Today, the temperature hit well over 100°F (40°C). This is probably the fifth day of the heatwave and we look to have at least another two days more of the same conditions.

It is a dry heat. thankfully. I do not know where we will be if the humidity was torrid. I say that because yesterday, our electricity went out in the late afternoon for a few hours. There was still plenty of light left and since I was barbecuing, dinner was taken care of for the evening. The house was sufficiently chilled that with prudent use of the doors going into and out of the house, we managed to keep it comfortable for awhile. The brownout which seemed to be localise in our part of the town lasted two hours.

Now if it had been humid and last much longer than that, I would have gathered up the family and go for a long drive in the air-conditioned SUV so to remain comfortable. But it did not required that this time around. I was a bit concerned as well with the fact that at 11pm, the electricity went out again, this time for 30 minutes or so.

I wonder if this foreshadows a rough summer for us with rolling brownouts in parts of the city or state as the utlilities try to manage the load on the electric grid. With spikes in oil and natural gas prices there will an effect on our electric bills this summer even with the fact that most of the electric power is generated with coal. The transmission lines still need much upgrading despite that major blackout that occurred a few years back.

We will have a bit of relief from the heat, at least for the kids. They have the luxury of a good size wading pool courtesy of grandparents Leon. Deep and board, it is a great soaking pool thus I must say, it looks a bit peculiar all by itself in the backyard.

Ah, the backyard. I do have a good size backyard. Not a great one lawn-wise as the previous owners of the property did not see fit to do much with the yard. Still, it looks like just as physically demanding to mow as was my previous home. In this heat, that is going to be an effort to say the least.

Here’s to hoping for a quick summer and a return to the cool days of autumn.