109 degrees

For the last two days it's gotten to 109 degrees here. Even with that old "dry heat" thing, 109 degrees is hot. The last few years it's gotten to 115 or 116 a few times during the summer, usually in July, so we're approaching the summer max. That's kind of a relief, knowing that it's probably only going to get about 7 degrees hotter. Although 109 is horrible, it's bearable if you stay inside or on a shady patio and don't move much. Of course, try telling that to the boos, who insist on running around the backyard. Their little cheeks get so red from the heat and when I bring out cups of water, they guzzle them.

Saturday night was the monthly "Wine Walk" in downtown Ridgecrest. Many of the businesses stay open late and offer wine to passersby. You have to buy a specially decorated wineglass at any of the stores offering them, and they give you a wristband that says you've paid and you're old enough to drink. We actually went out to dinner first, then took the boos home and bathed them and put them in their sleepers -- and then went out with them to the Wine Walk around 7:00 pm, because it was just so bloody hot. And it hadn't even gotten to 109 that day, only 108 or 107 I believe. We had one small glass of wine each, unlike our fellow Ridgecrestians who were filling up their glasses at every store. But I did buy some scone mix and jam at one store and a (used) book by Kate Atkinson at Ridgecrest's one (independent) bookstore, Red Rock Books.

The town seems quieter to me now, and I imagine it's because people are heading out on vacation. Have I mentioned the plethora of RVs in Ridgecrest? They are just everywhere. Many people have special RV parking areas on their property. Obviously the thing to do if you live in the Mojave Desert is LEAVE during the hot weather. It must be rough on all the little businesses, who don't have enough patrons to begin with.

We're getting ready to head on out of here too. The boos and I are going up to northern California for 3 weeks, starting with 4th of July weekend. Rocket Boy will escort us up there and then come back and work and enjoy the peace and quiet (and heat) (and cockroaches). I'm looking forward to my time away from here, but I wonder what it will be like to come back afterwards. Will it be a relief, coming back to my own stuff, and having our little family all together again? Or will it be a nightmare, leaving the cool greenness of the north to return to my own private little hell on earth? I hope it's the former. I hope I have a really wonderful time away and then it's OK to come back.