city. I saw a shirtless guy jog in front of my car and through the traffic jam.
As I sat in my car running the airconditioner and listening to the radio,I wondered why anyone would jog on a major city street in 100 degree weather, just for exercise. I looked at the reactions of other people in their cars as the jogger ran passed them. Some laughed as others shook their heads in disbelief. Some people are just crazy I guess, and need the attention. If you look at some of the crazy stuff people are doing on youtube or television for attention I guess jogging in 100 degree heat, during a city traffic jam would today be justified as sane behavior.

So I’m sitting next to my fan, as it is cooling me off very well. I have a cold bottle of seltzer water next to me, and I’m comfortable so far. I hate to run the A/C
all day and do it when I really need it and at night when I sleep. I found that if I keep my doors and windows closed and draw the shades half way down, the house stays 10 or more degrees cooler than outside. A day like today never attracted me to a beach. Too much traffic, too many kids, and the sun and air are just as hot, and all you have is an umbrella for shade. I sunburn easily and ocean water off Connecticut shores isn’t the cleanest, or friendliest. It has sharks and jelly fish and rocky beaches.I never found it much fun swimming in salt water. I prefer the cool, comfort of my study on days like this, and if I feel the need to see the ocean I can click on my Pacific island screen saver.

Keep cool,

L.A. Steel

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