104 today
Nothing like stating the obvious, but when it’s hot, it’s harder to think. So I don’t blame people for all the cliches: “Hot enough for you?” or “You could fry an egg on the pavement.”
Last Saturday as the mercury climbed to 100 and beyond (Fahrenheit) our air conditioning blew out. Great timing. A service person came out and though on the phone he said he could have us “up and running today.” What that really meant is we could sign up to buy a new system that day. I suppose he felt the prospect of a/c was as real as actual a/c. Not to the residents, though.
Anyway, the wiser family members are now ensconced in a nearby hotel till the weather cools. Enough with the sleepless nights in the heat. While the basement did afford some cool comfort, the couch did nothing for my back and as the days wear on, I’d really have some troubles.
On Monday we had cocktails with some neighbors. I learned that in the 30s and 40s people would sleep on the beach, in the parks or on the roofs of their three flats. That’s rather romantic. Nowadays it’s just too dangerous. When I was young we didn’t have central air. I do remember the beloved window units. Any advances in air conditioning are Godsends in my book.
(An aside: Crime figures for the weekend in Chicago – this holiday week they’re averaging 4 murders a day.)
Related articles
- What are Your Favorite Creative Cooling Solutions? (elocal.com)
- Get your fresh, hot internets here! (thinkgeek.com)
- Elderly can’t afford air conditioning (azfamily.com)
- Cities That Wouldn’t Exist Without Air Conditioning (theatlanticcities.com)
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