Los Angeles is experiencing a record heat wave. The radio said it's the worst heat wave in the last 10 to 20 years. Of course, we should expect it to be hot. After all, this is southern California in August, so what else but hot weather? Still, this seems unusual. But consistent from day to day...see the screenshot below from my iPhone on Tuesday, August 18.
The heat saps me of energy. Some days, I don't feel like doing anything at all. One day recently, took two naps. We try to take two walks a day, one early in the morning, and one late in the afternoon, when if we choose our route carefully, we can walk mostly in the shade of buildings. The sycamore trees, of which there are many in Park La Brea, are struggling, many leaves already shriveled and falling to the ground
We have had our two room air conditioners on thru much of the daytime. Since we only have three rooms (not counting baths), we are fairly well covered. Still, the A/Cs are struggling to keep up (or should I say keep down). The background hum of all the A/Cs in our building is continuous. California has recently experienced rolling blackouts, due to lack of sufficient electric energy; per usual, authorities are pointing fingers at each other regarding who is to blame. No blackouts yet where we live.
Thank goodness, our pool reopened about a month ago. (The gym reopened also, but was then closed down again two weeks later. Even if the gym reopens, I won't be going anytime in the foreseeable future; it's an indoor space.) I can walk "laps" in the lap pool, where the water is up to my armpits, and still keep my mask on. Limited one person per each of the five lanes. Water feels great. I have been doing this exercise for about eight years now. At first, it seemed boring and I was counting the laps until I could stop; but now it has become a meditative interlude in my day.
I recently have been going to the pool just before 3PM. The pool is closed from 2 to 3 for cleaning. So, just before 3, there is a small group waiting to get in. Going at this time, I can be sure of getting a lane. At other times of the day, all lanes may be in use, which means a wait, usually just a few minutes.
There is a regular group of swimmers that show up after 3PM on many days. One is M, an older lady who really likes men; says she adored her father. The yenta of the pool, she schmoozes up everyone, but especially the guys, and sometimes dishes the dirt. When I chatted with M in the next lane a few days ago (masks on), I realized that, aside from Nadine, she was the only other person I had actually spoken with that day.
A dragonfly is usually there every afternoon, flitting above the surface of the pool, mostly at the west end, which is somewhat in shadows after 3PM. Recently, one was a beautiful reddish-orange irridescent color, circling and circling over the water.
There are other species at the pool as well, specifically canines. Saw my second one there days ago. This is not surprising in LA. Dogs are everywhere: grocery store, restaurants, movies theaters (when they were open), offices, Nordstroms, Pete's Coffee, our (former) synagogue, etc.
Saturday, at breakfast outside of Toast, a woman showed up with her great Dane, and proceeded to drag a large mattress out of her BMW and put it on the sidewalk, where the dog dutifully laid down while she ate. All of this done while keeping 6 feet of separation between parties, temp checks before seating, and masks up when the server approaches.
Finally, with the heat, fireseason has come again to California. This is now a regular annual event. No current danger where Nadine and I live, in the city. But many fierce fires in the state, with a big cluster up north where an unusual outbreak of lightning storms triggered many fires. We have relatives and friends up there. Some have had to pack up the car, and be prepared to leave home. Others have had to evacuate, and now await to hear whether their home has survived.
August 21 satellite photo of smoke plumes in No Calif, from our son Phil:
