It's too darn hot

I found myself humming the Cole Porter classic this morning as I got ready for work. It was 8 AM and my house was already stifling. Yes, Southern California is actually too hot right now.

It happens every year (although usually a little later than this). For a week or two, we actually feel something called humidity and the temperature goes above 90 degrees. For those of without air conditioning (like me), it makes life an utter hell.

Now remember, I come from the Midwest where hot and humid summers are expected. However, I do not remember having such an adverse reaction to it there. When did I become so weak when it comes to weather?

When I moved to California in the summer of 2000, most of the townhomes I was looking at did not have air conditioning. I remember being shocked and telling my realtor that people literally die without air conditioning in the Midwest. She kept reassuring me that I was close enough to the coast that it would not be an issue (those calming ocean breezes would keep it nice and cool). The place I ultimately bought is "wired" for air conditioning, but putting such in would require giving up some of my precious outside deck area.

So, every year when this happens, I find myself browsing the net to see how much it will cost me to install air conditioning. Like clockwork, just when I think that I cannot take it any more, the heat spell breaks and I forget all about the burning desire to get air conditioning. I am sure this time will be no different, but when you are breaking a sweat putting on your pants, you feel utterly helpless and see no way out.

Of course, I just checked the forecast and it looks like things will be back to normal by Monday. Crisis averted......