Katie's Monday-Afternoon Rain Dance

This photo gallery does nothing to promote the idea that people should be looking for ways of "beating the heat" that don't also destroy the planet. Too many people hide in their air conditioned homes and offices and cars, or fly in jet planes to more comfortable climes. Even the innocent ice drink isn't so innocent. Producing one requires the equivalent emissions of driving 30 miles in a Hummer. Instead of ice drinks, let's all just have a glass of water, which comes out of the ground at a cool 59 degrees. Whatever you do, avoid bottled water, which must be encased in plastic and shipped in trucks.

The kid in blue shorts in shot#2 is pointedly grabbing his crotch. Oh, the sweet innocence of Montclair youth!

Believe it or not, one way to beat the heat is to eat hot peppers. They make you sweat and when the sweat evaporates, you cool off a bit.

I also had a physical therapist once tell me that eating hot peppers is a way to temporarily relieve pain. Biting into a hot pepper releases the same endorphins that contribute to pain relief.

MM,
Hot peppers may also be a way to get salmonella

Just don't eat the ones from Mexico then!

Mathilda, you are a loon.

Great photos, Katie!

They've known the hot pepper bit in India for centuries.

Love Indian food in the summertime. Actually any season. Mmmmmmm....

Memories, that was where I used to park when I went to MHS. They unpaved paradise and put up a basketball court.

A loon? Worse was said about Gandhi, King and Jesus.

Ditto regarding Indian food. So what's the best in Montclair these days? I always thought Taj Palace was the best, but that was quite a while ago.

Drink hot tea. British did it (and still do). a few photos show nothing of beating the heat. ie: the construction workers looking at a ditch. The old man has the right idea with sticking his head in the ice cream freezer door

I don't know about your initial criticism, mathilde. I saw people sitting out on a porch, a woman standing in the shade, the wearing of flip flops, somone waiting for a bus in the shade using a reusable bag, naked limbs getting ready to cool off in water, people enjoying being together. I live where it is predicted to be over 100 degrees and very humid this weekend. I will be driving to the coast in my fuel efficient vehicle to escape. When I can't leave due to responsibilities, my husband and I have been known to sleep in a tent in the yard to avoid running the AC at night. I car pool or ride a bike as often as possible, even in car obsessed southern california. I take saving energy seriously, but for goodness sakes, lighten up!

katie, your photos are fantastic. one great shot after another!

Why would I say "worse?" I find your posts amusing. You just compared yourself to Ghandi for goddsake!

Mathilda, it's just that few have picked up yet on the fact that you're kidding. Please bear with us.

(But if you're not kidding at all, may I then introduce you to one lasermikey?)

It's often what we don't see that's important, Sue in California. I applaud your efforts, and thank you for sharing them here. But I would urge you to push yourself further. Ask yourself, for instance, if you really need to go to the beach at all. Even a green vehicle burns fuels and creates greenhouse gases. And why not eschew the air conditioning even during the day? A kiddie pool can provide a great deal of cooling off, and the water can be recycled afterwards for plants.

You sleep in a tent to avoid running the AC? Why not just sleep in your house and (Dare I say it) resist from pushing the on button! That's like people who have alarms on their refridgerators to stop them from binge eating. If its cooler outside than it is inside, try opening the windows. Its called Cross Ventilation and its an amazing alternative to sleeping outside

I am not one who likes the heat, Jimmytown, and yea I know I live in the wrong place. Sleeping in the tent sometimes is a good alternative to being hot. We do open the windows at night, but it can still be stuffy inside, even with fans. And didn't you like sleeping in a tent in backyard when you were a kid? It's kinda like that. For me a better alternative than waking up or having bad dreams because I am hot. I guess for you it is not a choice you would make. But it works for us.

Listen and learn, jimmytown. Sue in California has much to teach.

If I sleep in a tent in my backyard, will the crazy raccoons who are chewing holes through my plastic garbage cans try to chew a hole in my tent?

If they do, invite them in!

Just making a goof there Sue. I do enjoy camping, and personally do not like Air Conditioned rooms. Growing up everyone else in the house had an AC, but I kept the doors open to the deck. Enjoy the breeze more than cold recycled air. I see your point camping out in the backyard

It's not often enough that we get to be child-like :-) especially when our children haven't seen fit to provide grandchildren . . . although I am probably too frequently childish.

As always, thank you for your contribution(s), mathilda.

A racoon wouldn't do that, liz, but some other small furry mammal might (nudge nudge wink wink say no more).

LIZ! THE 'SUPE IS TALKING DIRTY AGAIN! AND I HAPPEN TO KNOW HE IS TEACHING THE RACOONS ALL SORTS OF NASTY TRICKS!

Can you imagine waking up to a marsupial sitting on your head in a tent?

Ackme's talking dirty, too, now.

Oh, Liz... :) LOL!