tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post115092142077492261..comments2024-02-02T07:13:37.313-06:00Comments on Like Merchant Ships: When It's Oh So HotUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-1150993891100464382006-06-22T11:31:00.000-05:002006-06-22T11:31:00.000-05:00Meredith, sounds like you are doing everything rig...Meredith, sounds like you are doing everything right already! But, one thing we also do is close some of the vents that are in areas we don't need to keep as cool like the master bath, entry way, etc... or if you aren't in your bedroom much during the day - you could close those vents and the door to route that air to the other parts of the house and just open up at night. <BR/>I'm sweltering with you - here in the south...<BR/>MonicaMonica Wilkinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17235919587298518908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-1150984922823263452006-06-22T09:02:00.000-05:002006-06-22T09:02:00.000-05:00This may be hard with kids as well, but I go to th...This may be hard with kids as well, but I go to the dollar movie to get out of the house and enjoy the AC sometimes. It costs 2.50 in my area, but that's cheaper than drinks at Starbucks, and no temptation like a bookstore or mall.<BR/><BR/>The library is also a favorite of mine.<BR/><BR/>I once lived in a hot, hot studio with no AC. I used to soak a shirt first thing in the morning, then stick it in the freezer. At night I'd sleep in the wet frozen shirt with a fan blowing on me. Not the most comfortable, but I was desperate.Catherine at Frugal Homemaker Plushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00014697591588112092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-1150976729829364472006-06-22T06:45:00.000-05:002006-06-22T06:45:00.000-05:00OK, now I'm feeling guilty. I cannot deal with hea...OK, now I'm feeling guilty. I cannot deal with heat. I try to leave the A/C off, or bumped up, but as soon as the temperature inside hits 76 degrees, I am a useless blob, no matter how hard I try to keep functioning. I've lived back here for three years, but I still have Seattle blood. And just going through the heat to get to the air-conditioned places cancels out the good of the outing.<BR/><BR/>I can at least do things to help the A/C not work as hard, though. Off go the lights.Queen of Carrotshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03193758647591339890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-1150940954305394282006-06-21T20:49:00.000-05:002006-06-21T20:49:00.000-05:00You may have thought of these already, but here's ...You may have thought of these already, but here's my two cents. Don't use the drier! Hang dry everything. Also, as much as possible, leave lights off. You would be amazed at how much heat simple little lightbulbs give off! We do this at work because our building is older and has no air conditioning. We leave the lights off all day, and not only is the energy bill lower, but the heat indoors is reduced by 5 to 10 degrees!SheaLunahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05694840890244654902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-1150935434919967022006-06-21T19:17:00.000-05:002006-06-21T19:17:00.000-05:00Pleae, please try this:wet a hand towel or kitchen...Pleae, please try this:<BR/><BR/>wet a hand towel or kitchen towel, wring it out, twist it, and tuck it under your shirt like a little collar. It is not the most beautiful accessory but it really helps to keep you cool. . .FRUGALLY.Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17421506990963764612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-1150935236709880002006-06-21T19:13:00.000-05:002006-06-21T19:13:00.000-05:00PS and my mom used the microwave oven adn the croc...PS and my mom used the microwave oven adn the crockpot a LOT. She didn't cook or bake much at all that I recall -- only after I grew up did I realize that much of that was because Houston was so hot she did not want to add to the heat in the house.<BR/><BR/>And we drank LOTS of Kool-aid and there was lots of tea available for the adults to drink.MommyLydiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15608956553350425075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-1150935150637974282006-06-21T19:12:00.000-05:002006-06-21T19:12:00.000-05:00I grew up in Houston, TX and we didn't use the A/C...I grew up in Houston, TX and we didn't use the A/C during the day. We had an attic fan my dad installed that at least moved around the hot air -- so we'd open the windows and close the curtains and we just dealt, beyond that. I have learned (after growing up) that my mother closed the windows and turned on the A/C shortly before my dad got home so he got the benefit of air conditioning. And when she got up early in the morning she'd turn off the a/c and open the windows to give the house a leg up on getting cooler ebfore the heat of the day.<BR/><BR/>but to some extent, we just learned to live with it hot (And muggy) because that was the way it was.MommyLydiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15608956553350425075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-1150932660504292142006-06-21T18:31:00.000-05:002006-06-21T18:31:00.000-05:00I'm not looking forward to the higher electric bil...I'm not looking forward to the higher electric bills either. 8-(DonnaBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13890459804766354255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-1150928182352936122006-06-21T17:16:00.000-05:002006-06-21T17:16:00.000-05:00Here's a cooling idea:Spend $6-7 on a wading pool ...Here's a cooling idea:<BR/><BR/>Spend $6-7 on a wading pool at a dollar store (Big Lots, Dollar General, etc) and spend your afternoons +/or evenings in it. Set it up in a spot in your backyard that gets plenty of sun (you'll want the water warmed a little) and fill the pool from your hose at night so it starts warming as soon as the sun comes up.<BR/><BR/>If you pay for your water, this may not be such a saver, but I used to do this when I lived at my parents' non-A/C-ed place after college - really helped. I would do it now except we're in a 3rd floor apt with no hose. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-1150926885783223722006-06-21T16:54:00.000-05:002006-06-21T16:54:00.000-05:00This is what we do:Open the downstairs windows at ...This is what we do:<BR/><BR/>Open the downstairs windows at night (bottom half) open the upstairs windows (top half) at the same time. Put a fan blowing out of the top window. This pulls the cool air through the house. Close the windows and blinds when the sun comes up and turn your fans on to circulate cool air. Put an aluminum foil covered board in the western windows to reflect heat OUT. <BR/><BR/>Go to the pool and bathe and shower at the pool. That may be tough with a newborn.<BR/><BR/>If you MUST cook, use the crockpot outdoors on the porch. Or, of course, grill.<BR/><BR/>Think about the soldiers in Iraq (120 degree heat) or, worst case, Scarlett O'Hara's poor servants who had to fan her in the miserable humidity.<BR/><BR/>Use an air conditioner after about 3 pm and save money somewhere else : )<BR/><BR/>Debbie (sweltering in the North)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12364613.post-1150926584680407282006-06-21T16:49:00.001-05:002006-06-21T16:49:00.001-05:00Meredith- Illinois isn't much better as far as th...Meredith-<BR/> Illinois isn't much better as far as the heat index goes. I, too, am pregnant, and I am SO HOT all the time...I set the thermostat way too low during the day also, and my husband has a fit when he gets home. We live among thousands of acres of cornfields, so there aren't too many cool places for us to escape to when the temp is rising and it's dripping with humidity outside. Still, if a mom can swing it, I think it's a good idea to leave the house for the hot part of the day and not have to cool the house as much. Here's hoping to cooler weather in both Tennessee and Illinois!<BR/> Susan in IllinoisAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com