This weeks topic is Dog Days of Summer-- how do you survive the heat of summer?
I am asked this frequently as someone who literally has 99.9% black clothes (you can count on one hand the number of discernibly colored articles in my closet)-- even my undergarments are all black.
To which I tend to reply, I am cold blooded.
I hear this term thrown around, but I find it inaccurate in its use. Many people use it to describe a love of cold weather... but our real cold blooded critter brethren might disagree, and its their definition that I use this term with. When the cold weather comes upon us, I do as the reptiles and amphibian do... I slow to nearly a halt. I cannot function, and I sleep all the dang time-- not even moving around warms me up, because in order to reach the temperature I am comfortable at requires a lot of movement, which means sweating because of all the layers I am likely in-- and well, if my skin is even slightly damp it cools me off immediately. You could say that I'm just as picky about the temperature of the ambient environment as our little brethren, too. It has to be precise in order for me to be a happy guppy-- hot by the norm, but something cool (preferably no ice) to drink or take a dip in to be just right... I can get overheated, but it takes a special/extreme circumstance to get to that point.
Yes, I am Canadian, in case you had your doubts about me now... but this Canadian was born from a pair of sun loving folk who aren't originally from those parts. Naturally, I inherited said weakness to the cold (heck, if it isn't dessert food, I refuse to eat cold food because I get too cold with that and a cold drink)... but! My skin resists burns better than anyone I personally know. During a vacation in Hawaii, I stayed on the beach from dawn till dusk nearly every day for two weeks, and the worst I suffered was a tan that lasted me several years. Even in the scorching heat of the desert sun, where my hubby would likely receive severe burns (which he has because of carelessness), I get a soft glow to my skin.
My daily bike ride to work is usually in temperatures reaching upwards 90 degrees Fahrenheit, all while clad in black... and the one thing that usually crosses my head is 'winter bike rides are going to suck'.
To which I tend to reply, I am cold blooded.
I hear this term thrown around, but I find it inaccurate in its use. Many people use it to describe a love of cold weather... but our real cold blooded critter brethren might disagree, and its their definition that I use this term with. When the cold weather comes upon us, I do as the reptiles and amphibian do... I slow to nearly a halt. I cannot function, and I sleep all the dang time-- not even moving around warms me up, because in order to reach the temperature I am comfortable at requires a lot of movement, which means sweating because of all the layers I am likely in-- and well, if my skin is even slightly damp it cools me off immediately. You could say that I'm just as picky about the temperature of the ambient environment as our little brethren, too. It has to be precise in order for me to be a happy guppy-- hot by the norm, but something cool (preferably no ice) to drink or take a dip in to be just right... I can get overheated, but it takes a special/extreme circumstance to get to that point.
A little kindred spirit I found on my way to work one day. Don't worry, I didn't keep her from her business for long. |
Yes, I am Canadian, in case you had your doubts about me now... but this Canadian was born from a pair of sun loving folk who aren't originally from those parts. Naturally, I inherited said weakness to the cold (heck, if it isn't dessert food, I refuse to eat cold food because I get too cold with that and a cold drink)... but! My skin resists burns better than anyone I personally know. During a vacation in Hawaii, I stayed on the beach from dawn till dusk nearly every day for two weeks, and the worst I suffered was a tan that lasted me several years. Even in the scorching heat of the desert sun, where my hubby would likely receive severe burns (which he has because of carelessness), I get a soft glow to my skin.
My daily bike ride to work is usually in temperatures reaching upwards 90 degrees Fahrenheit, all while clad in black... and the one thing that usually crosses my head is 'winter bike rides are going to suck'.