BUT ... IT'S A DRY HEAT. NOT !!!

Many years ago, after having lived in Memphis, Tennessee long enough that my Yankee-born butt had grown tolerant of  the annual Summer heat & humidity, a friend & I  went on a cross-county road trip to Los Angeles.  At the time, he was the Veterinarian for the Memphis Zoo & during our drive (in his convertible MG sports car) we made it a habit to stop at every zoo between Memphis & L.A. It was a trip were I learned too much about zoo's & the treatment & conditions their captives received, causing me today to look at all zoo's with a less than favorable view. [I'll save that story for another time.]

Since our trip was about the same time of year as now, we understandably encountered some very warm weather on our drive on Interstate 40 & Route 66.  The worst/highest temperatures where in the deserts between Tucson & Southern California.  I'll add that we probably didn't bring enough H2O with us & the heat was so intense we drove with top UP on the car, which itself responded by having all the dials & gauges on the dashboard fail at the same time.

We did make a stop -- requested by me -- in Gila Bend, Arizona.  As a life-long reptile lover, I have always envisioned the place to be some sort of town dedicated to the fabulous -- & poisonous -- pink & black, Gila Monster lizard.  You know, a town square with a giant over-sized lizard, celebrating some point in the history of the town. 

Sorry !!  They had zilch.

I did take time to mail a few post cards at the local Post Office ... to get the cancellation with the name "Gila Bend" across the stamps. I remember vividly, watching out the window, a young girl walking across the parking lot ... in her bare feet.  It was 10:30 in the morning & the temperature was already showing on the bank sign to be 110 degrees.

Of course, when talking about the high temperatures associated with the Western states, many times it is stated it is hot ... but ... "It's a dry heat". As if the sun wasn't frying everything on the surface of that Post Office parking lot, including that girl's feet.

I don't know how the little girl wasn't burning the soles of her feet.  Maybe she was used to it & could tolerate the heat.  She certainly didn't seem to be moving all that fast.

Maybe it was a "dry heat", but the steering wheel, or really, any surface, was blistering hot & to be avoided. [Cut to Weatherman & camera crew showing the temperature conditions, by frying an egg on the ground.  It would have worked in that Post Office parking lot.]

I am reminded of that trip & the weather conditions we experienced at times like now.  The thermometer at my place currently reads 100 degrees. The "official temperature" is probably closer to the forecasted high for today of 107. 

The "Heat Index" also has to be factored into the equation: the feeling of the heat & humidity combined.  The humidity can easily add another 10 degrees to the feeling one gets on their skin in the current weather we have.  There is NO "dry heat" in this part of the country.

 Most afternoons, the heat & humidity in the air will combine to produce "scattered thunderstorms".  For the past several days it has clouded up & thunder can be heard in the distance.

And for the past several days that is all we have had locally -- clouds & noise.  No rain.  Some place in Arkansas got the rain, but not here.

 I'm still running hoses & hauling H2O every other day, trying to keep trees & plants alive through the drought & heat.  So far, there are no "restrictions" on H2O usage, like there is with the "Burn Ban" currently in effect.

The photo above is the driveway & entrance to my home.  It seems like so long ago that it had a much different look.

 Above is how the same location looked months ago & about 70-80 degrees cooler.

 While I am NOT a big watermelon fan & only eat it on occasion -- unlike a lot of people in this state --it is a good, cooling treat for the Red Footed Tortoises. They get right into it & enjoy the refreshment it brings in this weather.

And ... Precious wanted everyone to know the weather doesn't bother her much.  She stretches out on the concrete sidewalk, or in the shade under the truck, & doesn't let the heat -- dry or humid -- affect her.