The Summer of Hot

On August 9, 2011August 9, 2011 By AngeliaIn Days and Nights, Mon Dieu! and all that stuff.24 Comments

Today will mark the 39th day of temperatures soaring to over 100-degrees in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Thirty-nine days of melt everything-in-your car searing heat. Thirty-nine days of risking serious burn putting on your seat belt. Thirty-nine days of hovering in front of an AC unit, just to survive. Thirty-nine days of crispy brown grass and dead – way dead – plants.

Thirty-nine days.

And that’s not even the record. The record in 1980 is listed as forty-two 100+ days in a row.

Which we will beat – according to forecasters – on Friday.

It’s not just the record number of 100+ days in a row, we are, also, breaking temp records each day. Record low at night, record high during the day.

Today, as usual, we could break a record high. The record is 106. Temp today? 107

Two things I can assure you.

One, it’s not a dry heat.

Two, there hasn’t been a drop of rain either (oh, there are urban legends of rain, and/or mirages of rain), it’s not real. If you have seen rain, you risked outside exposure one too many times.

There is a small – obviously sick – part of me that looks forward to the new blazing summer record.

Hey, we got this far! Might as well make history.

Unless something crazy happens, we definitely will.

Now more people can understand why we have tinted windows in our cars and swimming pools on every corner.

These are not optional, they are required.

I hope wherever you are…..you are cool. In Texas, we are just HOT.

Happy Summer!

The Dog Days of Summer

On July 5, 2011July 5, 2011 By AngeliaIn Beautiful Life, Life is what you make it.13 Comments

They’re here. The dog days of summer, where it’s too hot to do anything.

Anything active anyway……or anything that requires energy.

This is one of the hottest summers I can remember and we are not even half-way through.

So, I’ve taken note of how to spend the dog days of summer by emulating my black lab. Enjoy the AC when inside and when outside….jump in the pool for a refreshing swim.

Be sure and test the water with your ~~toe~~ paw first.

Then, relax and enjoy a nice summer soak to cool off.

Don’t forget to stay hydrated.

And wear sunscreen to avoid the burn, unless you are already dark (heh).

In throes of summer sizzle, I highly recommend a littel dip.

Enjoy a dog kind of day and stay cool!

I wished for a cool breezy wind

On August 19, 2010 By AngeliaIn Beautiful Life, Mama Kat's Writing Workshop28 Comments

Instead, I got slap of scorching hot blaze. The kind that sucks the air out of your lungs and makes you wish for an ice fishing hole on a frozen lake in Alaska.

The Japanese gardens – hands down – a stunningly beautiful place. But WHY do I always end up here when the temps are scalding? Summer in Texas is not kind. It’s not even safe to walk from your house to your car. It’s like orange pollution alert EVERY DAY. But, it’s really a double-edged sword. In the winter, it’s not near as beautiful as this.

That’s how we end up here to feed the koi and my latest obsession of photography. Granted, it’s only end of May. Which should still be spring. But not here. We are transported instantly to Japan and the sweltering humidity.

Look at her little red face.

We took the paths. We looked at the zen garden – which was sand – which was even hotter. Not to mention the girls were RUNNING around the zen garden – giggling, bouncing, and whoops; let’s just say not zen(ish) behavior.

Maybe, feeding the fish would make us feel cooler, yes?

I have never wanted to be a fish so badly before. Fed by children. Cooling my fins in the great depths of the fish pond.

Ahhhh!

On second thought…….

Not so much.

We trooped, sweat, and enjoyed the fresh furnace air – turn upon every lovely turn.

Then, thankfully after the last teasing waterfall we finished our tour. Distributed all our fish food and headed to the exit. I don’t think anyone was more grateful for the car A/C than me.

Now, I really want to see the Botanical Gardens, but I’m not sure I will survive. I’m hoping by November the flowers will be blooming and not the heat.

I chose prompt number – 5.) What did you wish for most? Write about a time when it was just too hot.