Heat Wave!

My grass looks parched, my flowers are drooping, my car is an oven, and my air conditioner is on overdrive. I don't need a heat advisory to tell me the obvious: it is hot! A Saturday shopping trip is like preparing for a camping excursion: light-weight clothing, adequate fluids, sunscreen, cooler for perishable items, sunglasses, and a baseball hat.

Students from cooler locales may find this weather overwhelming and find it harder to acclimate. Here are some tips:

• Refrain from physical activity during peak hours.
• If you must be outside, try to schedule activities in the early morning or late evening.
• Wear sunscreen.
• Park in shaded areas.
• Avoid heavy meals. Try eating smaller meals more frequently.
• Wear light-weight clothing and avoid dark colors.
• Keep yourself hydrated, even when you are not thirsty.

FYI: The Public Utility Commission of Texas has issued a yellow alert for electricity conservation.

Hurricane Season

Since moving to Texas, I have been introduced to the uneasy onset of hurricane season and obsessive remote control clicks to The Weather Channel. When I lived in California, the earthquakes came with little to no warning and we were left with a devastated community in a matter of minutes. The early detection of hurricanes saves lives and cues evacuations, but it also allows a period of anxious waiting and suspense. I moved to Texas during the summer of 2005 and was warmly greeted by two formidable gals: Katrina and Rita. Wow! Since then, I have kept a closer eye on the systems entering the Gulf of Mexico.

Check out the SciGuy if you have not read his blogs already. He works for the Houston Chronicle and writes very informed articles on projected hurricanes.

Are you prepared for hurricane season? Read the City of Houston Disaster Preparedness Guide and find out.

33 things to do in Houston for $2 or less

Check out the list:

http://www.visithoustontexas.com/visitors/houston_for_two_dollars_or_less/category.list.php


Anyone try any of these things?