Modern Conveniences
Where did my weekend go?
Now that I’ve lived in my 1955 built house for a month I realize how much I take for granted. Like screens in the windows. What an amazing invention, without them one ends up with moths and other flying creatures all over one’s studio when working at night with a light on. Kinda fun to flick bugs off my computer screen, in a "once in a life time adventure" sort of way. I’m thinking long term this might not work out for me.
I had hopes for getting quite a bit more done this weekend but it was hot hot here in Denver, 100 or close both days. The modern convenience I miss the most is my air conditioning. Not only is it so crazy hot in the house the thought of turning on an iron is insane, it doesn’t cool off much at night so sleeping has been a challenge. After a week of 4 hours of sleep each night I was pretty wiped out by the weekend. Did a lot of nothing.
Even the cats are unhappy. Abby (see above) has taken to sleeping stretched out and upside down (and climbing out the screenless windows and escaping – but that’s another issue). Nukie (below) passes out behind my sewing machine so I have to move her every time I come back to sew. She makes a pitiful sound but she gets over it, and comes right back as soon as I leave. She’s no dummy, the fan is pointed into that corner of the room.
Last night I figured out the secret to sleeping in this heat (a wet frozen compress is a wonderful way to cool off) so that problem should be solved and I’m feeling more on my game with some rest. We’re only in the 90s this week so it’s positively chilly in here. Tomorrow if all goes well I will finish my studio newsletter and email it.
If not I’ll be napping in the heat.
Posted by Lisa in: Goals and Intention
Tagged: air conditioning, cats, conveniences, studio
Lisa, I feel for you! I don’t do well in high heat, and since my studio isn’t air-conditioned, I dread August (and July.) This year I have lots of deadlines and I’d more worried, except that I have a back-up plan if the heat gets to be too much. However, we must be getting your weather for a change – it’s been relatively cooler this summer than it usually is for Missouri. Must be all the rain….
The key to sleeping in hot weather? A window-mounted air conditioner! A small one will keep a bedroom cool and doesn’t cost much.
I used to live in Boston. Everyone there said “it’s not hot in Boston! We don’t need air conditioning!” But if you look closely, you’ll see that just about every house there has window A/C units in the bedroom windows! I used to smile every time I heard another person claiming Boston doesn’t get hot enough to need A/C.
Two more tricks: a cool mist humidifier and a spray bottle to spritz your feet and sheets with in the middle of the night!
Please stay cool-we need you to get enough sleep to inspire us with your art!
Tricia
Oh, no, Lisa. I do hope an a/c is in your future. I did without one for 3 years and I just couldn’t work at all in the afternoons. When the house heats up that much, it’s almost impossible to get it cooled off for sleeping at night. We got a standing portable unit that almost cooled off the whole (big) house, but there’s nothing like a/c in this heat. In the meantime, I’ll pray for afternoon clouds to come in early for you.
Oh my gosh….100 in Denver, too. It’s been the same here in northeastern Texas. Without A/C, I would be a real slug. Heck, I’m a slug right now anyway. Just got up from a 20 minute nap with a fan blowing on me.
Take care…thanks for the viit to my blog.
I feel so fortunate to have escaped to the mountains for a week where we’re having highs in the 80’s lows around 48 or so. I’m hoping the heat wave will break soon!
That said, we installed A/C in June, but it doesn’t cool our upstairs off enough for me. So, I had taken to only running it in the day and then open all the windows and plug in a fan in our bedrooms. I also take a shower before bed, but don’t towel off and lay down with the fan blowing on me which seems to help.
What did people do before A/C? Can you plug in a portable free standing A/C? I’ve seen them all over the place.
Pam – glad you are having cool weather – I think Denver (and Texas according to Cheryl) is sucking up all the heat this year.
Barbara – unfortunately such a thing isn’t a good idea with my electrical system. I can’t imagine Boston with the humidity without A/C.
Thanks for the tips Tricia!
Yes Alyson – afternoon clouds are the only thing that save us. Yesterday – not so good. It was HOT and and sunny.
Cynthia – I grew up with no A/C – I spent a summer sleeping outside as a kid cause we didn’t even have fans. It was crazy. I think life was just slower paced in the summer. Now we go go go year round.