Whatever you might have read or heard about cooling temperatures in California aiding the efforts of firefighters, it’s all a lie, as far as I can tell. We are expecting temperatures over 100ºF all week, and the smoke in the air has been so thick it almost feels solid. Even though today was payroll day, I had to take most of the afternoon as one long break. Sitting in front of the box fan helped some, but I was still stewing in my own sweat.

This time I did something about it, though. I ordered a portable air cooler. Since I can’t have a window air conditioner in this place, that was my best option. I ordered it on the company credit card. Then I called the Boss and told him about it. In my defense, he had mentioned that I needed to do something, and he was worried about my health (not to mention my productivity).

He was, actually, thrilled that I’d gone ahead and placed the order. “If this one doesn’t work,” he told me, “we’ll junk it and get a better one.” If I’d known he’d have that attitude, I would have ordered the better one in the first place, with one-day shipping. The ones I thought would work for me weren’t available in the store, so I had no choice but to order it on line. I didn’t get the cheapest one, but I did get one I thought I could pay for, just in case the Boss balked.

So, at least for the next heat wave (and there’s every indication that it will be a long, hot summer, especially by Northern California standards), I’ll be ready. Today I had to finish my payroll after it started cooling off in the evening. Those are hours I’d prefer not to work, if at all possible. On the other hand, this being July, I’m going to need to work those hours and all the hot hours before them, just to get through the month. When time slips away, it never comes back. And I’m grateful that at least the nights are staying fairly comfortable, so far.