Baby, it's HOT outside!!!
For the last several months, it has been extremely hot in Texas. A high pressure dome over Louisiana has kept us in sweltering heat with little to no measurable rainfall in our area since April/May. Our average rainfall for May is 5.15 inches.....we received 0.38 inches. Our average rainfall for June/July is 6.45 inches....as of July 9 we have received only 1.75 inches. The temperatures for June and July have been almost entirely over 95 degrees every day with at least 11 days over 100 degrees with a high humidity. We have been under heat advisories for many days now. Our heat index's have hovered between 103 and 110. Most of the state is under some kind of water conservation plan and burn ban. Here in Texas most people are used to hot days (actually summer seems to last about 9 months of the year here) but nothing like this. Animals of all kinds are looking for water.This, my friends is a very dangerous heat. Last weekend we went to San Antonio for the 4th of July weekend. It was almost unbearably hot! Cars were breaking down due to heat. There is nothing fun about this heat and we are learning to take extra measures to keep ourselves and our children safe. My husband tolerates heat much better than I do. I also sunburn in the shade with SPF 50 on. No kidding.
Several months ago, we purchased a Wii for our family. We have invested in some games because the entire family has been enjoying it and we have needed some break from the heat. We've been playing it in the evening (we are supposed to limit our electricity use between 3 and 7pm due to the stress on the power grid). During the daytime we have kept all the lights off in the house and try to keep things low key. We've been reading The Hobbit and indulging in afternoon siestas (naps). We have a teen that is highly allergic to mold and mildew and our allergist informed us that the only way to really keep that stuff out of our house in this high humidity area was to keep the a/c set on 76 degrees (it really works-you can actually feel a difference in the humidity!). That is our one big splurge. Even the computers go off for most of the day to keep the temps down as much as possible.
When we went on our trip last weekend, we went on several adventures, one of which was going through a cave (Cascade Caverns). It was nice and cool in the cave....the temperature was a steady 65 degrees year round! Tonight, on the National Geographic Channel, Cameron and I watched a documentary about a cave in Mexico- Crystal Cave that is filled with giant crystals. There, the temperatures are around 120 degrees Fahrenheit and over 80% humidity! It is one of the deadliest environments on earth! Spending just 15 minutes in that cave without special protection could kill humans. Cameron and I were intrigued by what the scientists were saying about the heat. After spending just 10 minutes in temperatures around 105 degrees Fahrenheit, your body starts to die-organs begin the dying process. Even with special equipment, the scienctists could only be in the cave for 30 minutes at a time! These scientists are studying this cave in conjunction with research with space travel and a potential Mars trip. They are testing equipment here in this giant cave that they will use on other planets someday!
It has been such a long time since we have felt this heat for so many days. Water mains are breaking, sidewalks and roads are buckling. Our family is going through popsicles and water like crazy. During this hot season, think about people who HAVE to work in this environment-especially our Sanitation Department workers. How about providing them with cold, fresh water when they come by your home? We often give out popsicles, bananas, ice cold watermelon and frozen grapes. We have nice big trees in our front yard that we invite them to rest under if they have a minute. We do this every summer and they seem so grateful that someone notices and cares for them and the important job they do!
Lord, we need some nice, gentle rain and cooler temperatures!
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