If Everybody Had an Ocean, Across the U.S.A.

I wanted to take a moment to thank Willis Haviland Carrier, the man who invented modern air conditioning. I also want to thank the power companies for keeping the electricity flowing.

This weekend, inland temperatures were in the triple digits. Smallville reached highs of 114 and 111. It was as if the entire town donned sandals and a towel and stepped into a sauna. The weather was perfect for people who like to sweat, wear sticky clothing and remind others to stay hydrated.

Watching the news and seeing how other parts of the country (like Phoenix, St. Louis and New York City) were also suffering from high temperatures and power outages kept me from complaining too much. I'm grateful to live someplace where it's possible to escape to the beach. We were able to take advantage of the cooler coastal temperatures on Saturday and Sunday morning before having to return to reality yesterday afternoon.

Weather forecasters are expecting temperatures to drop as the week progresses, which is good news for those who don't have the luxury of an ocean or Carrier's invention. It's also good news for firefighters battling California's ongoing wildfires and folks operating the state's delicate power grid that probably can't endure the strain much longer. I hope the rest of the country receives relief, too, especially New York City, where some neighborhoods have been without power for more than a week.