HOT-lanta!!

Yikes!! It's August . . . it's Georgia . . . and it's HOT!! For the past two weeks the temperatures have soared to the high 90's and low 100's every single day. Combined with the humidity, it feels even hotter. Just our luck, this is the hottest summer for the past 7 years. Maybe Al Gore is right ??

For the first time in our lives, we live in a home with air conditioning. We never needed it in Encinitas, and didn't have it in Colorado or Illinois. I don't know how we would survive a summer in Georgia without it. We're really glad to have it in the evenings. The temperatures are usually in the 80's when we get up at 5:30 a.m., rise steadily throughout the day, usually peak out around 100 between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. and are still in the 90's when we go to bed. Even our cat Lucy, who loves to hang out on the balcony and watch the world go by, rarely spends more than one minute outdoors these days. Maybe we should shave her?

In addition to the hot weather, Atlanta has it's worst air quality of the year in the summer. We regularly have smog alerts and "unhealthy" air quality. It's a no-brainer to stay off the bikes after work when we can barely see the highrises through the thick air. (Being able to see the air you breathe is not a good thing.) We find ourselves longing for rain or even a breeze to blow the crud away from the city.

Fortunately the air quality is better in the early mornings, so on weekends we get out early on the bikes to beat the heat. The Saturday group that we ride with starts at 7:30 a.m. We're learning that even when the temperatures creep up, it's not too bad when you're riding a bike and have a breeze in your face. The problems begin when you stop for a stoplight or regroup. Then you really feel the heat and start sweating like crazy. We learned quickly to drink constantly and try to keep moving.

Despite the current weather situation, there is still a lot to love about the South. Number one on the list is the friendly people. Some of you may recall Dave White's presentation at our NCCC goodbye party. He commented about my ability to talk, and talk, and talk. Well guess what? I fit right in here in Georgia! When you ask someone how they're doing, you'd better have an hour available to hear the answer. I can go through a check-out line at the grocery store and by the time I'm walking out I know the cashier's life story and she knows mine. It's wonderful and amazing how nice everyone is. That is, until they get behind the wheel of a car. Road rage is rampant due to the horrible traffic.

A few other observations. They don't have 7-Elevens in Georgia. But they do have Waffle House. http://www.wafflehouse.com/ The food is great, you can get breakfast all day long, and the prices are cheap. Really hits the spot after a hard bike ride.

We're so thankful we arrived in Atlanta in April, when the dogwoods and azaleas were in bloom and the temperatures were nice and cool. It gave us a chance to fall in love with our new city before the dog days of summer. Now if we can just hold on until October. With all the trees, autumn should be incredible around this area.

Sorry we didn't post the usual exciting photos this time, but it's too hot to do anything. We go from air conditioned condo to air conditioned cars to air conditioned offices. Check our future blogs to hear the rant about our utility bills.

Stay cool!