Summer in the City
All this global warming has got me sweatin’ like a sweathog. Actually, that’s a misnomer – hogs don’t sweat. Neither do I; as a gentleman, I perspire. Out of respect for the hole in the ozone layer, I refuse to use spray deodorants, but a cold mid-afternoon shower sure feels mighty good. Anyway, it sure is hot around here lately.
“Hot town, summer in the city, back of my neck gettin’ dirty and gritty. Been down, isn’t it a pity? Doesn’t seem to be a shadow in the city, all around people looking half-dead, walking on the sidewalk, hotter than a matchhead.” (“Summer In The City” Lovin’ Spoonful – 1966)
Last month’s protracted hot spell was a little over the top, with temperatures in the 90s and even 100 degrees here in Crestline, which would not be the first time that has happened. I recall several occasions in the past 45 years that me and the missus have been hanging out here when it got up to 100 or more.
Last weekend we decided to head out to Las Vegas and Laughlin for a little fun and sun. But, man-o-man, we didn’t expect the the statospheric temps we found there. On the way to Vegas, we decided to stop in Baker for some Alien Beef Jerky. Baker is, of course, home to the “world’s tallest thermometer,” which read 121 degrees… I guess that’s why they call it “Bake r.” When we arrived at our favorite Las Vegas hotel casino, Arizona Charlie’s, it was a mere 116 degrees. But that’s nuthin’ – the next day it topped out at 123. Not to worry, though; we hung out and played games in the nice, cool, air-conditioned casino. The next two nights were spent at Aquarius Resort in Laughlin, where it only peaked at 116 degrees.
Anyway, how sweet it is to be back at our mountaintop paradise home, where we can lounge on the deck with a tall cool one (lemonade, of course) and watch the blue jays (actually, they are “Stellar’s Jays”) sailing back and forth and the squirrels chasing each other up and down the trees.
“Cool town, evenin’ in the city, dressed so fine and lookin’ so pretty. Cool cat, lookin’ for a kitty…But at night it’s a different world, go out and find a girl. Come on, come on and dance all night, despite the heat, it’ll be alright. And babe, don’t you know it’s a pity the days can’t be like the nights, in the summer in the city, in the summer in the city.”
Keep it flyin’, Uncle Mott