06.08.08
Heat Wave = No Knitting
Growing up in California and the midwest I had only experienced one kind of air conditioning - central. A wonderful, wonderful thing is central air - a push of a button and cold air is created. Moving to New York opened up my world to the “air conditioner window unit.” What a concept - put in the a/c in the summer, take it out for the winter - it’s a huge pain in the a$$ to put it mildly but that is what New Yorkers do, well, at least those of us who don’t live in fancy new luxury apartments that have central air built it.
In my twenties it was a point of pride to claim one didn’t have an a/c. There used to be a certain type of hard core New Yorker who consciously chose to live without a/c and I belonged to those ranks. I lived with fans strategically placed in the apartment and bragged about my stamina in enduring the heat. In my late thirties I proudly wave my wimpiness when it comes to the heat. I have an a/c with a timer and remote control and it is a fabulous piece of technology, but I retain a bit of the hard core New Yorker in me. I will not put that unit in until the 1st of July because basically, I’m cheap. I tell myself I can deal with the heat through June but I just can’t suffer through the humidity of July and August. That all changed this weekend.
The first heat wave for New York City started on Saturday. One of the best ways to escape the heat, of course, is to go to the movies. I started my summer movie season with the 1:30 showing of Sex and the City. (Promise, no spoilers) It was a double date with Alex and her man. (Brave, brave fellows.) We got there way, way early. Alex was smart and brought her knitting while we waited. The movie was over by four and by the time Darren and I got home after a late lunch, it wasn’t so bad in the apartment. I have multiple ceiling fans and if I just plop myself on the couch and don’t move, it’s fine. Sunday, we went to see You Don’t Mess with the Zohan. (I figured these two movies bookended nicely - estrogen and testosterone - that kind of thing.) Upon walking out of the theater and encountering the wall of heat, I had given in, that and the looming 100 degree weather predicted for Monday. I rationalized I had to put in the a/c for my cat, Cleo, if not for me. Poor thing just lays on the floor, all stretched out with a zoned-out look on her face.
This heat wave has all led to one predictable thing - absolutely no knitting has occurred. My current projects are all wool. Wool in this weather? No way.