BABY IT'S HOT OUTSIDE

View from my seat of our plane.......................................................................

Having returned from hell (Phoenix) for the 4th, the hot and humid weather of Kansas feels balmy. I would like to explain to you how the heat of the desert makes you feel. First of all, it sucks all of the moisture out of your skin, eyeballs and nose. I had nose bleeds, double vision and heat rash in places one should never have a rash. The heels of my feet could sand paper walls.  So what does the Doctor tell me? "moisturize, bathe in tepid water and moisturize again."  OK, but what about my eyeballs, they are dried out?  "Drops" he yells!   OK, but every time I try putting them in my eye, I blink, so forget that. 

I felt like a shut-in. I went to the mall for 1 hour and then came home. It was even warm in the mall. When the thermometer hits 116 and the humidity level is 2% to 4% it is a new level of HOT!  The temperature inside your car is so hot that it is not uncommon for the windshields to blow up. Now I know why they have valet parking at the malls and major centers in the valley. Valet gets the shade. Touching the handle and steering wheel of your car is a Cirque Du Soleil move.

The biggest mistake people make is not drinking water. Because the humidity is so low, you don't sweat or if you do, it dries off of your body so quickly you don't realize it. I found out it is a law in Arizona that if you walk into a store and ask for a drink of water; they must give you one. I was surprised at how many stores keep cold bottled water in the back.

WE got to the airport very early because we knew it would be busy with holiday travel. Our time was spent reading and discretely listening in on the conversations all around us. I decided to get up and stretch my legs and go to the bookstore to buy more water. While walking back I noticed people coming off of a plane. A soldier walking by made me stop in my tracks and think of all the troops in Iraq and how deadly hot it is there. Last time I checked there was no a/c in THAT desert. My eyes finally had water in them, as I thought about crying, stopping myself and going on, but realizing all my complaining was nothing compared to what these men and women are going through for US.......wether you believe this war is just or unjust, they are there for US. In my prayers I wish them a safe and speedy return. I heard a mother of a soldier on the radio today and she said her son was coming home from Iraq and it takes him 4 days to get home.

I watched people pre board, the cute babies and the elderly in wheel chairs and the injured. The plane was full and I sat by the window. Doc sat in the isle. He insists on sitting in the back because it is closer to the bathroom. (OH JOY!)  We had a 13 yr old boy sitting between us. Doc started talking to him about the book he was reading. It is the history of the Old Testament. I told the young man that he didn't have to listen to him or even me for that matter. He laughed and we all settled into our books.

The flight was very choppy at first and according to my son who lives in the valley, a major dust storm hit about 20 minutes after we left. I'm glad we got out just in time. Around 9:30 p.m. I looked outside the plane and we were just starting our dissent I looked out the window to see the little towns and the firework displays. I guess they were rained out for the 4th and this was their raindate. The firework displays became more numerous as we approached Kansas City.  It was glorious seeing them from thousands of feet above ground. 

Luke, the Wonder Dog was so happy to see us and we were glad to be home. Luke and I slept in the next day.  Glad to be back in Kansas..........ruby shoes and all!

WHOOOO RAH!