Welcome to the latest edition of "What Season Is It?" Our last installment explored Spring in Winter. Today, we discuss "Summer in Spring," or "Why is it so damn hot?"
Yesterday, we reached a high of 85 degrees Fahrenheit. I was completely unprepared. It's the next day, and I am still unprepared. I'm just not ready for summer yet.
The west-facing walls of my house are nearly all windows, which means my house cooks like an oven on summer afternoons--even with the blinds drawn. Yesterday was no exception. I watched the thermostat climb, hoping it would stop at a reasonable temperature. I did not want to turn on the air conditioning in April--even if it was April 30th.
By 5:30 pm, even with all my windows open, a strong, steady breeze blowing, and my blinds mostly closed, my living room was 82 degrees and still getting hotter. My bedroom upstairs, had I checked, would have been even warmer--probably about 85 degrees. And the sun had another 2 1/2 hours to beat down on my west-facing windows. It wasn't going to get any cooler any time soon.
I caved.
I turned on my A/C. By 10:30 pm, my house felt comfortable again--comfortable enough that I thought I'd be able to sleep. I turned off the A/C, thinking that the house would continue to cool off overnight.
I was wrong.
I tossed and turned all night. When I "woke up" this morning (if it's possible to wake up after not sleeping), the thermostat was two degrees warmer than when I'd gone to bed.
It's supposed to be in the 80s again today. Right now, I have the windows open and a comfortable breeze is blowing. But you can bet your bottom dollar that I'll be turning on the A/C this afternoon and this time, I'll be leaving it on all night.
P.S. -- Yes, I'm a wimp. I have no tolerance for the heat.
Yesterday, we reached a high of 85 degrees Fahrenheit. I was completely unprepared. It's the next day, and I am still unprepared. I'm just not ready for summer yet.
The west-facing walls of my house are nearly all windows, which means my house cooks like an oven on summer afternoons--even with the blinds drawn. Yesterday was no exception. I watched the thermostat climb, hoping it would stop at a reasonable temperature. I did not want to turn on the air conditioning in April--even if it was April 30th.
By 5:30 pm, even with all my windows open, a strong, steady breeze blowing, and my blinds mostly closed, my living room was 82 degrees and still getting hotter. My bedroom upstairs, had I checked, would have been even warmer--probably about 85 degrees. And the sun had another 2 1/2 hours to beat down on my west-facing windows. It wasn't going to get any cooler any time soon.
I caved.
I turned on my A/C. By 10:30 pm, my house felt comfortable again--comfortable enough that I thought I'd be able to sleep. I turned off the A/C, thinking that the house would continue to cool off overnight.
I was wrong.
I tossed and turned all night. When I "woke up" this morning (if it's possible to wake up after not sleeping), the thermostat was two degrees warmer than when I'd gone to bed.
It's supposed to be in the 80s again today. Right now, I have the windows open and a comfortable breeze is blowing. But you can bet your bottom dollar that I'll be turning on the A/C this afternoon and this time, I'll be leaving it on all night.
P.S. -- Yes, I'm a wimp. I have no tolerance for the heat.