As I learned from our trip to Virginia, the South gets off easy with mild winters - the benefit - and then is the time to pay up. With 100F/35C temperatures and thick humidity, it is a nightmare of summer exhaustion and heat. In contrast, we Way North (not counting Canada) types put up with a crappy, freezing winter so that summer is mild and pleasant, punctuated with only a few really awful days.
We are headed for such a day today, with temps pushing up over 100F. Yesterday was bad enough, and the rest of the week will be wretched as well, but today is ready to set record highs across Wisconsin. Sigh. For the girls, it is almost as bad as winter. They cannot play out in this weather for more than a few minutes without needing to be indoors. And I wonder, again, how people survived in this region 150 years ago as pioneers. If I need to do laundry, I have a washing machine. I also have an almost-working AC. But 150 years ago... washing... by hand... in this head.
Anyway, Thursday was great fun and full of spontaneity. Katka and I planned to meet and go to the beach with the girls. On the spur of the moment, we invited Jenn and Calvin to join us. The lake, however, had a high algae count that day and was closed, so we traveled to Walgreen's to buy a kiddy pool. I discovered a water spigot at our apartment that requires a wrench to operate, but it works. Calvin and the girls - and eventually Ardah from upstairs - splashed around from almost two hours while Jenn, Katka, Jasmine and I sat talking and sharing a laugh.
After the swimming, we planned - again, spontaneously - to meet at Katka's for dinner. Jenn dropped Calvin off her Jas and returned to join us. Katka made delicious food, as always, and we ate and talked until after 9pm. The girls happily collapsed in a sleepy heap when we got home.
I have found that I do not spend as much with the MOMS Club lately because I have less need. I spend probably 3-4 days every week with Jenn (like Tuesday for an impromptu playtime and lunch at my house) and once with Katka, not to mention all of the moms and babies here at the apartment. The MOMS Club seems almost contrived, like it would interrupt the girls' play out back just to cart them somewhere else in the city. In the winter, however, it will be a necessity!
Yesterday, the girls and I drove to the Farmer's Market. I just could not bear the idea of walking the six blocks down State Street and back - the distance between out bus stop and the market - in the middle of yesterday's intense heat. I would be fine, but the kids tend to combust. (Next weekend will be better - mild and pleasant!) Now, I remember why I never drive downtown on a Saturday, though. I was packed, but we found a decent parking spot about two blocks away, which made for a mild improvement. We hit the library and the market in only two hours, which is quick for us. I found Clausen's fantastic cheese bread for the first time; I had heard talk of it and had frequently seen people strolling around eating it on the Square, so I tried it. Sigh... another thing to miss when we leave Madison!
Today, it's off to visit Jenn again - surprise! I hope her place has an AC that works better than mine...
We are headed for such a day today, with temps pushing up over 100F. Yesterday was bad enough, and the rest of the week will be wretched as well, but today is ready to set record highs across Wisconsin. Sigh. For the girls, it is almost as bad as winter. They cannot play out in this weather for more than a few minutes without needing to be indoors. And I wonder, again, how people survived in this region 150 years ago as pioneers. If I need to do laundry, I have a washing machine. I also have an almost-working AC. But 150 years ago... washing... by hand... in this head.
Anyway, Thursday was great fun and full of spontaneity. Katka and I planned to meet and go to the beach with the girls. On the spur of the moment, we invited Jenn and Calvin to join us. The lake, however, had a high algae count that day and was closed, so we traveled to Walgreen's to buy a kiddy pool. I discovered a water spigot at our apartment that requires a wrench to operate, but it works. Calvin and the girls - and eventually Ardah from upstairs - splashed around from almost two hours while Jenn, Katka, Jasmine and I sat talking and sharing a laugh.
After the swimming, we planned - again, spontaneously - to meet at Katka's for dinner. Jenn dropped Calvin off her Jas and returned to join us. Katka made delicious food, as always, and we ate and talked until after 9pm. The girls happily collapsed in a sleepy heap when we got home.
I have found that I do not spend as much with the MOMS Club lately because I have less need. I spend probably 3-4 days every week with Jenn (like Tuesday for an impromptu playtime and lunch at my house) and once with Katka, not to mention all of the moms and babies here at the apartment. The MOMS Club seems almost contrived, like it would interrupt the girls' play out back just to cart them somewhere else in the city. In the winter, however, it will be a necessity!
Yesterday, the girls and I drove to the Farmer's Market. I just could not bear the idea of walking the six blocks down State Street and back - the distance between out bus stop and the market - in the middle of yesterday's intense heat. I would be fine, but the kids tend to combust. (Next weekend will be better - mild and pleasant!) Now, I remember why I never drive downtown on a Saturday, though. I was packed, but we found a decent parking spot about two blocks away, which made for a mild improvement. We hit the library and the market in only two hours, which is quick for us. I found Clausen's fantastic cheese bread for the first time; I had heard talk of it and had frequently seen people strolling around eating it on the Square, so I tried it. Sigh... another thing to miss when we leave Madison!
Today, it's off to visit Jenn again - surprise! I hope her place has an AC that works better than mine...
1 comments:
I hope you survive the Midwestern heat wave! We're further south than you, and the heat and humidity have been staggering.
I wonder about the pioneers, too, especially when I consider what the women wore.
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