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Umm, yeah, after watching that video (which you can see by clicking on the link above), I can say with 100% certainty that I DEFINITELY don't mean hot mess in that way. No, sadly, I mean hot mess as in something more like this:
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| In case you've never seen this godawful picture, it's Nick Nolte after what I presume to be some kind of debauchery. |
I had a to-do list today, which included a trip to Lowe's to pick up some boring items like a light bulb and a new spray-attachment thingy for our hose. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. But as I pulled into the parking lot I spied them: rows and rows of flowers and hanging baskets. Hooray! My husband and I had done some mowing, weeding, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...oh, sorry, and other dull, yard-related stuff yesterday. Today, upon seeing the flowers, I figured it was time to reward our hard work by getting some hanging baskets. And maybe a pot of flowers for the front steps. Also, perhaps just a wee plant or two for the garden beds.
I hurriedly found the boring items on my list and trotted outside to investigate the flowers. I kept grabbing heavy pots that were spilling over with beautiful flowers, cramming them in my cart, and then spying something even better one row over. So I'd remove Now-Not-So-Great Pot 1 and replace it with Ah-That's-Much-Better Pot 2. After about half an hour of this nonsense, I had annoyed even myself (often there's another beleaguered party with me who is sighing and sneaking looks at his watch). Plus, I was hot. And sweaty. And irritated. What the hell? It felt pleasant out when I was walking to and from the car. The temperature was in the low- to mid-70s. Perfectly delightful. But all of my heaving items on and off shelves and pushing a heavy cart had taken its toll. I made my way to the checkout counter sweatily and sullenly, wondering what on earth it's going to be like come July and August, when sometimes just getting to and from the car is enervating.
Speaking of the car, it, naturally, was broiling inside. I can't believe it's already time to use the sun shield! I guess it's also time to haul out my cooling neck wraps and, if I must, my super-attractive cooling vest. Oh, warm weather. I love you for making beautiful things grow, but I am less fond of you for how you make my MS so much worse.
What are your strategies for dealing with the heat?
I had my sun shield up today & even had to Break Down & turn on the AC for the final leg home from work (arduous commute of about 12 min as you know). It was That Hot. And I was wearing nice work clothes so I did not want to go all Nick Nolte on my cute sweater set (light weight sweater set, I might add, & it was a nice choice at 9 am but rather suffocating at 4 pm). My ideas: Park in the shade. Use that sunshade. Crack the windows. Keep cooler on front seat w. water w. LOTS of ice in it (try to avoid knocking over said water while driving & sipping. Oh wait, I never spill water, just milkshakes & mochas from Starbucks!). Good luck! MK
ReplyDeleteThanks for the suggestions! I did search in vain for shade in the parking lot; unfortunately, the Lowe's lot was like an asphalt desert. Should've cracked the windows, yes, and have resurrected the sun shield for next time. My friend Amy got me a great (until I break it) glass water bottle that I am now carting around, which has been lovely. I was always a bit nervous about the warming plastic bottles in my car.
DeleteI despise summer, my MS acts up the worst in hot humid weather. I stay inside in the AC most of the summer. Even with neck wraps and a vest, I rarely go out.
ReplyDeleteYes, summer can be awful. My neuro doesn't think I'm a candidate for a placard so I can park closer to store entrances, so facing a hike across a blazing parking lot really sucks. I try to go out early/late to avoid the worst of it. The neck wraps/vest I find work well up to a point, then they just sort of become soggy, lukewarm weights!
DeleteI adore Summer, even though it kills me. Flak jacket/cooling vest is a must; 9' Market Umbrella to shade the patio table; move in and out of the sun as needed. Live nocturnally, stay up at night and sleep all day. When it is really hot (upper 70's, 80's at night). this is just the ticket. DH brings out a light and our laptops outside, and we sit on the patio. The cats seem to like this, too!
ReplyDeleteWebster, I used to be a night owl. Makes sense -- until I start working again, I guess! Your laptops on the patio sounds wonderful. I can definitely swing that (and I have a jaunty new umbrella I'm excited for my husband to put up!).
DeleteI turn into a troll and only come out at night - or very early. And people have to put up with the soggy messdom (and crabby with it) that I become.
ReplyDeleteI go out as little as possible in the hotter months. I have one of those ugly, ugly vests but refuse to wear it in public. The neck wraps are fine, the vest is NOT.
And I keep water in the spa and dip in and out of it. And curse a lot.
I responded to Karen before reading your comment. Yep, early or late outings are the way to go.
DeleteMy husband and I went to Bermuda a couple of years ago. I'd packed the cool vest as insurance, but I was determined to tough it out. HA! Silly me thinking I could march around Bermuda and not melt. So I donned it, feeling a bit like an ass, but it did help until the ice packs melted.
I want a spa! (What's a spa? Like a pool?) small Oh, and I curse during the summer, winter, fall, spring...no season is off limits!
Heat. Brutal! I feel for you. I did myself in at the hardware store today, and it wasn't even hot out. We've been having winter-style rain(!) Nothing worse, I think, than a hot car on a toasty day. Ugh. Summer in your part of the world (make that spring, summer, and a large hunk of fall) is something that makes me feel weak even to contemplate. As you say, it's not even tax day yet! UGH. Yeay Global Warming.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's something about that type of store...I think Lowe's could be considered a hardware store. Stalking up and down aisles of lumber and tools is enough to do anyone in!
DeleteToday is forecast to be even HOTTER than yesterday. Yay, global warming, indeed.
Hi!
ReplyDeleteWe're still in the middle of our Arctic Spring here in the UK. I am cold intolerant AND heat intolerant (yup, apparently MSers can be both!). Now I have to put up with everyone banging on about the sun we're due in a couple of weeks and, whisper it, a heatwave in May.
I am dreading it. I turn into a lobster, my limbs turn to jelly and I'm generally more of a mess than usual.
I have had to buy an industrial size fan for my little cottage. I found it cools me down super-speedy after I dare to go outside for a short while. Otherwise I wait hours for normal service to resume. In the meantime, ice from the freezer works brilliantly when added to a generous helping of Bombay Sapphire...
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Hi, SIF!
DeleteIt's funny how just weeks ago I was longing for warm weather -- but not quite THIS fast! Things are supposed to cool down later in the week, thank goodness.
What is cold intolerant? Can't believe I've never heard of it! Is it similar to heat intolerance in terms of increased weakness and fatigue? My right leg gets stiff in the cold and I lumber around like Frankenstein (okay, his monster, if you're going to be accurate), but that's about it.
Not sure what Bombay Sapphire is, but I suspect it's groovy, so make mine a double!
I couldn't believe it myself - but in January I really started to feel extreme pain when it was cold - right through to my core. I put it to the MS nurse and she confirmed the sad news - MSers can be both. It's horrible! In this darned country the weather is all over the place and rarely just right for me. I'm either boiling or stumbling around with chattering teeth!
ReplyDeleteBombay Sapphire - the most beautiful posh gin ever invented. Just drinking it makes one feel rather grand!
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Oh, honestly! What's next: an intolerance to mild weather?? This MS is ridiculous!! But seriously, I am quite sorry to hear you have little relief in terms of weather. That truly sucks.
DeleteI feel posh just knowing someone who drinks such a classy drink. Hope you don't mind me sponging some of your poshness...
Tell me about it! There's barely a day when I'm not affected by the darned weather in some way, lol.
ReplyDeleteFeel free to sponge the poshness!! I'm dead classy, me. It was actually the builder who started drinking it (I know, weird). He has ideas way above his station. He should be drinking pints of beer and eating dodgy pies.
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Your "green thumbs" will surely clash with your "reddened" face.
ReplyDeleteHere in Ohio, we haven't had to deal with the heat yet...but the flowers are blooming--and the orange barrels are popping up along the roadways. It promises to be a colorful Spring & Summer!
No, no, Sock, at the suggestion of a friend, I've given my skin a pleasant greenish tinge. It's really been super! I get loads of admiring looks.
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