It's August 3rd, 2013 and the temperature is starting to heat up--still hovering at 75 so I've been closing windows to keep some of the overnight cooling in the house.  I hate the noise from the air conditioner but with my multiple sclerosis, I have no choice but to use the air conditioner to stay functional.

Usually summer temperatures can hover in the 90-100 range for most of July and August. I can remember teaching in September with temperatures sometimes in the high 80, so uncomfortable with a classroom of 5th graders.  I've had to become aware of my core body temp and when I can feel hot inside, I know it's time for some cooling.  Cool drinks (water, of course, is the best), suck on ice cubes or popsicles, cooling mist, cool water running over wrists, face, or neck and commercially available items such a vests, wristbands, head bands or scarves are just some of the ways I've tried to bring down my core temperature.  My cooling vest was based on evaporation where you soaked the vest in water, cooled in refrigerator (I think), and then wore over your clothes.  It was very heavy to wear and I think I maybe only wore it once or twice.  I didn't care for the scarves either.

I love living in eastern Montana.  The badlands, prairies and plains of eastern Montana are food for my soul.  I worked with a couple tourism groups promoting this part of the start for while in the 90's.  We had to keep putting ourselves in the cars that raced through our part of the state trying to get to the mountains in western Montana.  For me, the mountains are claustrophobic and I find myself taking a deep relaxing breath once I get to Billings, even though I still have 200 miles to home.  I hope to share more of eastern Montana through my eyes in the coming posts.

Embrace Life Joyfully,
Kim