Hot Times - Literally!

The past couple days here in the Valley of the Sun have brought us the temperatures that most commonly see  with us being a 'desert state'. In that I mean that we were reaching over 115 degrees. Many people that live here, most being friends/acquaintances of mine, have started their ranting and raving on Facebook, or even in general talking, about how it is so darn hot, etc. Please. No comments about how it is a 'dry heat'. Frankly, I am tired of it.

I moved out here 27 years ago, a freshman in high school, straight from Frankfort, Indiana, and yes, it took awhile for me to acclimate. Trying out for the freshman football team, I passed out, revived, and then was promptly let go from the team. Heck, I had only been out here maybe two months, and that was spent in air-conditioned indoors. But over the years, though it has always been overly warm to me, I have gotten used to the heat. I am not saying that I love it, just that it has come as something to be expected every year, for several months. Sometimes it has started earlier (say April) and like this year, a bit later - in regards to the 100+ temperatures. PT argued with me today that it has never been this hot at this time of year since 1990, after I had quoted the radio having said it was 126 back in 1990. I don't care. After 100, you only notice it is hotter like every 10 degrees. So when it hits 110, you think, oh, it got a little warmer. At 115-120, it's a heat advisory here, but unless you have no AC in your vehicle, or home, you don't notice except those transitions between home, vehicle, work, store, etc. Yes, I sweat more. It's part of living here. Hydrate yourself, stay out of the heat as much as possible, don't over-do it outside. Simple precaution steps. Then there are others, like the Reverend Mother, that thrive on the hotter temps, though she admits that it does cause some discomfort having to be in it. That's just a safe out for you RM.

Needless to say, it was warm today. I don't know exactly what it got to, but I am sure it was somewhere between 115-119. We spent the early afternoon at Sis' visiting, and doing our sort of July 4th family gathering. I got to see my niece and her baby, which it had been maybe 2 or more years since last time. The kids spent time in the pool, as a good way to cool off after the huge meal of carne asada, rice, beans, chips, salsa, etc. I had to call it early as The Wife was meeting a friend to help with some physical therapy, and I needed to get to work. Being the 'Door Guy' at work isn't usually too difficult, but tonight with the warmer temps, I was drenched in sweat most of the evening. I made to stay hydrated, having a bottle of water almost every hour, but by the time I got home, I smelt pretty sweaty - plus stale beer and cigarettes.

So it is almost July. Arizona is having temps just under 120 degrees, nearing the time of what they call Monsoon season. Used to be the Monsoon Season didn't start until a date around mid-July, but now science has created it doesn't start until we reach X amount of days at Y temperature. Which is pretty close to the mid-July time anyways. Then ya start hearing false stuff about haboobs here. Heh. I said haboob. Nothing near what they see in the Middle East. I ain't going there though. Topic, or Middle East.

That being said, it's near 4am Sunday morning, and I am doing a few more things before heading up to the pub for some Blood Mary drinks.

PeacE

Friday Once Again

My typical Summer Friday has come around again. The oldest son is up (early for him) and getting ready to get the dishes done so he can play on the computer the rest of the day. I have been up for a bit now and gotten through my emails, social medias, etc. and now figured I should put something here for you to waste 30 seconds of your time reading.

Tonight is work for me. I plan on getting to sleep as fast as possible, as we have plans for tomorrow. Seems Sis' step-daughter is in town with her baby, which makes it Sis' first grandchild. That being the case, we are using tomorrow as our July 4th get-together, since the holiday is on a Thursday, and the niece is only in town through this weekend. Stuman and his brood will not be attending though, as he has some Army gig in Cali he has to go to. I think it is drill weekend, not additional training. Which just means more carne asada for me. I know I am going to mess up my weight now.

I am thinking about breakfast out for the son and I this morning, but haven't been able to think of a place yet. Maybe Old Country Buffet. I haven't done breakfast there in a long time.

PeacE

Looking For A Loss

This morning finds me doing anything I can to delay going to the gym. I have not been in almost a week, and am not looking forward to going this week. I ate 'freely' over the past week, and I feel like I have probably gained weight. My official weigh-in won't matter until tomorrow, but I will still weigh today to see about where I am - to decide if I need to starve myself for a pound loss to win the weekly bet.

I have been having a bit of tendinitis in my left elbow the past few weeks as well, which is bothersome in my workout. I suppose I can move to just doing lower body for a few weeks to rest up the arm. that and cardio - yuck!

Yesterday's post told you what I have planned for the next 2-3 days, so nothing much to add there.

PeacE

Planning Out The Week

Welcome to yet another Monday. I guess that it is good you are here, since it would imply you are alive. Sometimes, I wonder how I manage that - being alive that is. Or just staying alive.

I am sitting here this morning, working on planning out the week. The Daughter left last night with the middle son, and will be gone for the week. The youngest son is wanting to do the 'Science Camp' that church puts on for summer activities. It is only three days from like 10-2. The oldest son does not have anything that needs to be scheduled - as far as I am aware. The Wife and I just have our regular things (if any).

I ended up not going to the book signing yesterday. Yes I was a bit disappointed, but other factors weighed in heavily. Between the cost of gas for the distance that would have to be driven, the time to do it, heat, etc. I opted to not do it. The ebook will be available tomorrow for about $8, and that is cheaper than the $15 deal, plus gas, food, etc that would have been spent. The only negative of it, is that I don't have another signed book.

Feeling sort of tired today. Haven't been able to classify it as a sleepy or mental tiredness. Feel like laying back down, but I know I have gotten plenty of sleep the past day or so. Hope it goes away soon.

PeacE

To Go, or Not To Go ...

I have a bit of a quandary. This evening is Kevin Hearne's (the author) pre-release signing for book six of his Iron Druid Chronicles, which I have been speaking of quite a bit of late. I want to go pretty bad, but am starting to have second thoughts. The drive to where it is being held (across the Valley from where I am) is about a good 45-60 minutes via freeway. It is like 108 degrees out, and I do not have air conditioning in my van. That being said, I don't want to drive my vehicle to the event. I also don't want to necessarily use the Wife's van (which has A/C) and leave her mine (which she doesn't care to drive) for emergency use. Also, the Daughter is leaving around 7pm and taking the middle son for the week back to Tuscon, so don't want to miss seeing them off. the signing starts at 5pm. In theory, leave at 4, get book, signed, return home, puts me back before 7pm. But it is a long drive. I also sort of don't want to go by myself. I am going to speak with the Wife and see if we can't just make a trip for dinner out of it, I think.

So, I need to go figure this out.

PeacE

Is Killing Time Killing Me?

Today's post title reminded me of this video:

Though it truly did not have the same meaning as the way I meant it. It's about 5 in the morning, and I have been home from work a good couple of hours, and sleep is just eluding me. Everyone else is crashed out, and here I am, trying to bore myself to sleep. I figured if I did a blog post, that would work, since it seems to work for everyone else reading my ... stuff.

So, with the other book things I mentioned yesterday, UPS also dropped off a package that turned out to be another book. It was one I had signed up for on a giveaway, and had no idea they were shipping it.  Yet another new work to read and review.

I think this morning I am going to head up to the pub and have a couple Bloody Marys, then come back home and hopefully crash for a few hours. Work comes around again this evening, and I hope it won't be as slow as this past night was. For some reason, the owner thinks a Country/Western band, playing C&W from the 70's, is going to draw in a large crowd of younger folks. No, they brought in about 30 of there own people, who ordered like 1 drink and then had water the rest of the 4 hours they played. We keep trying to tell him that they need more upbeat, contemporary bands for Friday and Saturday nights. Maybe some day he will listen.

Still have like 40 minutes to kill until the pub opens. Gotta go find something to do.

PeacE

F*cked Up Friday

It has been a couple messed up days of late, probably all my fault. Had a good Wednesday out with the Daughter and her boyfriend. Did some karaoke, some drinking. Needless to say, that brought Thursday morning with my head hurting a bit. So Thursday dragged by. The Wife was feeling ill that afternoon, and ended up sleeping most of the afternoon and evening, though it was after doing a bit of shopping with the Daughter. With the Wife asleep, I forgot to get the trash cans out to the street, so missed the regular trash pick up, but think the recycle will be okay. The Wife happened to remember the trash but it was too late. Ended up taking a couple bags over to the MIL's as the trash pick up there is later in the morning than ours.

Soooo, that brings us to now. I have work tonight, so that means today is going to be pretty boring for me. I'll probably try to take a nap around mid-afternoon, so I won't be as tired tonight. Be drinking plenty of fluids today to be hydrated while sit out in the heat for the early part of the evening.

Weekend plans: Sunday early evening, way over in Scottsdale, there is an author signing I am looking forward to attending. Kevin Hearne, known for his Iron Druid Chronicles, is doing a 2-day pre-release party for the 6th book in the series. For $15 you get a copy of the book, get it signed, and a beer chit for the bar he is having the event at. The only part I don't care for is the 40 minute (approx.) drive to get there. Hoping I will be able to make it though, for the early release of the book, plus another signed edition is cool.

Have you ever gotten a book signed by the author? Do you still have it? Which book/author was it?

Edit: Reverend Mother would like to take this minute to remind everyone, that nothing is as bad as you think it is, and if you always think positive, some good will come of it. That being said, I was contacted this morning by an "unknown author" and offered the chance to read his ebook, in exchange for an honest review. When I started recently trying to do some sort of a review on the many books I have been reading (see mybadopinion.blogspot.com) I also send a copy of that review to Amazon and Goodreads, which is how this author found me. I know I need to work on my review writing technique, and at this time, it obviously is not going ot make me any money. But it is kind of cool that someone WANTS me to review their book! I just hope I like it, and will be able to say so in a review.

PeacE