In the afternoon so fine

30 Jan 2009 at 21:17

A Free Man

It’s not getting any cooler Down Under as the sun goes down on our fourth 40C plus day in a row. We’re apparently in the midst of an historic heat wave. It’s been so hot that the trains aren’t running because the tracks bowed in the heat. Let me rephrase – it is so hot that the train tracks melted. There have been rolling power outages for the past few days and they’re expected to continue – leaving people without precious air conditioning. Our own rickety unit shat itself for about an hour yesterday – but after a lot of cursing, kicking and praying – seems to be running OK for the time being.

But fear not, gentle readers. Delicate Aussies are wilting all around us, but Boy Z and I are made of stronger stuff – not Dr. O’C, she stays in the air conditioned house. A couple of warm days don’t slow us down. Give us hats, a hose and – most importantly – frozen treats and we’ll face this cute little Aussie heatwave with the grit and determination that you’d expect of a couple of free men. Hell, I’ve spent summers in Florida, I’ve spent summers in a non-air conditioned house in Athens, Georgia, I’ve spent summers in Missouri corn fields. Australia’s got nothing I’ve not seen before.

Bring it on.

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37 Comments

by Agnes

30 Jan 2009 at 21:40

There’s a word for people like you mister, but I’m too busy being delicate to remember what it is…

Agness last blog post..Tune in to WordPress.tv
by admin

30 Jan 2009 at 21:48

Charming?
by Agnes

30 Jan 2009 at 22:55

Huh. Was thinking of something a little less complimentary myself.

I took my three year old nephew into town today and we had the mandatory stop for icecream on the way home. About 100m down the road most of it had already snaked its way down his arm. Next time I’ll follow your lead and make sure I have the hose ready. Cute pics, glad you’re surviving!
by JChevais

30 Jan 2009 at 23:30

I hope that you don’t have what France had when there was a horrifically long stint of +40°C heat in 2003: 20,000 dead people (in France alone).

It was nasty.
by runsdeep

31 Jan 2009 at 00:43

I’m proud of the fact that I’ve been here four months (Perth), and we still haven’t turned on the air con in our house…

Do I get a medal?
by runsdeep

31 Jan 2009 at 00:44

Mind you I’m not proud of the fact that I’ve been here four months and still haven’t got a job…
by Nathan B.

31 Jan 2009 at 01:55

People are getting excited around here that Saturday’s high might be above freezing…
by we_be_toys

31 Jan 2009 at 01:57

My god, is there no end in sight to your heat wave? I’m feeling it for you – I hate being hot.
You and the boy have the right idea – popsicles and a hose – who could ask for anything more? (A cold front, maybe?)

we_be_toyss last blog post..Hindsight Doesn’t Amount to a Hill of Beans
by Damon

31 Jan 2009 at 02:18

Train tracks bowing in the heat? Wow, I’ve never heard of that. But between the freezing weather here in the states and the heat wave Down Under, I’d take the heat anytime.

Damons last blog post..Steel Magnolias in my queue???
by Southern (in)Sanity

31 Jan 2009 at 02:29

If you’ve lived through summer in Florida and no air conditioning in Athens, Georgia, you should be ready for just about anything.

I’m not familiar with Australia’s climate. Is it as humid there as it is in the southern United States?
by Gypsy

31 Jan 2009 at 02:54

That is too adorable.
by Father Muskrat

31 Jan 2009 at 03:42

If my memory of formulas from highschool is right, that converts to pretty damned hot (3-figures on Farenheit)!

Hope y’all have a good weekend, and at least you have a cool place to sleep. Sleeping in 100+ temps sucks ass. I used to shower and not dry off; then I’d pour water on my cot and sheets to stay cool.

Father Muskrats last blog post..friday confessional for january 30: fornicating with an ex’s wife
by mongoliangirl

31 Jan 2009 at 04:15

Ohhhhh Free Man. Those Missouri corn fields in August will set you up to deal with damn near anything won’t they?

mongoliangirls last blog post..The way his eyelashes look when he blinks & the red tint of his hair
by bluestreak

31 Jan 2009 at 04:46

I love Boy Z’s tummy in that last one.

I’m from Phoenix so can pretty much withstand anything that’s dry. I don’t last 10 minutes in humidity though. Here in Seville the summer is brutal but not nearly as bad as Phoenix, but I feel it so much more here because of all the walking to get around that I do. In Phoenix you just get in your car, blast the a/c and then get to your next air conditioned destination.

bluestreaks last blog post..The Hyperreality of Home
by courtney

31 Jan 2009 at 05:07

The train tracks melted?!

Dude. That’s hot.

courtneys last blog post..Recommended Reading (And Listening)
by carrie

31 Jan 2009 at 07:19

such cute pics. i, too, despise hot weather in general.

carries last blog post..i don’t know what i knew before
by Siren

31 Jan 2009 at 07:35

Glad you are both finding ways to keep it cool. have a great weekend

Sirens last blog post..Yesterday Sucked!
by mjrc

31 Jan 2009 at 08:50

i love how he so willingly wears all his hats–too cute.

i like to believe that i could stand the dry heat better than the humid stuff, but i think anything over 100F is just wrong, plain and simple!

mjrcs last blog post..Did You See That?
by Jud

31 Jan 2009 at 09:06

It does sound quite warm. Did you ever go to Sandy Creek when in Athens? We like to head that way when visiting the in-laws.

Juds last blog post..Unrequited Love…or Something Else
by ms picket to you

31 Jan 2009 at 11:01

stinkin’ sweaty awesome cute.

ms picket to yous last blog post..I Could Punch That Book
by Maureen

31 Jan 2009 at 11:12

Wow – you (and your son) are made of stern stuff. I’m impressed! I’m from Minnesota so I’m used to hot and humid summers but there’s hot and then there is HOT. 40 degrees Celsius is 104 degrees Fahrenheit. I would say that any temp over 100F is definitely very hot.

Here – in Britain – we are bracing ourselves for some unusually cold weather this weekend with temperatures plunging to 21F (-6C). The freezing temperatures will take hold on Sunday night, bringing up to two inches of snow across the country and bitterly cold winds from Western Russia.

It’s too bad we can’t share our weather and balance things out a bit.

Take care. Keep cool.

Maureens last blog post..Life in England: Ten rants and ten raves
by mickey

31 Jan 2009 at 14:18

Free men unite!
(Nothing a hose can’t handle.)

mickeys last blog post..Sorry about the downer, truly
by yellojkt

31 Jan 2009 at 14:51

40C is pretty dang hot. We had tracks buckling in DC/Baltimore a few years back. It’s not that uncommon.

yellojkts last blog post..Get Your NaJuReMoNoMo Awards
by Angel

31 Jan 2009 at 23:13

I’ve never been down under, but the hottest most suffocating weather I’ve ever experienced was in Florida. If you’ve survived that, I’m thinking everything else is a breeze.

Boy Z is pretty much the cutest little boy on earth.

Angels last blog post..Okay, so it isn’t Nietzsche
by sarala

01 Feb 2009 at 02:00

He is so cute with that ginormous hat on. Makes me miss my kids being that little, cute and innocent. And then they let me sleep in and I appreciate them being more independent!

saralas last blog post..Faith Comes in Small Boxes
by arizaphale

01 Feb 2009 at 09:54

AFM, you are so full of s***. I heard the panic in your voice when the air conditioner died!

arizaphales last blog post..Heatwave 3
by Busy Dad Mumbles

01 Feb 2009 at 10:01

Man, that sounds hot. Earlier in the week we were on the other end of the scale. Snow and ice everywhere. We were at 0 and that was before the wind blew. At that point we went to below no temperature.

Our busses and cars couldn’t run due to ice and snow.

All the best to ya’ll down under.

Busy Dad Mumbless last blog post..Steelers vs. Cardinals = The Big Game
by kitty

01 Feb 2009 at 15:24

Panic in your voice, huh? Truth will out. If you’re bragging about it not being that hot I guess you must really be an Aussie bloke now. Shall we call you Bruce? Me? I’m a Sheila and a local I see no shame is moaning and sobbing. It’s hot. It’s too bloody hot to think. At least when I was a bairn there were paddling pools and sprinklers to play under, before all of this water restriction hoo ha.

kittys last blog post..6 random thoughts
by arizaphale

01 Feb 2009 at 20:09

Yeah! I’m pretty sure squirting toddlers with a hose somehow contravenes water restrictions. Although I suppose it is a ‘hand held’ hose.

arizaphales last blog post..Heat Wave 4: Suffering
by Coal Miner's Granddaughter

02 Feb 2009 at 00:48

I keep seeing news about the historic Australian heat wave and I think of you guys. And all I have to say is that I’m with you. I was on bed rest. Pregnant with twins. In August. In a bedroom that had poor AC. Which means by 3PM every damned day, it was 90F in that room.

Bring it, indeed.

Coal Miner’s Granddaughters last blog post..I Miss You
by heather

02 Feb 2009 at 14:30

That is really hot. We lived in Portugal and spent time in Spain. The hottest we’ve seen 53 C in Seville (127 F). But, it is brutal. have you ever seen “Brighton Beach Memoirs?” There is a wonderful scene about the heat.

heathers last blog post..Dance
by Robin (aka Toasty)

02 Feb 2009 at 14:53

You watching the Superbowl down under? It can’t get warmer there, cause that’ll mean it’s going to get colder here… and I can’t take any more cold! Myinnerteen has had it’s last post, btw, and there’s a NEW blog which no one is reading. It’s myinnergrownup… clever, eh?!
by Toasty

02 Feb 2009 at 14:57

Weird, I just tried commenting… twice, with my new blog address under “website” and I couldn’t change it. Very confused.

Toastys last blog post..Moving Day!
by NATUI

03 Feb 2009 at 01:49

As long as the house stay cool enough not to melt your computer equipment you’re fine.

As for the kiddo, it’s amazing what a popsicle and a garden hose can achieve. Great shots.

NATUIs last blog post..Inauguration Party: Preschool Style
by Florida Girl in Sydney

03 Feb 2009 at 13:14

For some reason the heat here in Sydney doesn’t seem to be as bad to me as South Florida heat. But it’s still too freaking hot. Love that baby belly photo! I’ve had my kids in the plastic baby pool every afternoon!

Florida Girl in Sydneys last blog post..It Started With Mochi
by admin

03 Feb 2009 at 15:22

JChev – I think France’s problem is a lack of A/C. We’ve had a few dropping off here, but nowhere near 20,000.

Runsdeep – So you’re still Captain Evironment then are you? Too bad it doesn’t come with a paycheck.

Nathan – I don’t miss the midwestern winters a bit.

We Be Toys – We’re still in it. Looking like Sunday may get down to a reasonable sort of temperature.

Damon – Me too. I’m kind of digging the heat.

Southern – No, so it’s a piece of cake. More like Arizona than Alabama.

Gypsy – Thanks.

Father Muskrat – How does the powder work if you’re wet?

Mongola – Pretty much, yeah. I’ve never been hotter than doing field work in Columbia. Sweaty, covered with pollen and scratches from those leaf blades.

Bluestreak – I know, it’s the same as the States here – you just go from one air conditioned building to your air conditioned car to another air conditioned building. I take the bus though, but they’re usally air conditioned as well.

Courtney – Damn hot.

Carrie – It’s OK, it’s much better than the rain and gloom I got used to for the last few years.

Siren – We’ve got all sorts of ways, most of which involve ice cream.

MRJC – It’s not always willing, but he’ll usually wear one of mine if not his own. That one’s mine.

Jud – When I was in Athens I used to take the dog down to Sandy Creek – it was also kid of notorious as a hook-up place for the gay community, if you know what I’m saying.

Maureen – I don’t think it ever got that cold when we were in Britain!

Arizaphale – I was worried about Boy Z!

CMGD – You win.
by Jud

06 Feb 2009 at 01:55

Well, i can’t recall seeing any openly gay folks there on my last visit, but then I can’t say that I really keep an eye out for that sort of thing. About half of the crowd was Hispanic families enjoying a day at the lake; about a quarter were Anglo-families doing the same, and rest were teenagers, boys trying to impress the girls and vice versa.

Juds last blog post..Waiting for a Warming Trend