Gary: Window AC's are cheaper than portables, but require a large cutout in the polycarb, while the portable ones need only a 4 - 5" hole and we could add one next to the existing heater vent, where we reinforced the walls with aluminum sheet metal. Then, sealing it off for winter would be simple. Dcharch: The only live plants in my GH in summer are aquatics and they are under lights anyway. All of the tank lights will soon be connected to a single timer with a built-in bypass swtich, so I'll be able to turn them all off/on during the day if needed, with a single flick. So giving my GH a lot of shade in summer won't be an issue for any plants, and closing it all up if I really feel the need for some genuine chill, would be as simple as turning off the the power to the intake vents and exhaust fan and sliding the storm panel up in the door. When he installed the lines for the vents/fan, my husband put a switch on the main line, to avoid the need to fiddle with the thermostat. The roof vents would of course, remain open, because I can't reach them without a ladder, but with the ceiling fans pulling cold air up, it wouldn't take all that long for them to close on their own. As long as the cold air is directed at the smaller tanks, which are set above the big ones, even if just for those few hours on the relatively few days each year they might need it, could be just that extra edge- and if just one small tank that doesn't overheat has a spawn of a particularly valuable species in it; alive and growing, they would pay for the AC and the cost to run it all summer, let alone at most- 150 hours a year. In any case, the lattice shade fence is under construction and will be up by the end of the weekend, just in time for me not to especially need it this year. The portable AC will very likely be bought anyway. My husband was looking at them with me and mused about how nice it would be to AC the curtained off section of the garage where parks my rival for his affections. Another good reason to go for a portable: they are on wheels, and even I can roll one out of the garage and into the GH, all by my old, arthritic self. So it's likely there will be a portable AC here anyway, just in case. But I really am so close to not needing one. Again: all I can do is see how well the extra shade will do the job next summer. But I admit that having the ability to chill it would be a nice security blanket. Kind of like the stand-by generator. Always gratefull when it's not needed, and even more so that it's there, ready to crank up when it is.

Y'all, I really toughed it out today and worked outside until the heat index hit 100 degrees, then scampered inside to shower, put on clean, DRY clothes, etc. Then, Tim and I went out and ran a few errands. By the time we were on our way home, the HX had topped out at 103, so today still felt a lot better than several days last week! Jay, I think it is the two previous drought summers that made me forget how horrible the heat indexes can be when it is more humid. For the 20 or so months that we had serious drought, our humidity in the afternoon often bottomed out at around 15, but even went as low as 7 or 8 or 10% a few times. You know, 100 degrees with 15, 20 or 30% humidity feels pretty good compared to 100 degrees with 50 or 70 or 80% humidity. Since our rain has stopped here, I expect our humidity levels to fall progressively lower and think our heat index numbers will fall, too, over time. Right now, though, they are awful. One good thing about the recent lack of rainfall is that our mosquito levels are finally falling, although the skeeters certainly haven't completely disappeared. Patti, Please tell your son how much our family appreciates his service to our nation and we appreciate the sacrifices he and the other troops are making to keep us free and safe. Also, I hope you know we will be thinking of him (and also of how much y'all are missing him while he's away) and praying for his safe return in August. I cannot imagine 130 degrees, and 150 degrees doesn't even sound possible. How our troops manage to do their jobs and accomplish their tasks in those temperatures is just beyond me. When it hits 107, 108 or 110 here, I can barely walk from the air conditioned house to the air conditioned car without thinking I am going to die. How they can live and function in substantially hotter conditions is just beyond me! Diane, It was only 95 or 96 here officially, but it sure felt awful, and you probably have worse humidity than we do. I don't think I'll ever get that Bio-Dome over the garden that I've been lobbying for. Today, Tim put up one tarp to give the dog yard a bit more shade. They already have quite a bit of shade....one area with a 10' x 10' metal canopy, another with a 4' x 8' metal roof, another small covered back porch, a few trees, and a "wall" of sunflowers, but they always whine and carry on like they are roasting in an oven. So, he put up a tarp, and I strategically placed a row of container-grown tomatoes to create another wall of shade, and now the doggies have more shade. Yet (play sad song on violin here), I am expected to work in the garden in full sun. Clearly, the dogs are more pampered than me. LOL You can come stay with us any time. I have a lot of bermuda grass to dig up and convert to mixed beds and your assistance would be just wonderful. I am wondering if your DH and wonderful children would stay "on task" on their various projects without you and the baby there to tell them what to do. LOL It actually has been slightly cooler than I expected the last two days based on last week's heat index numbers. Of course, once you've worked outside in a heat index of 109 (the hottest I think I ever remember here in the past is 110 or 111),then 102 or 103 feels "pretty good". I heard a rumor that a "cold front" is headed for OK by the weekend. Yippee! Dawn

I emjoyed reading about all of your celebrations. Glad to hear most of the steer are home. My Christmas started last Tuesday with the arrival of Nieces 1 & 2, plus 1's DH and two sons. I adore those kids. I gave then some Avatar figures and they played a lot with those. I got a bracelet made of beads. Mom made a pot roast dinner. I worked Wednesday and Thursday. The boss gave me some liquid soap and a candle that stink to high heavens, so they will be regifted or taken to the thrift shop. The aroma is supposed to be Fig but it's actually P.U. Christmas day was very quiet and made me wistful for the days of lots of relatives and complete bedlam. My older son came over and made a nice breakfast of french toast, bacon, eggs, coffee and juice. I got out the good china and silver just for the heck of it. I gave him a set to learn to juggle and he spent most of the day fooling with that and could do it by the end of the day. Dinner with Mom and she made lobster tails that were very good. We found #2 nephews shoes under the dining room table so I mailed those back on Saturday. The other half of the family arrives this Tuesday for lunch. That's my BIL and his wife, Niece #3, her DH and two daughters. Can't wait to see them. I work on Monday then have the rest of the week off. I have a job interview on Wednesday morning. I'll let you know more about that. I think I will make asparagus soup tonight. I bought a lot hoping I could convince Mom to come here for dinner, but no luck. So far no plans for New Year's Eve except to go to bed early!

I work at a college in the frozen north, and my office window looks out on a path that gads of students (mostly girls) walk by every day to get from dorm to class. They are from all over the country. I have to laugh when every year, at least once, the whole campus gets a cautionary note from the campus safety office warning people to dress properly, particularly with footwear for icy conditions. I've seen the gamut, from dorky-warm to stylish-warm to ridiculously-under-dressed IMHO and mostly looking miserable under those conditions. So a lot depends on your daughter and her approach. Also her personal sense of style and frankly, her major! I was a natural resources major as an undergrad and now work in the biology dept. The clothing ethos in NR has always been focus on the practical. The uniform was hiking boots, plaid shirt with probably waffle weave long underwear underneath, jeans and a down coat or vest. Wool hat, scarf and mittens and windproof down or polartec coat for outside. No one would look askance at you and think you were a dork around the NR building and in class, in fact if you dressed in heels and a thin coat, then you would be labeled a dork! In the biology dept. most students are pre med/vet/dentistry, and their minds are on their books, comfort is the main concern because you'll need to be studying for long hours and you don't want to be distracted by clothing items or lack thereof. For other majors, all bets are off. Popular and sensible items seem to be stylish boots, which almost all gals here wear, either with pants or leggings, and some kind of head covering that doesn't give you hat hair! Cute hoods, cowl scarves, earmuffs and headbands are popular. Nice wool socks will never be a bad item to have around. The rest is personal style. The coat style Tibbrix posted is popular around here, but not to everyone's taste. I have a waterproof, windproof jacket that is my absolute go-to item to wear, either on iffy warmer days, or over a winter jacket to provide extra protection. It is expensive but good ones can wear like iron. Can be folded up into little sacks and stashed to have with you just in case. Oh, and the day they dropped me off to college, my folks got me a long cardigan/coat sweater. I loved it, wore it all the time, and still have it! Oh, and I've always been a long underwear devotee, but I'm always cold. You might discuss with your daughter getting a kind of long underwear that she can wear under most of her clothing, something stretchy and close fitting if she goes for a more form fitting look. When I was in college, I wore a lot of men's clothes, although now the lumberjack look is available for both sexes, having gone in and out of style for youth during the "grunge" era. Maybe that's why I never got married, lol! My current SO likes what he calls a "sporty" look, so I guess I am OK.