Searing Summer

I've been hiding out in A/C. Anywhere! I sit here on the computer or reading (Best Laid Plans by Constance O'Day-Flannery). I have gotten back to work on my screenplay, but today my allergies are bugging me and meds aren't helping. I can't focus well enough to think! Shopping has helped, too, when their A/C is working. When it is over 100 here, sometimes it's best just to stay in.

I think today is a good day to be at work in my air conditioned office. It is 95 degrees here in New Hampshire. I am going to take it easy when I get home and just sit in front of the fan while reading articles on Gather.

You never gripe, Mariana. I always admire your positive outlook. It's very hot here in Massachusetts. I am staying in and reading (Michael Crichton - State of Fear). I needed to go to the bank but my car will be too hot to get into so I'm putting it off until tomorrow. I have central AC but it doesn't seem to be working all that well. I am drinking lots of liquids and being lazy. I went to an air-conditioned theatre last night to see The Devil Wears Prada. It was a great movie - totally entertaining.

I'm staying home in my A/C as much as possible. Work is air-conditioned but not very well. It's hard to keep an auto repair shop cool with the doors constantly opening and closing.

Mariana, Don't come to Canada thinking that it will be cooler. It's not. The weather report says it is 35 Celcius but 40 degrees Celcius with the humidex. That is approximately 110 degrees. It's hotter here than it was in Arkansas when we were there last week. However, last night at 5:30 it was 114 Fahrenheit in Arkansas, so my friend told me. Wherever you are, it's hot today. Try to stay cool. I'm hibernating in the AC.

Thank You Lord for A/C's and the continuing electricity to make them run!!! Amen.

Staying inside, thermometer reads 102F, dewpoint 75, heat index 113F....wet sock weather.

Good Golly, I guess I'm the only one here who LIKES IT HOT.
It's 98 degrees and I just came in from weeding in the garden.
My husband and son turned the air conditioning on last night, but they're not here now so it's open windows for me, Ha Ha.
When I get too hot, I just wear wet clothes. No biggie.

M.T.

It's a hot one here at the OHC. John, Aileen and KEO stopped over for lunch which was really far out. We barbequed and a had few cold ones.

I just finished rebuilding an old fence replacing some of the bad boards with new ones. Now I'm going to build new fence with the bad boards. If anything, it will have old hippie charm. If you have a little Welsh in your blood it seems you must keep fiddling with wood.

Stay cool!

Colonel Possum

Hot here!! 97 today. And that's hot for us here by the sea...

My in-laws live in a 1840s farm house. So many stories to tell. If the walls could talk...

My home is from the 1950s (love my pink bathtub!) and the couple here before us were the 1st to move in. They were here into their 70s and somehow saw it fit for us to take over. I think because I told them I'd keep up the gardens (my rosebushes are over 30 years old and are my 'babies') I love a house with a story.

Hot, hazy, and humid here in Central Florida. Showers moved in this early afternoon cooling it down to the mid 70's. What a relishing relief!

Granddaughter and I played a form of baseball...big bat, large ball...RUN Grandma Run!! :)

The peppers are setting their blossoms, the cantaloupe is crawling a mile a minute. Pole beans are twisting up the clothesline pole and marigolds are just about ready to bloom.

Prayers for all the folks facing bombs in parts of the world that peace is not a daily blessing.

Love, light, and blessings~Mama T

Miz T - You have a beautiful gift in that you always make me smile - I bet your little Granddaughter is crazy about you! I know your home must be filled with flowers and blooms of every variety! I do love summer. Yes, Prayers for them, mama T, my friend and for all those who need them. Many blessings to you and yours, Salud.

Hello Mariana,
It was 97 degrees here in southern Iowa this afternoon with a heat index of 112. Went for a walk - carried a big bottle of water, of course. Took a cool bath and when that wasn't enough, turned on the AC for awhile. Made up a big salad for dinner and some fried zuchinni. Hate to heat up food when it's so hot but don't want the zuchinni to go bad. The skies burst open about 7 pm. I could almost hear the grass and plants sing in gratitude for the fresh water. Sounds like it's hot everywhere today. Well, I know that's not true. We need to hear from one of those Australian lassies. I think it's winter over there about now, isn't it? I'm heading over to one of Magi's articles next. I'll see if she'll stop by your way and update us on the weather over there.

Love this article and comment thread!

And here I am Mariana and Marcia - and everyone else, too.

Yes, it's mid-winter in Australia. Here in Perth, West Oz, we're experiencing the driest winter ever recorded. But also frigid nights - one degree Celsius and sunny days but with cold winds off the huge inland deserts.

But West Oz is so huge that there are different types of climate and temperature ranges. In Perth we don't drop much below zero degrees Celsius and don't go much higher than 41-42 degrees celcius (in the shade). Up north, summer shade temperatures can be in the 50 degrees Celsius range - scorching!

Magi

Swamp Lady, how can you get your mind off Louisiana heat when you're reading ... James Lee Burke, of all writers. Try Andrew Vacchs or something .... chillier!
Cheerz.

Magi,
Thanks for the weather update. Cools me just thinking about it. Winter. It sounds like you have a pretty mild range of temps in your area. Too bad it's been so dry. Do you normally get much snow or is it more rain at those temps?

i wilt in this weather. even in central new york state its been in the 90s and dreadfully humid (my favorite weatherman calls it "air you can wear" and says "our old friends are coming to town, icky and sticky"). my only solution is lots of fans, ice water and a bag of something frozen on the back of my neck (according to the experts, because a large vein runs down the back of your neck, cooling that can cool your whole person). i think any frozen veg would do but i tend to avoid brussels sprouts - too lumpy!

stay cool and get to work on that book, honey!

Ok Aileen, spit it out, I want to hear all about this Screen Play - I myself am a great favorite of Tennessee Williams and get invites to his wonderful writing deal in New Orleans - do you want me to send you info? Thanks for commenting - also, tell me more about that book you're reading! Salud,
Linda - do you think it's hotter than when we were kids? It must be - I can't remember too many fans at our house except the ceiling one and for sure no A/C!! Clare - is that a good book? I like your mellow approach letting the day just take its course - best to never force things - thanks always for your positive comments! Marian, bless your heart for working at an auto repair shop - I can just imagine how hot that must be & believe me I've opened and closed a few doors in them...just recently getting back my 94 Jimmy but everything works! Salud,

Miz Mary M. Thank you for the weather update in Canada - yes, you are right, surely it must be hot everywhere but you know what - I still love Canada - the only place where I've spent time is in London, Ontario & I surely loved Victoria park in the winter - so absolutely gorgeous with everyone ice skating outside...Lynn, amen to that but in earlier years we hardly ran the a/c! Cat, where in the world do you live? I love heat too especially since it's always cold in Santa Barbara and Eureka...so I store house this heat down here - I'm a tropical flower and heat helps me thrive but I still do the long siesta between 2 - 4! After that the bayou breezes and a few iced drinks make me forget it's hot! Salud,

Matiana, i live in western india, a place called ahmedabad, here the temperature during summers is 43 degrees on an average, we dont have an air conditioner, so we have to do with our ceiling fan.

To cool down, we have chilled water or lime water(to avoid dehydration). Thats it.

A horrible time, i should say.

God bless.

Oops, Mariana, i meant. I apologise for the spelling mistake.

God bless.

Hiral! So nice to see you as always! Well, I'm glad that you still have a smile on your face despite the heat! Have a good day!
Mona, it's great to see you again - been a while - and I do love that air you can wear - too cute...thanks for the tip on the iced bag on the neck - I also think this works for nausea as well. Good idea about the frozen veggie bags too! Icky and Sticky - oh for sure! Magi, oh this is so neat to hear from you! Thank you so very much for all the location and weather updates! Also, Marcia dear - as always love your comments and seeing you too! I could almost hear the grass and plants sing in gratitude for the fresh water. I do love it when it rains and I know what you mean! Do you find that you do more art in the winter? I know I surely do but I'm still running around putting this book of mine together! I'm getting inspired though - lots of talent down here in the visual artist arena! Shadow, thank you for the recommendation! When I'm down here, I read bayou books although I have been reading one of my favorite authors, Ana Castillo lately. Thanks for commenting Shadow! Leah, I love a house with a story - ok - next article - we know what it will be! I do love pink bathtubs as I can remember visiting folks who lived in modern houses & thought it was deliciously decandent (at age ten) to take a bath in a pink tub!!! glad you've kept the garden - I want to hear more of your house stories...Thanks for stopping by! Oh, those rose bushes sound divine...I wonder if anyone wants to trade clippings and stuff?
Oh, there's my favorite Gather man, Colonel Possum...are things still heated up at the OHC...Aileen and John??? huh - ok fess up yall...Thanks for commenting, Colonel. Thank everyone for their comments - I'm just now figuring out how to get to this area! Yall have a kewl Tuesday! Salud,

Hi Mariana... yes it's steaming here in New England, just north of Boston. Over 90 and pretty humid. But I'm indoors working. Poor Susan is home working, trying to stay close to our window AC.

Mariana, the screenplay is something I've been toying with for too long but am trying to finally give it the attention it needs. I'm not in a position to hit workshops or anything yet, need to find steady income first!

I just stumbled across John lighting the OHC BBQ yesterday and offered to bring potato salad in exchange for some of the brew Kathryn was offering. It's fun when these spontaneous virtual parties break out! Have you been to any of the book bashes?

Air conditioning, although I hate to admit it. My husband and I use it as a very last resort, especially since we are remodeling and there are huge holes in our walls.

Ed, well, I'm glad you and Susan are staying cool! I know the feeling!
Aileen ~ every year there is a contest for this Tennessee Williams conference...I'll try to remember to send you a link...
No, I haven't been to any book bashes? What's that? Yes, I bet yall are having way too much fun at the OHC BBQ - did the cleanup committee ever show up??? Salud,

The book bashes are those of use gathering to help Dannielle S. in her efforts to earn gift cards for the Walton library that got flooded in the recent rains in NY. We keep posting comments to earn her points. The link in my previous comment will take you to one of the pages, but it loads slowly on dialup, I'm told.

Cleanup committee? I'm not sure...I know Miss Moly was draining the tranny of Miss Pete, but I haven't kept tabs on the rest of the mess we left!

Oh what a good idea - we lost probably 100 libraries due to Katrina and Rita - I've given away so many books because everyone lost the ones they bought from me - but then I had to take a big loss...I hope that library gets all the books it needs -
Cleanup Committee...Oh good - well, Molly is over six feet tall and runs the Colonel's ranch and him too...I'll have to make a run over there - thanks! Salud,

hi Crazy - are you new on the block? nice to see you - yes, hell it's hot everywhere. I did wash the front porch today though - I had to get the dust off - it's a wrap around porch - I'm hoping that I lost a pound or two - I am basically immune to the heat and bugs and all those things - I get into a zen state and just do what I have to do - sometimes it works quite well but I still have to take breaks for water and more chlorox! Salud,

It has been killingly hot here in VA Beach too; i think the humidity makes it worse than it might be. Mariana your books were returned to me; for some unknown reason your local P.O. tried to find MY street address in YOUR town. I will try again; I will use an adddress label for the return and mark YOUR address TO in large letters. Oy! LOL

Maura - did I give you my street address in southwest Louisiana - in a town called Franklin? Well, hell they all know me and my bidness down here - last thing someone mailed to me ended up in the next town and after everyone read it, I got it - all duct taped and sealed - ! let me know - cause I do have a p.o. box on the plantation. hugs to you. Salud,

i have your Main Street address....will try again...lol

someone blacked out FRANKLIN and drew an arrow to MY address!

Maura - now, that is a story in itself huh - I am aggravated as hell - I am going to go and cuss them all out at the post office...haha...they probably think I flew away somewhere - remember to write Louisiana in big letters - maybe they'll know where they heck I am...we still haven't blown away! Many thanks! Salud

LOL, You got it! I will do! And let them have it....lol

mariana - we were SO HOT the last few days!! then mon night, we had a huge storm and it broke. also broke our power and our car's windshield. the windshield is fixed now ($220) and the power is back on. whew!!

i don't cook when it is hot. we eat cold foods. potato salad from the fridge, fresh veggies, someth on the grill if we want meat.

i don't do hot. i get sick. we have AC and aren't afraid to use it!! haha. i am glad it is cooler now, though - we have the windows open and it smells so great.

Mariana - where in CA are you - it is really blazing. I've never seen a summer like this. I spend my time hunkered down in the coolest place in my house.

Nathan - for the summer - believe it or not, I'm down here in southwest Louisiana (hurricane country) - otherwise, I'm either in Santa Barbara or up in Nevada...I'm working on my 4th book down here - loads of fun - right now, I'm getting ready to go talk to a musician who waited 36 years for a break! Ain't that wild - he finally got it! Yes, indeed and he's in his 60's! More later - thanks for commenting - hope you cool off! Salud,

Hi Mariana - I'm back. Sorry it took so long. You said you do more art in the winter. You know, I go in cycles and phases with getting artwork done and I don't know that it necessarily matters which season it is. I want to know more about your books! Please tell us! And who is this musician you speak of who waited 36 years for a break and finally got it?

Hello Marcia - The season really doesn't matter actually it's the location - I'm more set up to fling paint and dig for rust in Nevada. Down here, I have an easel set up but that's too confining for me. I am also too busy running around photographing sooo many things and interviewing folks - all my books are oral histories of sorts - the musician is Kerry Robichaux who I used to listen to in the days of old - he was with Kerry and the Tempos and also Evangeline Made - both local Louisiana bands. I haven't talked to him yet - he had an operation and has been resting quite a bit - I should see him next week. Thanks for commenting Marcia et al. Have a great Sunday - lots of thunder and lightening here but it's pretty dramatic! Salud,

Hi Marianna,
You dig for rust? What does that mean? Is that a metaphor or for real? (And did I just ask another really stupid question?) I wish we could see some of your photographs here on Gather. I know I've bugged you about that before so I'll stop with that now. You do such fun stuff, Marianna. Keep writing about it all!

Mariana - Hiding in the one room that has AC is comforting. But the humidity still seeps into this room from the other half of the house that is missing central air. Lots of water to drink, lemonade or iced tea, hide in the shade outside, and wait for the rains to cool us down, if only for an hour.

I still think I'd rather deal with this heat than the frigid snows of the north! Without a doubt. I'll deal with the heat better than the cold. Though my bones are young, my soul is old and somehow recalls the pains of cold seeping into old bones. :)

It's always hot in Southern Arizona, but of course, it's a DRY heat. Still, when it's 108 it feels pretty dern hot anyway, so I stay off the tennis courts. Yesterday it was only 82 and overcast, which was a real treat. We're getting the remains of the pacific hurricane.