Stitch In My Side

Packing

Today was HOT. If I could make that word have little flames, or at least a shimmer, I would do it. We have taken to closing the house up tight during the day, which makes for stagnant but slightly cooler air than what can be found outside. I have finally caved and we put the window unit into our bedroom, and during the day the cats get locked in there so that they don't melt into little furry puddles. Even with the air conditioner it's warm in that room, and Paka lays under the chair in the room, as if she has found a shady spot.

This evening we were treated to a great cool breeze before a brief but intense deluge, and I ran around the house opening all of the windows and placing fans so that every last particle of stagnant air would be moved through and out. It is amazing to think that a few short hours ago it was so hot that I was sweating in an air conditioned room, where the most strenuous exercise that occured was the packing of a puce-green suitcase. Also, here is proof that I am doomed to be covered in cat fur no matter how far I get from home:

Seriously, though. Doesn't that make your heart melt just a little bit?

Finally, thanks to Lynn for giving me this care package for the flight(s) ahead:

I love my neighbors.

Thunder

There have been some pretty incredible thunderstorms coming through here for the last several hours, with thunder rumbling so close by that it is shaking the bed. Seriously. I know our house likes to rattle a bit, but that's just ridiculous.

About a half hour ago there was a lightning strike close by here-a loud CRACK woke me up, and within a second there were a couple of car alarms going off on the street. I found Paka cowering under the bed, and Macska ran upstairs and hasn't let me get more than a couple of feet away from her since then. It's funny how their personalities manifest- Paka wisely hiding, Macska the badass strutting around, but both staying as close as they can without having to come in contact with our sweaty bodies in the heat.

Figuring that we had gotton entirely too lackadaisical about these things, I wandered around the house and unplugged everything (except, of course, the Airport. It's on a good surge protector and the thought of not having the internet was making me feel a little shaky so I decided to wing it). Now I am sitting in the upstairs room and watching the show, waiting for my heart to stop thumping so that I can go back to sleep.