Who's hot and who's not....

[Lulu54]

sounds like the headline for a Hollywood tabloid newspaper.  Instead, I am talking about those of us who are suffering with this oppressive summer heat.  

Today was my family's 86th annual family reunion - yes, that many years! - and it was an outdoor picnic in 90 degrees but at least we have a shelter cover over our heads.  I threw in the towel at the three hour mark and had my DH bring me home, where I sat in front of a fan in our A/C house, tossing back glasses of ice water trying to literally chill.

During the afternoon I spent a lot of time taking ice cubes from my cooler and rubbing my arms to keep my temp down.  This has me wondering what the rest of you do to get respite from the heat?  

Do you have any simple tips to share with everyone here?   Special cooling foods?  Hygiene tricks?  Anything to help us through ..... please unlock some secrets for us.  

chillin', Lulu

[Guitar_grrrl]

Not that I'm jealous of all you hotties out there, but the north-central coast of CA has been the coolest and foggiest it's been in 20 years.  My neighbors and I are putting the tomatoes back into their hothouses.  They're not setting when they bloom.  Neither are the peppers.  I think my high temp all year has been 85 F, with a humidity averaging 45%.

I do wear a cooling bandanna when I go out gardening, riding, etc.  A dip in the ocean always helps - the water temp runs about 54 F...Brrrr!!

[doni54]

ummmmm.....snow......what a wonderful thought......hahaha

[mokibear]

Doni, you're welcome here anytime my dear friend but the next few days the humidity is setting in and the temps are to feel anywhere from 95-100 so not sure how much cooler for you that will be. heehee  

We had a week of 100-107 with the humidity and that just about did me in. I'm looking forward to that fluffy snow. lol

Cool thoughts all!!!

[doni54]

Oh Quix, I'm sooo jealous!!!  It's sweltering here and no rain for forever!!!  Think I'm just gonna melt, and we still have the hottest month of the summer upon us, good old August!

Think I'll pack my bags and head to your side of the country or to Canada with Mokibear,,,hahahaha

Stay cool everyone!!

[coach291]

I just stay inside until late afternoon when the seabreeze kicks in and cools it down.

[JemmAus]

It is snowing on the mountains here. I'm not ON the mountains but the wind is blowing off that snow. We're about 20 miles from the actual snow.

It's cold.

My dog and cat are curled up together in front of the heater. And Lulu, I still have my icepack tied around my head!  My kids say I am "mental".

[Lulu54]

I say its time for a giant slumber party at Quix's until the summer heat passes.  

[RedFlame]

We have been running in the 80's and 90's.  I have stayed next to the air conditioner with ice packs on my neck as needed.

Here's the kicker.  Last week when it was 95 degrees the power went out.  No air, no fridge, no fan, no water etc.  

My sister went  into town and bought every type of battery powered fan she could find.  She also bought a mister/fan.  It's a spray bottle with a fan on top and a squirt thing to wet your face and fan at the same time.

I came to a full understanding of the 'cooling vests'.  

Red

[Quixotic1]

We're having 70's and cool breeze here.  Portland, Or

And with sun in the afternoons after the marine layer burns off.

[Lulu54]

JemmAus,

I can't imagine tying an ice pack to my head - I might just have to try that this week.  That, along with the reusable ice cubes might get me through this next heat wave.  



stay cool, L

[JemmAus]

I have just moved south (equivalent of your north) from Queensland (similar to Florida) to Canberra which  is cold  and  inland.

In Qld the ice pack became my Best Friend. I have a collection of those bendy ice packs you can buy  from the chemist (drug store?) which freeeze but still bend. I wrap them in a tea-towel and tie the tea towel around my head. That keeps my brain nicely refrigerated.

I never found anything worked properly in a Qld summer to keep me cool, except being in hospital where the temperature was well regulated, or heading south out of the humidity. Which was one of the reasons I returned south this year to live....obviously those are options most people would prefer to avoid.

You who are suffering have my sympathy.

[PastorDan]

Scorching here in north central Ohio.  But then, I'm perhaps midway between michelleric and Lulu, and they're both suffering, so you could've figured it wouldn't be crisp nor refreshing here.  A/C in about half the house, lots of cold water, brief ventures into the pool most days.  Short sleeves, flip-flops, etc.

[Lulu54]

I was *chatting* earlier today with a new friend out in KS who said their group freezes the reusable ice cubes and places those strategically in their garments to cool.  

You know the fun shaped ones that go into a tall glass and look cute ?  I think this is a marvelous idea- you get the cooling effect without having the big water spots.  

Surely the dollar store has these available?  

[Quixotic1]

Lulu brought up a really important tip.  Pre-cool yourself before braving the heat.  A cool/cold shower and undies/hat/bandana/neck wrap in the freezer.  It takes longer for the heat to raise your core temp if you have already lowered it a tad.

This tip goes for exercise also.  Pre-cool before exercising and you will get more mileage out of your workout.

Thanks, Lu

Denso

[Csativa]

In Upstate, NY (Syracuse) the heat and humidity have been brutal.  Many days in the 90's.  Even when it is in the mid to high 80's, the humidity is unbearable, even with the A/C.  I am so susceptible to the heat and humidity, as I am sure so many people with MS are.  My wife and I have not used the stove in about 5 weeks.  Our A/C downstairs is just not large enough to compensate for the heat generated by the stove.  Thank God for microwaves.  I am not sure if I have any special tips but what seems to help is as follows:

A large variety of cool fruit; peaches, nectarines, several varieties of plums, melons, cherries, berries, etc...

Large salads with a huge variety of greens and other veggies.  Tuna for the protein.

Tofu, is a food that has a “cooling” effect on the body.  It is traditionally used as such in Japanese Macrobiotic cooking. I was skeptical when I first heard/read about it but it really does work.

Small bedroom with the A/C is a plus but it is awfully confining.  But it is a great back-up during the day.  Other parts of the house do not get cool enough with only one A/C.

Have long hair so I keep it wet with cool water and tie it in a pony-tail.  

Frequent showers although it's can be dangerous because of balance issues, especially worse because of the heat.

When I do venture outside into the garden (I just cannot resist because the summers seem so short)  I have a hat that I keep wet and in the freezer for awhile before going out.  I do the same with a white T-shirt.  If I do any work, I take several breaks – I typically will not work more than 10 minutes w/o a break.

And of course, drink, drink, drink – regrettably water and not gin and tonics!

[momma2abcd]

I live in Phoenix, it is very hot and a bit humid with the monsoons here and all,

no tricks but just stay in the house with the a/c. I was hot and sweating in the mall yesterday cause it took for ever to cool my body down from walking to the mall from my truck.

I own a pool but with the sun and a play pool well the pool isnt so cold.

I have the a/c at 72 at night plus a cieling fan and a fan on my dresser to help me.

[tjj3761]

Here in northern Ohio, hot as well.  Cooled off slightly from the rain, but back up to low 90s by Wednesday.

For me, it is the A/C, fan, jumping in the pool to cool off; Gatorade and ice cold popsicles.

Like Quix said, it is my head/neck that get the most hot..........

Stay COOL....

[sllowe]

I'm hot, lol

Last night the skies darkened, the trees blew sideways and the rain followed it!

It was BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!

Steam rose from the earth and today...........aaaaah, heavenly! Humidity has lessened and I heard tomorrow will be the same. Going to just enjoy it because it has been nothing less than wretched!

-shell

[johnnymutt]

I wish I had some great tips for you all, however, I am suffering right along with the rest of you. A couple of main things I try to do:
1. Stay out of the sun as much as possible
2. Wear a cotton t-shirt, with a long sleeve shirt over top. (this works really well on the humid days)
3. I hate wearing hats, or bandannas, but a bandanna works wonders believe it or not.

That's all I got so far.

[Lulu54]

A while back I saw a cooling tip - dangle your legs in a cool tub of water to prechill your body before going out into the heat.  I haven't tried it but it sounded like a good idea.  I always loved to dangle my legs off the dock or the edge of the swimming pool to cool down.

Anyone here remember the bras they were pushing a few years back - you put them in the freezer and when you wore them they were supposed to make you *perky?*  

-Lu

[lovemy6monkeys]

I've been staying in the house most days. We have central air and I also have a fan near me.

If I do go out (to the park, etc) I stay in the shade as much as I can, and I have one of those hand-held fans that mist water on you. I have been careful to stay indoors on overly warm and humid days.

If it gets too bad I take a cool shower then stand right over the a/c vent in the bathroom LOL
~Jess

[michelleric]

HOT HOT and HOT here too.  We have been to the pool lots, and I just stay in the water or under the umbrella with a cold drink. Then home to the A/C.

I did work a full day and the A/C was broke there. BAD. I am still suffering the visual aspect of that, and I still am pretty limpy and had to lie around most of the day. I should have left soon after my symptoms started, but I work so little these days, I felt I had to do it. Stupid decision and angry at this disease. Tomorrow will be better.

[coach291]

It will be this hot off and on for the next month or so. Since my DX last week I am going to take this season off from coaching football. Tough decision but I know there was no alternative. Being away from the heat for the last couple weeks seems to have calmed my symptoms down. I don't think I would make it for 3-days in August.

[johnniebear]

It's hot & humid here in the Midwest near Chicago area, I try to avoid the sun asap and when ever I can  I wear shorts,  and that isn't a  pretty picture.

I haven't turned the a/c off for weeks,  it seems I get extra hot towards night time & keep the bedroom as cold as I can & run the ceiling fan to.

We just went to the Zoo with our grandson ,  that was wonderful to see him re-act to all the animals,  it was his first visit to the Zoo.

There are plenty of resting spots and shade at the Zoo,  I  made sure I only drank water, we went very slow  and I still feel it two days later.

take care

John..