(no subject)
Aug. 13th, 2010 04:54 pmI have used the phrase "too hot to breathe" hyperbolically before, but just now I found out it can be literally true.
A couple weeks ago, the cover of one of the rear speakers in my car completely shattered, like crumbled into dust, we think from the relentless sun weakening it. Now that it's fixed, my dad had the bright idea of putting a towel over the speakers in the back so it doesn't happen again. Foolishly, I decided to go do this at 4:30 PM, when the temperature is 96F and the heat index 105.
My car has been parked in the sun for, oh, a week now without moving. I opened it to put the towel in, and literally could not draw breath. I had to stick my head out the door to do so. My glasses instantly steamed over inside the car as well. After about thirty seconds, I realized I was going to have to come back after sunset to finish this.
Now I am going to sit under my ceiling fan and wait for fall. Uuuuugggghhhh. Surely this has to end some day? I'm starting to think all my memories of cooler weather are false.
A couple weeks ago, the cover of one of the rear speakers in my car completely shattered, like crumbled into dust, we think from the relentless sun weakening it. Now that it's fixed, my dad had the bright idea of putting a towel over the speakers in the back so it doesn't happen again. Foolishly, I decided to go do this at 4:30 PM, when the temperature is 96F and the heat index 105.
My car has been parked in the sun for, oh, a week now without moving. I opened it to put the towel in, and literally could not draw breath. I had to stick my head out the door to do so. My glasses instantly steamed over inside the car as well. After about thirty seconds, I realized I was going to have to come back after sunset to finish this.
Now I am going to sit under my ceiling fan and wait for fall. Uuuuugggghhhh. Surely this has to end some day? I'm starting to think all my memories of cooler weather are false.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-14 02:28 am (UTC)Fortunately, I have sunblock. This is a very good thing, as without it I quickly become a human Cheeto -- red and crispy. And there is at least one Shakespeare-in-the-park performance I'd like to catch over the weekend....
no subject
Date: 2010-08-14 05:22 am (UTC)Oooh, that reminds me that I need to stock up on SPF Vampire sunscreen for my trip next weekend...
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Date: 2010-08-14 12:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-14 05:20 am (UTC)(We've had highs of about 100 and heat indices near 110 for about a week now. *cries*)
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Date: 2010-08-14 01:44 am (UTC)At least I'm not in Ames, so I actually have, y'know, WATER.
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Date: 2010-08-14 05:21 am (UTC)At least I'm not in Ames, so I actually have, y'know, WATER.
Always a good thing...
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Date: 2010-08-14 08:53 pm (UTC)We melt, basically. Lots of fans from home, lots of classes in the dark, lots of lightweight clothes (and sometimes, changes of clothes). The high school's really the worst, as all of the other buildings only have one floor, and a lot of the elementaries are entirely air-conditioned. (About half the HS has AC - the half that's connected to the administrative offices, of course. Shocker.) If it's new, it's got AC, and of course, they'll postpone doing anything with the secondary schools if they think they need to add on to an elementary. But once the junior highs are done, we'll have geothermal that SHOULD keep it decent, at least. I hope...
If I were a student, I'd totally start a fundraiser for some window units.
I'm sure that would violate some crazy fire code. (Last year we were informed that extension cords were forbidden. We could only have surge protectors. The school had a great time trying to find surge protectors on 10' cords...) Oh, and the English wing at the HS - when they put in the AC, they put in windows that don't open. Which is great when the AC doesn't work. Which is, oh, EVERY AUGUST.
Besides, when it's nasty like this, we get out early (elementary gets out early for the first few weeks anyway). No way would the kids jeopardize that! ;) That's why every year, there's inevitably someone in state legislature who wants to get repeal the waivers for starting before Labor Day (which virtually every district applies for). And every year after they propose it, it's blissfully cool the first few weeks, then a sauna in September. Heh.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-15 03:54 am (UTC)I'm sure that would violate some crazy fire code.
Aww. I had them all through middle and high school (the buildings were older than central air, though my HS got refitted after I graduated and has it now). The only problem was that some of the older machines were so noisy that it could be hard to hear the teacher if you were sitting next to them.
Last year we were informed that extension cords were forbidden. We could only have surge protectors.
*boggle*
Oh, and the English wing at the HS - when they put in the AC, they put in windows that don't open.
Oh, that's bright.
Elementary kids get out early for the first few weeks? We got a half day the first day, and then it was full time, full speed ahead.