Summer is by far my least favortie time of year. When we lived in the Midwest where we got enough snow to be fun, but not be a nuisance, my favortie season was winter. Here in the south it is probably spring, but I have always hated summer--even as a kid. Today our heat index was 102 degrees. Right now at 5 pm it is 93 with a heat index of 101. I had to stand for an hour in a hot asphalt parking lot loading up and seeing off my oldest DS for scout camp. He was pouring sweat and so was I. Throughout the morning my hair went flat and then re-curled again on its own and in strange ways, my slip stuck to my legs all morning, sweat was dripping down my cleavage and my bra is soaked, and I smell like I've been working in a field all day (despite a shower, deodorant, and perfume) and the most strenuous thing I've done is walk to and from my car. Oh! It makes my face extra shiny too. Our a/c has been on all day and hasn't shut off once. It's set at 72, but my house has only cooled to 77 and my utility bill will be pushing $300 this month. It will be like this through September.

My only consolation is that at least I can wear shorts and a T-shirt. Back in the 1800s I'd be wearing pantelets, corset, chemise, big hoops, stockings, and a dress made of about 15 yards of fabric along with a big hat, gloves, and parasol...with no a/c and only an occasional bath. Yuk!! I want to move to Minnesota right about now.

By Karen~moderator on Sunday, June 12, 2005 - 06:21 pm:

Pam, I just got my electric bill yesterday and it was $240! That's the highest it's been in years! My thermostat has been set on 77 today and the A/C has not cut off since around 10 this morning. It feels like a blast furnace outside.

By Jelygu on Sunday, June 12, 2005 - 08:23 pm:

I agree! I live in Alabama, and it gets so hot and humid. Today was actually mild, because of the rainy weather.
Karen, I wish we could leave our thermostat on 77! Ours is always on like 72! We are such hot natured people. I remember when my husband and I lived in this apartment with poor insulation, and our utility bill was always high. We kept our thermostat on 78 all summer, I don't know how we survived!

By Trina~moderator on Sunday, June 12, 2005 - 08:29 pm:

We love summer up here in New England! On the flip side, I hate winter because it's too darn cold. LOL!

By Bellajoe on Sunday, June 12, 2005 - 08:43 pm:

I'm with Trina.

But i understand where there southerners are coming from. It has been in the high 80's to mid 90's here all week and so so humid! But i'm not going to complain! I little over a month ago it snowed here! I think i would rather have the heat. I hate bundling up during the winter!

By Mommmie on Sunday, June 12, 2005 - 10:16 pm:

Preaching to the choir, Pam. I just laugh at all those "experts" that tell kids to "go outside and play" because it's summer and you should not stay inside. Ha!! Sort of like when the schools teach kids that winter means snow. Right. Snow. Play outside in summer and snow in winter. Right. That's not my reality in Texas.

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, June 12, 2005 - 10:20 pm:

Which is why I have no intentions of leaving Wisconsin to live down south! No thank you! I sweat enough up here and it was only 87!

By Kernkate on Sunday, June 12, 2005 - 11:28 pm:

Trina, have to agree with you. I love summer in NE PA. No oil bills for heating the house, which runs close to $400 monthly. The last 4 days have be close to 90 here and very humid, no AC just fans to keep us cool and I am loving it!!! I hope the entire summer stays this warm.

By Cybermommyx4 on Sunday, June 12, 2005 - 11:30 pm:

Well, I live in New England, too, but it's STILL TOO HOT these past few days I live here because I LIKE the COLD We've had 2 air conditioners running and several fans, and I'm still not happy.....if it goes over 80, I start to get grumpy, and if it gets humid.....GRRRRRR...luckily, since it IS New England, I'm happy MOST of the year, lol!

By Marcia on Sunday, June 12, 2005 - 11:54 pm:

Pam, we've had the same weather in Southern Ontario for over a week. I am LOVING it!!! I finally turned the air on after sweating it out for a few days, and it hasn't been off since Tuesday.
My poor kids were at Guides camp this w/e, where they were overheated and eaten alive by mosquitos!
I would take this heat any day over snow and the -40 we sometimes get!!

By Dawnk777 on Monday, June 13, 2005 - 01:33 am:

Kernkate, almost 90 and no AC on. Ugh. DH and I would be dying! We were almost 90, too, but we had the AC on. Later in the week, it isn't supposed to be so muggy, so we turn it off, then.

By Paulas on Monday, June 13, 2005 - 02:05 am:

Well, you can send some of it this way. Today it was 48F! I had a sweater on outside.

Our heating bill from October-May is about $300 a month.

By Karen~moderator on Monday, June 13, 2005 - 07:57 am:

Jennifer, I normally leave my thermostat set much lower than 77, but it wasn't cooling lower than that so I raised it just to see if/when it would cut off. Never did, at 77. I just had the A/C serviced last week, so it's cooling, it's just SO incredibly hot outside right now.

We have an attic vent fan in the attic, plus ridge vents, and we are replacing the windows in a few weeks. Hopefully those will help with the power costs.

It's been years since I've had a power bill this high and I'm not happy about it. More than half the bill was fuel surcharges.

By Debbie on Monday, June 13, 2005 - 10:20 am:

We have had unusually hot weather here...high 80's to low 90's. I am loving it!!! I am so sad because it is suppose to go down to the low 70's by Wed. That just isn't summer.

By Paulas on Monday, June 13, 2005 - 11:43 am:

Today I have the fireplace turned on it is so cold and wet!