Saturday, June 27, 2009

Feelin' Hot Hot Hot!

Oh man is it hot. I had a nice long post started about our visitors from the US and our annual trek home, but the truth is it is just too hot to think about any of those things. I know I am taking a real risk talking about the heat, because a large portion of my readers (if there are any of you left) are in Arizona. Arizonans usually roll their eyes or zone out completely when anyone outside of the Grand Canyon State complains about heat, but please, bear with me.

Most people here don't believe me when I tell them I come from a city where it gets even hotter than New Delhi. It is true though. One day, back in 1990, it hit 122 degrees Fahrenheit, or 50 degrees Celsius, in my home town. I have had the soles of my shoes begin to melt. I have had the heels of my high heeled shoes sink into the melted street surface. I am familiar with hot weather. But this is going to kill me.

The problem with the heat here is that it brings power failures along with it, which means no air conditioning. It is true that we have a generator back up, but as the power dips, stops and surges back every few minutes for hours on end, the A/C units stop trying to keep up and just start blowing warm air. Plus, as the weeks of heat take their toll on the window units, (there is no central air) they stop working, one by one. Despite several repairs and assurances from the repairmen that they have been fixed, they still fail to blow anything but hot air.

The refrigerator and freezer can't keep our food or water cold. Water just pumped from the bore well provides a hot shower without the help of the water heater. Everything radiates heat, especially my children who insist on always being within six inches of me. Last night as Mr. Smith and I dragged ourselves into bed, we realized that even our mattress was radiating heat. Remembering a childhood trick I turned my pillow over looking for "the cold side". To my dismay I realized my choices were the hot side, or the sweaty side. Blech. We laid awake until 3:30am when the power finally stayed on long enough to cool the room to a bearable level.

But do you know what I hate the most? The one thing that really irritates me? As I complain about the heat that is making me cranky, I know that the vast majority of the people around me, even those living in the other beautiful homes on my street, have it far worse than I do, and that makes me feel like a spoiled child. Seriously...I can't even enjoy a good pout.

8 comments:

Suburban Correspondent said...

Aren't you folks supposed to be sleeping out on your roof or something?

Aunt Carol said...

You should be at our house now. The day was warm (87 degrees)I know I shouldn't complain. When you live in the So.Cal Mountains 87 is hot. A nice breeze came up tonight, so we were sitting out on the deck (I think Mr.Favorite Aunt is still out there). I am being a BAD Aunt. When I was a kid (long ago) we would put a block of ice on an ironing board (in a pan) and put a fan behind it. Then sit infront of the ironing board. Tell Mr. Smith to get a battery operated hand held fan with a water bottle and hold it in front of you.

HouseBoy said...

One benefit of the Delhi heat - the kids no longer complain about taking showers... they willingly jump right in to cool off!

The Silly Nilly Family said...

Yikes! Heat is heat where ever you are but it's the no airconditioning that would really kill!! Hang in there, Jennifer

Anonymous said...

Sounds awful. Here's wishing you all kinds of luck that those air conditioning units will do their job!

Unknown said...

I will agree. Heat in Delhi is different. Your poor ac units they try so hard.

I remember when we were young you radiated heat. You would sit just close enough not to touch me but the heat from your leg would drive me crazy. I think you did it on purpose, you get that from Dad, acting innocent when you truly aren't.

Never fear I still love you. Can't wait to see you again.

Your favorite sister. (the #7 child in case you can't remember)

Anonymous said...

Where the hell are u guys? Did u move back to America or something? Please I need closure.

Unknown said...

Anonymous... we moved home. Mrs. Smith passed away shortly after we returned home. Kids are all grown or almost grown. Life has moved on. I am grateful for the blog because it freezes these little moments in time.

Be well.

Mr. Smith