At Extreme Everything

Happy belated Solstice!  Here we are at the height of summer, and whoo boy, we are overachieving on all points this year here in Greater Redneckia.

First it was a ridiculously cool, late spring.

Next came the truly prodigious number of mosquitos.

At the moment, we are sitting here baking in a prolonged heat wave that has everyone wondering when someone will accidentally start a fire. Conditions are perfect for extreme fire behavior here, with high temperatures, no recent precipitation or forecast, and wind -- and let's not forget the fact that where there are human beings, someone is going to make a bad decision eventually.

As a result:

• You can't find any mosquito dope for purchase 
• Oregon crews have been brought in, along with additional retardant tankers, just in case 
• Both Fred Meyer's are sold out of kiddie poolsEditors note on 6/26: The Steese Fred Meyer's did in fact have them. But apparently, fans and air conditioners are pretty tough to find.

Fortunately, we always have several cans of bug dope stashed around the house, in the cars, etc.  But we went through a can and a half in a 24 hour period over the weekend.  It's tolerable during the day, but once the sun drops low and things cool off a bit late in the day, it gets pretty epic -- nearly "tundra level" mosquito density.  I've stopped putting the dog out on her zip line in the evening because to do so right now comes pretty near close to mistreatment.  

We spent yesterday "fire-wising" The Compound in the morning. Not to be a middle-aged lecturer (Gods, when did this happen?), but I'd highly recommend that folks make their property defensible.

As for the kiddie pool, we looked around for one yesterday, dignity be damned. If I can find one in town today, I will feel no shame sitting in the yard sharing the pool with the dog. But I'm not sharing the cold beer.