We're supposed to hit 97 today (feels like 103 a sauna inside the fucking SUN).

Last night we (me, Dylan, Ethan) braved the heat to walk down to the waterfront for our town's fireworks, which were terrific even though we all sweated off our sunscreen within about 30 seconds of leaving the house. The heat kept enough people away that we snagged a spot with a great view about 50 feet from the ice cream stand even though we didn't get there until 7:30. Between my insulated water bottle full of ice and my giant handheld fan with rainbow bats all over it (the rainbow bats are ESSENTIAL to the the fan's proper functioning) I managed to stay alive long enough to enjoy the show and walk home.

Today I am cowering in the AC and packing for my trip to Costa Rica (where, ironically, it's about 20 degrees cooler than the northeast US, because in the tropics they don't have to deal with the stupid broken jet stream and it's stupid fucking heat domes). (Not that it doesn't also get very hot there on a regular basis, but this week they are winning at weather even in midsummer during the rainy season.)

Today is a day of celebration as it is the day sj was born! Happiest birthday wishes for a wonderful holiday weekend. May this year be all you hope for and more.

We have arrived in Otter Lake, in the cool Adirondacks, where it is already 80 at 9 AM, with the high expected of 87. I have a window A/C unit running. We broke down and bought one 3-4 years ago. It was never needed prior to that. It still will be in the 50s-60s at night so tolerable.