Fuck I hate the heat

I may have written about this before but I don't care, high heat, and by that I mean anything much above the mid 80s, just kills me, I can't get comfortable, everything is irritating, and irritating things are enraging, the only reason I don't get more vocal about being mad is that it is too hot to use that much energy.

I hate sweating from heat. As a big(fat) guy I tend to sweat a fair bit at even the slightest bit of effort, but I can tolerate that as at least I am doing something to cause it, with heat I don't, then my clothes get that gross not really wet but you still feel it sensation, and then there's the smell.

It's a thing for me, I have told Zena that I may have to seek more northern latitudes if summers continue to lengthen and warm as they have been, I am not sure she really believes me but it is something I fully intend on doing.

We installed an AC in our room today, which was appropriate given that today was the hottest it's been all year, tomorrow is going to be warmer but at least I will be at work, which has AC and a walk in cooler, although the AC does not give as comprehensive a coverage as it could, and I can't stay in the cooler all day, my coworkers need their time as well. Also as one of the two largest guys there, in both height and mass, I am often given the task of mixing the dough, which is not an undemanding job physically.

Correlated with heat, at least here in Portland, are bugs, I stepped outside last night with Zena to set up a shade tent on the patio, I don't intend on partying out there but it also keeps the concrete from absorbing heat and radiating it back to the house at night, allowing us to cool down faster, anyway we spent perhaps ten minutes out there and I killed about eight mosquitoes and now have an easy half dozen bites on my legs.

Which leads me to my next complaint, I don't like having my arms and to a lesser extent, legs exposed, it isn't a body image thing I think, I realize I am no model but my legs are at worst a bit on the hairy side. I just feel more comfortable with sleeves and pants when outside but this week I finally have to accept that I can't wear my jacket anymore until it cools down, it just isn't happening unless I want heatstroke. At this point, tomorrow is supposed to be 102, I don't think even buying a new, light jacket will work, I need the exposed skin for evaporation to help cool me. The pants I don't have a choice on, at work it is blue denim or you don't work, but it is short sleeves so there is that.

And yes, I know I have it easy compared to say, Las Vegas, or the more deserty portions of Africa, or like most of the Middle East, but all that means is if I was forced to spend time outside in those places I would probably literally die.

One thing I have an advantage with though is I do like water, so it is not a problem to stay hydrated and while my no soda rule that I instituted when working for Levy has gone by the wayside, I don't drink it often anymore and usually pick water when on breaks at work and so on.

Some survival tips, drink water, drink it steadily throughout the day if you can, don't chug a half gallon and then ignore it for four hours.

That's really all I got for personal survival, but if you are out and about and are asked for change by one of Portland's large homeless community, consider giving if you can, being able to buy fluids, rent a room, or even travel somewhere shady could literally save a life.

Speaking of saving lives, a pair of cooling centers have been activated, which I didn't even know was a thing but is a good idea, information is as follows:

The centers, open from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m., are located at the Walnut Park Building, 5325 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., and at the Multnomah County East Building, 600 N.E. 8^th St., in Gresham.
For a ride to a cooling center, call 503-226-0700.