Friday, July 9, 2010

Heatwave?

After a long cool spring, summer has finally arrived here in the Pacific Northwest. I personally like cool rainy days way better than hot sultry days. Way better. Temperatures today will be up around *gasp* 90 degrees. Or maybe more.

Those of you who are going through an actual heatwave can stop laughing right about now. I know it's not the surface of the sun...but dang, I hate hot weather.

Even though there are quite a few references to summer in Neeldom...I'm drawing a blank when it comes to true heatwaves. Sure there's the occasional dip in the ocean...but there doesn't seem to be any real need to "beat the heat". My question is: What do you do to beat the heat? Not just an idle question - I really would like some new ideas.

8 comments:

  1. I like to go shopping at the grocery store and hang out in the freezer section.
    On Tuesday I braved putting a bathing suit on and the entire family went to the local pool and out for Baskin Robins 31 flavors.
    We have also tried the block of ice in front of a fan. It was more entertaining than useful.

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  2. Here in South Florida, we just stay indoors with air conditioning. It's a good time to catch up on my Betty Neels reading.

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  3. The best kind of swimming pool, my friends!

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  4. Swimming pools and air conditioning...thin on the ground here north of Seattle...neither one get a lot of use here, not enough to be cost effective.

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  5. Heatwaves *used* to be rare in England. I was there in 1976 when it was broiling (and no air conditioning either) and it was similarly quite warm in 2006 (when I discovered they sell neither iced coffee nor iced tea!) but I've also been there in summers where it never got above 70°F.

    We are high enough up in the "mountains" (not really high enough; that's just what they call them -- the "Endless Mountains") that it rarely gets very hot here. Maybe one day in the summer will be over 90°F. We don't bother with air conditioning, but our basement is always cooler, so we just hang out downstairs. And we do have a swimming pool, which we can heat but don't because it's environmentally stupid. That shortens our swimming season a lot, but I can live with that better than I can live with the guilt.

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  6. Betty van den BetsyJuly 27, 2011 at 8:54 AM

    The Jonkheer mowed the lawn yesterday, b/c temps were down to low 90s, and important to get it done before we go back to the triple-digits, with massive humidity. I am "too busy at work this week" to mow, but I did tell him three times how high and happily my heart leaped with love when I rounded the corner and saw him laying waste to the shin-high grass (it's been hot for a while).

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  7. We are cottaging and feeling very fortunate. Actually it's just Betty Megan and I who are getting most of the fun. Honorary Betty Meg (youngerst sister, who's read a few but just doesn't see get it), won an auction at her college and got a week at a cottage on a local lake. It had to be this week, and she can't take vacation, cuz this is registration week, so her son and friend my daut and friend and one of Meg's friends are cooling off at the breezy lake. Right now I'm at home, cleaning the mess the Prof left the house in. He didn't have time left either. No internet at the lake, but I've been painting and walking and swimming hope to try canoe before week ends. Grandkids coming on Friday, party for Prof's Bday out there on Saturday.
    So, I'd say find a windy lake and cool off!
    Love to all, Betty Mary

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  8. We've barely broken into the 80's this summer...if you can call it that (summer, I mean). Our lawns are lush and green - we haven't had to use the sprinkler once!

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