We’ve had record setting high temperatures in Houston this week. 100+ degrees. It shouldn’t be this hot, this early. And usually we have random pop-up storms to cool things off and at least have a short break from the hot sun. I can’t even remember the last time it rained.

Daphne & I do spend time outside, I just limit it to early morning (for sidewalk chalk, bubbles, etc) and water activities. We spend a lot of time swimming. I think I’ve spent more time outside this year than I have in the last 5 years combined. Which is OK, as long as I’m in the shade. I have always had a lot of sun sensitivity issues, like after I spend a few minutes in the sun my skin starts to itch and sometimes I get a rash. And I burn. And freckle. And it’s unpleasant! For example, the other day I was sitting in the breezeway, watching Daphne play with her chalk, when my hand started to really burn and itch. I looked down to see the sun had shifted and was beating down on my hand. (Of course, being the sci-fi geek that I am, I immediately thought of Paul in Dune when he was being tested by the box.) Fussy, pale skin- just another lovely trait I inherited from my dad’s Irish relatives. The weird thing is no one else in my immediate family has the same issues. Everyone else tans beautifully. Including my daughter. We both go out with the same 50 spf lotion. Daphne gets a slight tan, I burn.

But like it or not, the heat is here to stay, until at least October. The heat doesn’t bother me that much, but I hate dragging Daphne around if it’s over 95. Even with the air conditioner blasting, she ends up sweating in her car seat, completely wilted by the time we reach our destination. Poor kid. Luckily, we can do all kinds of running around when it’s still 70 degrees in December. We do our hibernating in the summer here in Houston.

Summer plans? Well, maybe a quick afternoon trip to Kemah or Galveston, otherwise we will wait out the heat and hopefully head to San Antonio late this fall. I’ve done the Riverwalk/Spanish missions/Sea World thing before in the dead of summer and won’t make that mistake twice. And of course, birthday plans are right around the corner for me and Daph. Instead of having an elaborate party, I wanted to have a family day at the zoo or maybe the beach, but it’s just going to be too stinking hot in August. She’ll be happy with a pool party at home.

What do you have planned for this summer?