Greetings…
After one of the best Springs I can remember since moving here,
Summer finally arrived, much to our chagrin. It’s not that those
of us that live in Arizona don’t expect the heat, it’s just that
we know we will be inside more than outside for the next few months
and like people that have to deal with Winter and that feeling
of being cooped up until the weather breaks, we feel the same,
only for the opposite reason…
Summer, not Winter…
The Sun and heat in Arizona does some real damage, and we realized
how much damage this week when we went out on the patio to move the
Barbecue grill and the wheels were literally pulverized from the Sun,
and the grill is under a covered patio almost all day!
The other damage that needs fixing is my dining room table. Even though
I do have drapes and blinds in all the windows, I have one particular
window about 35 feet up with a decorative fan over it…
The finish on my dining room table is GONE! The sun has “eaten” it and
it now needs refinishing…
In vintage, “closing the barn door after the horses ran away”, I spent
the last few days applying window tint to all the windows and for the ones
that were higher than any ladder we have, I called someone in to do it…
The window film boasts 95% UV protection and is guaranteed, so we’ll
see how it goes. Supposedly, it will also help lower the electric bill
because it blocks quite a bit of the heat, (which I noticed it does)…
Anything that can reduce these 600.00 Summer electric bills will be
a welcome relief!
When Doctors preach about protecting your skin from the damaging effects
of the Sun, some people poo-poo it and continue to bake out there for that
perfect tan and risk skin cancer while out there. it’s impossible to NOT
be out in the Sun when you live in Arizona, but when you see your Barbecue
grill wheels fall apart, or your dining room table lose it’s finish, one
has to believe our skin is in jeopardy from being exposed…
The funny thing is…
When I lived in Chicago, I would pray for a few sunny days after looking
out at gloomy days for sometimes weeks on end. Since living here, I noticed
most of us pray for cloudy and overcast skies and actually get energized
when the sky is dark and dreary!
Did I forget to mention that the sun bakes the brain also?
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Sure is comforting to know I am not the only one who almost prays for SUMMER to be over. I used to pray for it to be here- now I suffer, sweat, stay holdup & actually get “cabin fever” wen it is upon us. I live in southern Kentucky, and summer’s heat/humidity is a virtual punishment here. I told my husband the other day that the only thing I enjoy about this season anymore are the beautiful flowers & garden fresh veggies. I have a 6yo cocker sapniel that about 3 years ago had a minor heat stroke & so have to keep him in- & has recently started having seizures if I am away from him (severe seperation anxiety) So while my husband & daughter do get out & at least do a few things, I on the other hand am on “house arrest” til these dreadful temps moderate…. sometime in NOVEMBER!!
I know I’m wishing my life away (as my dear mother used to say) But I am so longing for winter. And unlike those who only SAY that & when it comes , pray for summer’s return, I pray for time to slow down when it gets here!!
Hot & Miserable in Ky.
That’s why I love Virginia…..we get it all, four lovely seasons….and none are too extreme.
(So… OK…. now I’ve really upset the “Apple Cart” so to speak…..now we’ll have 100+ degrees this summer and 3 feet of snow next winter)
I’ll keep you posted!
Phoebe
In Virginia
Oh how your post brings back memories. Grew up in the “Valley of the Sun” Bout the only thing I miss about the valley is the summer nights. Nothing quite like being 85 to 90 degrees at midnight to make a summer party pop! LOL.
Good for you and the tint, didn’t have that when I lived there. So many new things in the last 20 years. We had one way to do it, Play lizzard, find a rock or other shady place and crawl under it. Have you seen the lizzards that dance yet? The reason they dance is because it is too hot to put more than one foot at a time on the ground.
Enjoy the official “egg frying” time and pray for rain!
Enjoy your column, sometimes it makes me think and sometimes it makes me laugh, it always makes me smile.
Forest
Can’t stand it out here in the summer, but love the winters. Unfortunately lived here now for the past 40 some years and still have not become acclimated. Guess I am just a cold bodied person as my favorite temps are between 40 and 70 degrees. Love it when its brisk.
Originally from the Chicagoland area and shoveling snow never bothered me as it was great exercise plus being outside. My boys have moved to Wisconsin in the last couple of years and they love it and said they would never move back to Arizona. Nothing here for them, they say.
Dear Jamie,
I do not understand why people would want to live in a desert. I went to Arizona about 21 years ago. I thought ‘wow, sun most of the time, how great is that?’ I arrived in mid-May. My friend that met me when I got there assured me that SUMMER hadn’t arrived yet ( how could that be? it was 115 degrees?) and the only time people come out ON PURPOSE was to shop & mostly at night. ( Is this a neat state for Vampires, where your meals come out in the dark , Or what?) the only real thing I enjoyed about Arizona was taking a dripping wet towel ( or any clothing) out doors on the small side porch we had, & within an hour OR LESS it was so dry, you’d never know it had been wet just a brief while ago.
after 10 months of being bored by 1 beautiful sunny day ater another, I returned to New York. the weather seemed to welcome me back, because the first thing that that it did was rain.then the next season (fall) we had an early snow. that will teach me to regret my upbringing! so good luck with old SOL, he will do his best to win !
I live in West Texas, 20 inches of rainfall a year and semi-arid. I have grown accustomed to little snow and spring/summer rain/
I’m interested in knowing how difficult this window tint is to put up. Did you
have to piece a large window leaving a seam to deal with and if so how did it look.
Were you able to get all the bubbles out?
Thanks for all the hints and glimpses into your life. I love your colume.