I knew it was going to be hot today, but I had no idea it was going to be like this. The blacktop freakin’ radiated heat like a skillet. I’ve been teaching the kids figurative language–I should demonstrate the old “fry an egg on the sidewalk” euphenism.
I heard the weather report on the radio this morning, and dressed accordingly. (Well, I couldn’t be naked, being that I teach fifth grade and all…but, a light cotton dress is the next best thing, if one has to be clothed). I warned the kids before recess (it was already hot at 8am, and boiling at 10:30am)–drink lots of water, stay in the shade, get your heads wet in the bathroom, etc. Stunningly, when I went out for my 1:10pm lunch duty–at the peak of the heat of the day–there were kids out on the blacktop playing tetherball and dodgeball! And basketball! Running around! In 114° weather! ACK!
I was outside for just 10 minutes (my duty), hanging out in the shade of some trees or the hallway overhang, and still dripped sweat. After school (which was not long after my duty; kids are dismissed early on Tuesdays), I waited out in that heat with a student (I needed to speak with his mother). In those 15 minutes, my head actually was sweating–I could feel it in my hair–and I’ve had a heat headache ever since. We’d had the classroom door open (my room has no windows–so, the door’s it), but had to close it at 11am because it was too hot–and because all the insect life was flying into our air-conditioned room for respite. Meanwhile, my partner’s a/c broke down. It was 90° in her classroom at one point. Feh. BTW, I checked WeatherBug when I got home for the temperature–that’s the official high of the day for my area. Ick ack ook snarf…
I’d just like to share that I hate heat. And Lord, I love air conditioning!
Even us Arizona dopers agree that 114° is pretty freaking hot. We may be used to that kind of weather frequently in the summer but it doesn’t make it any easier to deal with. It also isn’t a “dry heat” here as Phoenix is rife with canals and pools. The real fun is when it climbs higher. A few years ago they had to close Sky Harbor airport because the takeoff charts didn’t go to 120°.
The way you was lollygagging with them picks and shovels, you would think it was a hundred and twenty degrees out here. Can’t be more 'n a hundred and fourteen!
It’s a whole lot drier than Lower California, where Ruffian hails from.
I was in L.A. and San Diego for 2 weeks in August, and Phoenix just last Saturday. 93°F in San Diego was practically disabling for me, while 105° in Phoenix was quite tolerable.
