It's HOT! It's COLD! It's WINDY! It's DRY! It's WET! It's OUR Weather! (Dallas: apartment complex, rent)

[Kootr]

Originally Posted by DaveG99

honestly I dont know how they do it. I wont go outside for longer than 20 minutes unless Im working or Im at a body of water.

The point is - there are millions of people that do it and aren't terribly bothered by it.

Maybe they are acclimated to the heat. Maybe the children here see their parents tolerate the heat and thus they tolerate it too. We are a product of our environment. Maybe they are in good health, without a thick layer of fat which increases the body's core temperature. I'm not sure why most people here aren't affected by the heat, but it's a fact a large percentage certainly don't seem overly bothered by it.

I suspect if someone is accustomed to much cooler summer weather in the northern U.S. they would view our Texas summer temperatures as being unbearable. Yet, if someone came to Texas from even hotter (and often higher humidity) areas - they would consider Texas summers to be mild in comparison. Much like the minus 0 degree cold temperatures of many northern states is par for the course, but we would find it unbearably cold. (By the way - I hate cold, grey skies, snow, sleet and freezing rain...give me the high temperatures, sunshine and blue skies any day.)

[Scout_972]

Originally Posted by Canine*Castle

1980 was worse. I can't remember for sure, but I think it was 60 plus straight days of triple digits. I thought I was in Hades.

Ouch! and I can imagine. LOL

I was too young to remember that year. I think that's the summer that chased one of my siblings back up north permanently.

[Cupcake77]

There is an old song by The Sundays
----------------
England my country the home of the free
such miserable weather
but England`s as happy as England can be
why cry
----------------

point being is, they admit the weather sucks. But they love their country and proud of it anyway. I see the same thing here in Texas.

I know many people who moved to the UK and couldn't stand the weather and couldn'twait to get out. But some of us loved it there because we were used to it.

what it boils down to. If you are living in Texas, you know it gets hot. Love it or leave it but don't complain about it.

I don't mind the heat too much because I lived in Perth Au for years and it gets much hotter than Texas. There are things I don't like about Texas, but heat is not something anyone can change.

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by Canine*Castle

I wonder how many who speak of the heat right now have done anything other than go from air conditioned house to A/C car to A/C building? Try doing something physical and see how a dry heat feels.

My kids play outdoor sports. For years we were their coaches. I've been out in it for an entire day several times a week. This past weekend in a golf tournament. It was hot but survived. My oldest is in a soccer camp this week as well as volunteering for an outdoor Bible study in a low income apartment complex where they are outside all day. We have employees that have to be out in it all day be it making deliveries or working the docks. We still have 1 truck that has no a/c. My dad was in construction as well and was outside all day in the heat as was my grandfather. We just get used to it and go on and be smart about it by staying hydrated.

Originally Posted by Kootr

How do you explain the people that go about their business as usual in the 100+ heat? I'm sure you see it too...

I see people driving with their convertible tops down, or with their windows down. I see literally hundreds of children practicing and playing sports. I see the children's parents coaching and watching. I see bikers riding their bikes long distances. I see joggers enjoying themselves.

LOL!!! Exactly. My dad was in construction and a truck driver w/ trucks w/ no a/c. My grandfather was also in construction and my other grandparents were dairy farmers and back then there were no a/c's in the barns. Air condition is still a fairly new product and only the youngest generations now are products of a full a/c society. As kids we would go around barefoot even in the heat of the summer and would walk on asphalt w/ no problems. Cars w/ no a/c was pretty common. I've got a convertible that doesn't have a/c. Only time it gets "hot" while driving it is if I'm stopped at a red light for too long. With those vinyl seats I am careful of what clothes I wear on my legs.

The water park by me was PACKED yesterday and the soccer camp had about 100 kids at it and parents stayed and watched.

Originally Posted by DaveG99

honestly I dont know how they do it. I wont go outside for longer than 20 minutes unless Im working or Im at a body of water.

LOL!!! Weakling

Originally Posted by Kootr

The point is - there are millions of people that do it and aren't terribly bothered by it.

Maybe they are acclimated to the heat. Maybe the children here see their parents tolerate the heat and thus they tolerate it too. We are a product of our environment. Maybe they are in good health, without a thick layer of fat which increases the body's core temperature. I'm not sure why most people here aren't affected by the heat, but it's a fact a large percentage certainly don't seem overly bothered by it.

I think that is it. We are how we were brought up. No a/c was common back then around here and we had parents and grandparents that HAD to work outside in it from sunrise to sunset. Then when they were done they would still be outside or inside in a house w/ no a/c. You just get used to it. I'd also say that most people that do work outside for a good part of their day are not overweight. They get a lot of physical work so they are not sitting behind a desk growing wider.

[LQQKOUT]

Originally Posted by Korel

Ahhh shoot! Growing up as a kid in Dallas, it got so hot we had to turn the kitchen oven on to cool off the house! We didn't have AC until I moved away from home.

El Nino? I had to look that up. I think it means we're going to have a more rainy than normal winter. Right? I do hope so.

Think of it like this; It's summers like this that sends the New Yorkers packing .

Who remembers June 1980 when it hit 113? I was working up in Flower Mound and on my drive home to Garland I heard on the radio that a tree trimming crew managed to short out some power lines and before it was caught under control, all the power in Garland was out. When I arrived home my pregnant wife and the other two kiddoes were out front under the tree waiting for me. We only had one car. We loaded up and drove over to Town East Mall where it was cool.....along with about 100,000 other people. Town East looked like a week before Christmas from all the people.

I remember that summer and I lived in Brock, TX boy was it HOT. We didn't have AC either then. HOW DID WE MANAGE?? Anyway's what my parents did for us, and made it fun more then anything. Was at Dinner time we would get clean top sheets put them in the ice box so they get cold and when bed time came around few hours later we would get the top sheet and run to the room and jump in bed and it was cool for a moment. That moment was memoriable to me....Can't believe we lived without AC. And cell phones.....

[howdytexas]

We're packing boxes (for our move to Richardson) and we're wearing light sweaters up here in Chicago! We haven't had a 90 degree day yet . We've barely used the a/c and next week we'll still be in the mid 70's.

One of the issues that kept me from moving to Texas the first time was the weather. And the fact that Dallas tap water tastes like grit . But I was tired of Chicago summers - lugging the a/c units from the basement - stores running out of a/c units- people dying from the heat for NO REASON- not enough local pools/water parks- e.coli closing down the beach every other day, etc. The first time I arrived in Dallas via Amtrak, I thought it was so pretty. Then I stepped off the 65 degree air conditioned train, and into 101 degree heat - yes, I fainted! But soon it felt like a chicago summer with less humidity and WAY more pools and things to do. I was amazed that people went to soccer games at 6:30 in the morning and stayed even when the heat arrived. Needless to say, I can't wait to get back - bring on the heat!

[notpictured]

Number of 100-degree days in Dallas in the last decade. .... (Four summers haven't been so bad anyway!)

2009: (your guess)
2008: 30+ (not sure)
2007: 5
2006: 42
2005: 18
2004: 1
2003: 19
2002: 1
2001: 8
2000: 46

[theloneranger]

Our AC was out yesterday and since we decided 92 was a little uncomfortable to sleep in all night we ended up at the Doubletree down the street. Not a bad night--and the thermostat's default was SIXTY SIX!

But according to USA Today, we may be looking at only 98 or so on Friday and Saturday.

[Lakewooder]

Wimps!

LOL -- one of my grandmothers absolutely would not have AC - she had a back sleeping porch under a tree with a window fan and a oscillating fan on her dresser. That was it.

If she visited someone with AC, she would go sit outside...

[lh_newbie]

I think if our AC went out, I'd buy a $125, 5K BTU window unit for the bedroom so we could sleep comfortably. Wouldn't cost much more than a night at a hotel. I'd then donate it after the AC is fixed and claim the tax deduction and help someone that could use it. Win-win! Of course, I'm assuming it goes out when the stores are open...