Hot Days in The Summer

The temperature projections for the next week are not an improvement from the last several days.  For the last week, a new record has been set almost every day.  Sunday was 110 ℉,  43.3 ℃, exceeding the previous record by one degree.  No rain keeps the ground so warm records are being set for the highest nighttime low temperatures.  It is just plain hot with the humidity giving even higher feels like temps.

This morning I slept until about 7:45. I rolled out of bed, dressed, made the bed, and gathered items I would need for Stretch Lab.  Actually, the items needed for Stretch Lab are my purse and non-skid socks.  I did not even stop for breakfast.  I did drink a bit of water.  Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.  

Last night I had made up my mind to load the recycling into the car before the temperatures were outrageous.  Thus the somewhat earlier time to roll out of the bed.  Even though it was only  8:15 AM the temperature was already 90 ℉,  32.2 ℃.   By the time I gathered the indoor recycling, loaded the sorted items on the cart, and then moved it all out to the car, my head was wet with perspiration.  I failed to bring the gate key so a bit more of a trek to get back to the storage closet to store the cart.  Oh, well more steps for the step count. 

Snow blown into the entry

After storing the cart, I could return to the refreshing 78 ℉,  25.5 ℃, apartment temperature.  We do have the ceiling fans running per the request of  Oncor.  Oncor is the energy management mafia organization for the state of Texas.  This is the organization we Texans had to thank for the mismanagement of power needs in February 2021.  That was the year we had to live with our son for 5 days.  

Sure, that snowstorm was beyond anything normally seen in Central Texas.  Temperatures well below normal and lasting for days pushed the grid to a breaking point.  And, sure enough, it broke.   The persons monitoring the cost of power failed to adjust the formula as the prices fluctuated.  That is why some folks had bills of up to $10,000.  Now to be fully open, the folks had signed contracts that gave much lower rates when the cost for the grid was fine.  But $10,000 seems a bit like overkill when someone or some program did not properly perform.

The state legislature did nothing except pass a bill with no balls.  Oncor was given recommendations but no deadlines nor punishments for not meeting the recommendations.  Gotta love a state run by the lobbyists for the oil companies.  That is not likely to change in the near future.  

Tonight I might be able to do a load of laundry before bedtime.  We should wait to cook dinner till later.  That will not hurt us in the least.  That is how I do my part to keep the grid viable.  Hopefully, driving a hybrid,  requesting my energy come from wind farms, and even just the simple recycling will help.  Folks that drive electric cars are beginning to install solar systems to supply their charging needs.  Just another way we can help the strain on the grid in Texas.

Till all the renewable energy is allowed to be more than 15% of the power grid, the limits will continue.  But this really is still a first-world problem.  Unfortunately, there are still folks that do not have air conditioning.  Some do not even have a home.   BTW, we saw gas for $3.99 a gallon.  

Y'all take care.

Janice

PS:  Oncor has suggested using outdoor heated surfaces for cooking to further conserve energy.

The round rock that gave the city its name.