how to stay cool when the temperature doesn’t.
I actually have no idea.
That title was a complete lie.
I can’t even fathom how to keep from turning into a sundried tomato as soon as I step out of my air-conditioned office.
Am I lucky to be in an air-conditioned office? Why yes, yes I am, actually.
But that doesn’t save me when I leave work and have to make due with hordes of sweaty, malcontent people on buses, in stores, on the streets, and in my home.
Granted, my stunning roommate Catherine is neither a horde, nor a malcontent.
But you can imagine how she COULD be, given that our thermostat stopped playing with us at 40 C last night, and all our candles melted on the deck, and every flower or food item that wasn’t in the fridge wilted into a sad, sorry shell of its former self.
We actually ended up ordering pizza, because the thought of turning on the oven or stove made us want to weep and flail.
At least we got a nice sunset out of it:
When it finally came time to crawl inside from the relative cool of our deck (and I’m smirking as I type that), we each took nearly hypothermic showers before bed. The aim was to trick our bodies into believing they were in Antarctica, and not the Lower Painland.
And it worked for a second, too… approximately the same amount of time it took me to step out of the shower. By the time I was lying on top of my sheets, I could feel the heat bearing down on me like a thick blanket of blech.
BUT.
I did fall asleep eventually. Apparently, I even got cool enough in the middle of the night to require a blanket, because I woke up sweltering under a quilt.
All in all, I’m pretty damn thankful for the sunshine, even if it brings the soul-dampening humidity and heat that turn me into a pathetic, whiny girl idly rattling the last ice cube in her not-so-cold-anymore latte.
Especially if the alternative is a hot RAINY day. Echhh.
Because no one needs THAT.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:15 am
Lower Painland…! Nice…made me laff from over here on the island.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:15 am
The sunset was amazing here too…All baby blanket pink and blue!
July 12th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
Try putting your top sheet in the freezer for 30 minutes to an hour before retiring to bed. Works when heat-induced insomnia kicks in. (Idea original to Aunt Joan in Arizona)
July 12th, 2007 at 2:28 pm
I don’t know how I’d ever sleep without A/C in my house now. Best feature when I bought this place in November, and its exceeded expectations.
Now, I just don’t want to see the first Hydro bill…
July 12th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
Last night was the first night I slept with no sheets, and in just a long and loose tank top. I could not sleep for hours. Even in the warmest of weathers, I usually need at least one sheet, because I like the comforting feeling of being snuggled up with lots of blankets. Not last night. Oh no. I had the windows open, the fans blasting all night long, and I was still hot. I love this hot weather, but I do hope it cools down about 10 degrees soon, otherwise I’m never going to get sleep. Out in the Fraser Valley it’s almost unbearable.
July 12th, 2007 at 10:49 pm
You know, I was about to comment and disagree with your optimistic twist on the end of this post. I was going to say, “NO! DON’T SMOOTH IT OVER! IT’S AWFUL! NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO LIVE THROUGH DAYS LIKE THIS!!!” But then, your mention of hot rainy days really hit me where it counts. You’re absolutely right. There’s nothing as bad as sweating and sweltering under a rain coat. Eugh.
July 13th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
my tip: wet your pjs, put in freezer for half an hour before going to bed. don’t leave them in too long or they’ll be too stiff to put on! (been there!)
August 5th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
ahhh i’m having the same problem right now. I just can’t fall asleep! I’ve put cold water on my hair and my legs, but that doesn’t really seem to help. Oh well after an hour or so I’ll be soo tired, that i’ll have to fall asleep.