July 29th, 2009
The first summer Husband and I were living together (back then he was Boyfriend), we went to Australia for him to work for three months. We were in the south, in Adelaide, and it was their winter, so the temperature was generally between 10 and 15 degrees C. We both thought it was hilarious that the Australians went around bundled into parkas and toques and scarfs in this weather – I mean, come on! But once we’d been there for a while we started to get it. Here is the problem: Australia is generally damn hot and their winter is so short that they don’t have central heating in many of the buildings. Turns out 13 degrees feels pretty chilly when you are sitting still in it, at your work desk, all day long. We were cold too! (Though we did not stoop to parkas and toques, finding that a jean jacket was plenty of weather protection while outdoors and walking. The Australians marvelled at our fortitude.)
So now we get to the connection part: it is too fucking hot in Vancouver right now!
There are many reasons to live in Vancouver, among them the lack of a harsh winter and the lack of a harsh summer. We are gloriously moderate nearly all the time, and as a result do not have the infrastructure to support heat waves. Does anyone have air conditioning in their homes? Not really. Some people have little portable units but no one has central air and really, it’s because we don’t need it.
Except that right now we do.
And as a person who lives for the rains of fall and winter, this weather is killing me. Truly – lots of locals complain about the rain here, and yes, it is pretty rainy. But I love the rain! It smells fresh and clean; it has a beautiful, hypnotic sound; it looks cool and calming. I like to walk in the rain, even when the backs of my jeans get all wet and clingy for hours afterward. I am a dark season person and all this goddamn sun makes me want to kill something. Except it is too hot to move.
So you know what I am going to do today? I am participating in an experiment which involves me being given police-funded alcohol and taking breathalyzers. They’re also giving me lunch. And driving me – after all, the police can’t let a girl drive herself when she’s been liquored up! How cool is that?
And then I am going to see my favourite band in the entire world play at the Commodore, and I am SO excited!
How does one sign up for testing like that?
This one got hooked up because my friend John has a relative who works in the lab. But if you want to do it, they might be interested to take your contact info. They run these things several times a year. Want me to pass on your email?