Yesterday brought 7 Rose of Sharon blooms. Unfortunately, they were kind of smashed when we had a major, rather insane, thunderstorm in the late afternoon. We are under a heat advisory with lots of humidity and high temperatures and it continues through today.
Both Don and I felt more than a little trapped yesterday. It was too miserable to go outside except to quickly water the porch plants and the birdbath and grab the mail from the mailbox. We didn’t know what to do with ourselves.
And working on the Beacon Hill was impossible – the office/studio was like an oven. The box fan just blew the hot air everywhere. I have the window open in that room right now, just to cool it off a little.
All of this reminds me of my youth. We didn’t have air conditioning and August always brought hot and humid weather. I would place my head at the foot of my bed, which was right by the box fan inserted in the window, so I could feel a slight breeze. It was the only way I could get to sleep. My parents didn’t get a window A/C unit until years later and it was purchased for their bedroom. (Thanks for nothing, Mom and Dad.) A couple of years later the living room got its own unit. Those unbearable summer days always fell when performances started for the summer musicals I was in. Heat, humidity, heavy costumes. mosquitoes. I can be back there in a second in my mind – the smells, the heavy air, the faithful audience members, the excitement – all of it.
Later I experienced dorm rooms that had no A/C, and a slew of apartments that had no A/C. One apartment in Philadelphia – which gets very, very humid in the summer – had no A/C, nor could I afford to buy a unit. I was a poor graduate student. I used to come home from my summer temp jobs and take a shower, then position three fans on three different sides of the bed. I’d sit on the bed and try not to move for the rest of the evening. My next apartment did have an A/C unit which cooled off the kitchen living space, but it never quite reached the bedroom, so I had to put a fan in the doorway to draw in some of that cool air. No A/C in Boston and Cambridge, either. None in my first apartment in San Diego. Those were the days when the temperatures were still moderate, sort of a dream-come-true – it gets more humid there now. In the house we shared in San Diego, Don and I put in one window unit in our den. Central air? No. Only when traveling or visiting my parents and sister in Florida.
I still have a box fan, which we use in early spring/summer before we reach the point where we have to put in the A/C unit in the bedroom. That fan is in the office/studio now. And I have a little fan that I place in the doorway of the den to help bring in the cool air from the kitchen/living room.
More than you ever wanted to know about my life with and without air conditioning, I know. But the fact is I have not had A/C access most of my life. I’m so glad I have it now! This has been a very hot and humid summer.
Forgot to add: we have no A/C in our car. It stopped working early in the summer. We’re getting by and will continue to until we can afford to have it fixed.
Stay safe.
Happy Friday.
I don’t think I’ve ever had air/con, though it’s possible there was a window unit in the last apartment I lived in more than 30 years ago. Certainly not growing up, at college or early apartments or the cottage. I still don’t, apart from the car. Neither does Rick. There are a few days every summer where I would turn it on if I had it but almost 100 percent of the time, the fan does the trick. (I have one at home; none up north, unless I borrow one from my cousin). At night I’ll take chilled “beanbags” to bed — one for feet, one to hold, when there is absolutely no air and high humidity. My daytime strategies are a ride in the car, visit to a friend, going to a movie or a big store where I’ll do my walk down every aisle. But I do wonder as our world heats up when I will need it more.
Yes, yo may have to rethink that. Let’s hope you don’t have to, Jeanie.
Thanks so much.
Stay safe.
the air conditioner in my car is not working. had it checked last summer and was told the not-inexpensive dye test showed no leaks, but the freon they then put in is long gone, so there’s obviously a leak somewhere (argh). it’s been another hot summer, but i am not going to add also-not-inexpensive freon for just another month’s need only to have it leak out again. maybe next summer. all that to say, i understand your woes over no air conditioning and am glad you have it now.
and my sister and i will definitely be renting an air conditioner (car) to go hear todd rundgren in minneapolis later this month. :)
happy, safe and hopefully cooler friday!
kathy
Our car A/C isn’t working, either! It stopped working in the late spring. We can’t really afford to deal with that right now. Next year.
Stay safe.
I remember those days as a kid of trying to sleep with the box fan blowing on us. I’ve been lucky to have central air for many years now.
The summer is going by quickly so hopefully we will all be getting cooler weather soon.
So quickly! I guess it always does, though when I was a kit, summers seemed endless – in the best possible way.
Stay safe, Ellen!
It’s tough when you don’t have AC in either your home or your car. I would be miserable if we didn’t have it. I realize I am very lucky. As a kid who was raised by two depression era parents, while we had central air in our home, it was not turned on unless absolutely necessary. Which was rarely. So, box fans it was.
I am anxiously awaiting fall, or at least Fall like temps. My gardens are suffering, even though we have been watering. I’m done.
Your Rose of Sharon is lovely. Enjoy your day…and stay cool! ;)
Well, we DO have AC in this home! We have a very large window unit downstairs and a unit in our bedroom. Just not in the office/studio.
We’re fine when we’re in the house. I just have to hold off on dollhouse work until it gets cooler. Right now, the heat index is very high.
Stay safe, Donnamae.
I remember hot summer nights when I was a kid sharing a bedroom with my sister under the eaves. So hot! We have a portable AC now and quite frankly it really isn’t that efficient so fans it is. We haven’t even set up the AC this year. It is also very noisy. Hope you and Don have a lovely cool weekend. Hugs, Elaine
I shared a bedroom with my two sisters upstairs under the eaves. That room was freezing in winter and unbelievably hot during the summer.
A portable AC like the one where a tube goes out the window? I’ve used one in one of my out of town lodgings and I didn’t think it was efficient, either.
Stay safe, Elaine.
I also lived the better part of my life without a/c. And only the last couple cars have it. My bedrooms are on the 3rd floor, which is insufferably hot. They have recessed lights, so not an easy switch to install ceiling fans. I’m hoping to pick up a couple fans on season clearance. It was cloudy all day yesterday and turned out to be quite nice. Loving the pictures of Beacon Hill.
I hope you can get those fans, Lynda. Cloudy is good at this time of year. It’s very sunny here today!
Stay safe.
Gosh, love this post about a/cs, such a pleasant yet mundane topic for a summer day. The 7 of us kids could take turns sleeping in the basement. The weather often broke before I had my day. I had the same set up as you, in my apartment. A fan in the hallway to try to draw a/c air to my bedroom.
Ive had a wasp sting putting veg waste into our compost bin. It was 2 days ago. I only saw one wasp, not knowing there were was a nest. Im allergic. My arm is elevated on pillows and its time for the chilled ice pack again.
Its supposed to get hot again. Monday we should receive our new hammock. Yaaa… My little dog keeping jumping on and off. I like a/c and i like heat.
But right now, ouch my arm!
Feel better, Irene. Several years ago, I walked out of the house we were renting and was immediately stung by several wasps. Really frightening.
Stay safe.