Redefining the words "hot" and "hardiness"
Take a look at this graphic, showing that Redding reached 116 degrees today, coming within two degrees of setting an all-time high-temperature record, and you'll know that we have officially arrived in the North State (The image will enlarge in a new window if you click on it, making it easier to read.):
Previously, the hottest temperature I'd ever experienced (at least to my knowledge) was 113, in Brea, shortly after Kelly and I moved to Southern California. I remember thinking I was going to die that day. But then, it was fairly muggy, too.
The heat really is dryer up here--I walked four miles a few days ago before discovering it was 104, and while I was a bit woozy, it wasn't nearly as bad as I'd have expected. As temperatures got close to 110 this week, then passed that mark, all you could think was, Yeah, it's hot, but how hot is hot? At some point, it's just hot, and you don't think about "how" hot--or at least I find that I'm not.
Locals warned us before we moved up here--and have continued to since--that of all the lifestyle changes we'd face, the climate would be the most challenging, especially during summer. But many also claimed we'd get used to the heat. Originally, I laughed at them. Yet, I went out a short while ago to run some errands, and I knew it was hot, but I didn't even realize it was this hot. Yes, I've been inside most of the day, but that's how you survive up here--from your air-conditioned house to your air-conditioned car, then back again. It seems I really am getting used to it, already, and Kelly and the kids seem to be, too.
Two hours later, I'm back home, and it's 109 at 7:23 pm. Wow. After Zienna's shower yesterday, I came home last night, and Kelly and the kids are due home shortly. Good thing the a/c is running, as my only real fear is a power outage.
Oh, and you might have also noticed on the graphic that tree pollens were "very high" today. No kidding. With my sensitivity to trees, that explains why my eyes and nose have been itching and running like crazy. Given the choice, I'd take the heat over that, any day! Poor Zach, whose allergies are much worse than mine, may be in for a rough week.
So anyway, after a fierce winter, with record lows and snow, we now have near-record highs the first week of summer. And I'm actually glad and relieved. Better to have an extreme year as soon as we move up here, so we know what to expect. Summer's just begun, but if this is as bad as it gets, I now know we can handle it. Hurray.
Now, could somebody pass me a cold drink? And while you're at it, would you mind letting Geedubya know that there might actually be something to this global warming thing? Please?
Previously, the hottest temperature I'd ever experienced (at least to my knowledge) was 113, in Brea, shortly after Kelly and I moved to Southern California. I remember thinking I was going to die that day. But then, it was fairly muggy, too.
The heat really is dryer up here--I walked four miles a few days ago before discovering it was 104, and while I was a bit woozy, it wasn't nearly as bad as I'd have expected. As temperatures got close to 110 this week, then passed that mark, all you could think was, Yeah, it's hot, but how hot is hot? At some point, it's just hot, and you don't think about "how" hot--or at least I find that I'm not.
Locals warned us before we moved up here--and have continued to since--that of all the lifestyle changes we'd face, the climate would be the most challenging, especially during summer. But many also claimed we'd get used to the heat. Originally, I laughed at them. Yet, I went out a short while ago to run some errands, and I knew it was hot, but I didn't even realize it was this hot. Yes, I've been inside most of the day, but that's how you survive up here--from your air-conditioned house to your air-conditioned car, then back again. It seems I really am getting used to it, already, and Kelly and the kids seem to be, too.
Two hours later, I'm back home, and it's 109 at 7:23 pm. Wow. After Zienna's shower yesterday, I came home last night, and Kelly and the kids are due home shortly. Good thing the a/c is running, as my only real fear is a power outage.
Oh, and you might have also noticed on the graphic that tree pollens were "very high" today. No kidding. With my sensitivity to trees, that explains why my eyes and nose have been itching and running like crazy. Given the choice, I'd take the heat over that, any day! Poor Zach, whose allergies are much worse than mine, may be in for a rough week.
So anyway, after a fierce winter, with record lows and snow, we now have near-record highs the first week of summer. And I'm actually glad and relieved. Better to have an extreme year as soon as we move up here, so we know what to expect. Summer's just begun, but if this is as bad as it gets, I now know we can handle it. Hurray.
Now, could somebody pass me a cold drink? And while you're at it, would you mind letting Geedubya know that there might actually be something to this global warming thing? Please?
posted by Scott at
7:22:00 PM
1 Comments:
Living in San Diego, we have the opposite problem - a lack of seasons. That was one thing I had to get used to when I moved here. Christmas just didn't feel like Christmas unless it was cold, and the rest of the year just felt like spring or fall. Opposite ends of the state, opposite problems, I guess.
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