Summer Woes
It happened. AGAIN.
"It" being the Flash Flood of the Apocalypse, as witnessed by the population within a few square blocks of the grocery store. We could hear the thunder about an hour and a half before closing at 10:00 and that was a feat in itself. Then rumor reached us that it was "very wet". Still customers lingered about, and within the last half hour that we were still closing things down, all hell must have broke loose.
As we were finally wrapping things up close to 10:20, it became evident that the aftermath was not going to be pretty: Water was sloshing through under the doors, every exit, and the roof was leaking. Buckets were already being put down, and various rags and such had been banked against the doors in vain. A centimeter deep tide of water had encroached on us rapidly from the front doors as we were waiting to be released through one of the side doors. Donning garbage bags and hiking up our jeans, we braced ourselves. The door was heaved open and the water cascaded in.
Of course, I let loose several choice curses as I waded out after my comrades, into water that rapidly reached our knees. Mind you, I'm not actually afraid of water, but I didn't want to guess at the sort of nasties that were lurking in it. I realized that it would indeed be impossible to ride my bike back through this horrid mess, and I was therefore extremely grateful towards my coworker, who had offered to give me a ride. We found cars up to their headlights in water along the street and in the lots, and some had water over their hoods. Gawking strollers were casually out and about walking in the flood (why are you willingly out in this filthy water? Go back inside! D:<) and as the two of us crossed the street to get to her mercifully very tall van, we found the water up to mid thigh. WOW. It was absolutely intense.
We managed to make it through the floodwaters, most likely helped by our combined Irish luck, ha! Luckily I live on the other side of downtown, which is on much higher ground. So no flooding of my home turf! I do feel awful for whoever has to open and take care of that hellish watery mess, though. I wish they'd close the store to take care of it, but that's never going to happen.
Aside from that wonderful drama, the heat and humidity have not been too kindly on me, mentally or physically. I'm very weak when it comes to heat in terms of my skin: I've been developing little reddish bumps all over my arms and my legs, and if I poke them (because I'm awful like that) they turn quite red and stay that way for a few days before healing. It's not pretty, and I'm poorly endowed in the skin department to begin with. I think it's some sort of heat rash, as a few others have been saying similar things. It doesn't itch, and we know it's not insect bites. Sometimes I feel really prickly (after exercise) so that must be it. ICK. Also, the heat keeps me from wanting to eat at all. I eat once a day and graze a bit at home. I've lost quite a bit of weight and can't wear any of my jeans without a belt now... I wonder just how worried I should be. And as I don't have a scale, I have no idea what I'm down to.
My parents are planning on coming up this Thursday evening and have allegedly purchased an air conditioner for me???? I'd forgotten to call my mom back on the subject. >.< Knowing my luck, the heat will break this weekend and not return for the rest of the season, HA. We'll see, I suppose, though the rest of this week is going to be a 90º + hell with excessive storm brewing humidity. Combined with the fact that I'm working a six day streak of all closing shifts and feeling mentally spaced and hollow, I'm not the happiest swamp critter here. I'm trying, though.
How are all of you, my dears????
"It" being the Flash Flood of the Apocalypse, as witnessed by the population within a few square blocks of the grocery store. We could hear the thunder about an hour and a half before closing at 10:00 and that was a feat in itself. Then rumor reached us that it was "very wet". Still customers lingered about, and within the last half hour that we were still closing things down, all hell must have broke loose.
As we were finally wrapping things up close to 10:20, it became evident that the aftermath was not going to be pretty: Water was sloshing through under the doors, every exit, and the roof was leaking. Buckets were already being put down, and various rags and such had been banked against the doors in vain. A centimeter deep tide of water had encroached on us rapidly from the front doors as we were waiting to be released through one of the side doors. Donning garbage bags and hiking up our jeans, we braced ourselves. The door was heaved open and the water cascaded in.
Of course, I let loose several choice curses as I waded out after my comrades, into water that rapidly reached our knees. Mind you, I'm not actually afraid of water, but I didn't want to guess at the sort of nasties that were lurking in it. I realized that it would indeed be impossible to ride my bike back through this horrid mess, and I was therefore extremely grateful towards my coworker, who had offered to give me a ride. We found cars up to their headlights in water along the street and in the lots, and some had water over their hoods. Gawking strollers were casually out and about walking in the flood (why are you willingly out in this filthy water? Go back inside! D:<) and as the two of us crossed the street to get to her mercifully very tall van, we found the water up to mid thigh. WOW. It was absolutely intense.
We managed to make it through the floodwaters, most likely helped by our combined Irish luck, ha! Luckily I live on the other side of downtown, which is on much higher ground. So no flooding of my home turf! I do feel awful for whoever has to open and take care of that hellish watery mess, though. I wish they'd close the store to take care of it, but that's never going to happen.
Aside from that wonderful drama, the heat and humidity have not been too kindly on me, mentally or physically. I'm very weak when it comes to heat in terms of my skin: I've been developing little reddish bumps all over my arms and my legs, and if I poke them (because I'm awful like that) they turn quite red and stay that way for a few days before healing. It's not pretty, and I'm poorly endowed in the skin department to begin with. I think it's some sort of heat rash, as a few others have been saying similar things. It doesn't itch, and we know it's not insect bites. Sometimes I feel really prickly (after exercise) so that must be it. ICK. Also, the heat keeps me from wanting to eat at all. I eat once a day and graze a bit at home. I've lost quite a bit of weight and can't wear any of my jeans without a belt now... I wonder just how worried I should be. And as I don't have a scale, I have no idea what I'm down to.
My parents are planning on coming up this Thursday evening and have allegedly purchased an air conditioner for me???? I'd forgotten to call my mom back on the subject. >.< Knowing my luck, the heat will break this weekend and not return for the rest of the season, HA. We'll see, I suppose, though the rest of this week is going to be a 90º + hell with excessive storm brewing humidity. Combined with the fact that I'm working a six day streak of all closing shifts and feeling mentally spaced and hollow, I'm not the happiest swamp critter here. I'm trying, though.
How are all of you, my dears????