Erin Ruffin’s Weblog

What happens when it hits 100 deg’s (Fahrenheit) in New York City?

Here are some observations I made on the first 100 degree day in New York City, June 9th, 2008.

#1. My hair was 4 inches shorter due to the humidity curling it up like Shirley Temple’s.
#2. The garden behind my apartment looked unusually green and thick and muggy when I looked out the window this morning.
#3. Serious Runner Dude that I pass on my way to the subway every morning was doubled over and wheezing instead of sorrowfully looking at all the poor souls descending the subway stairs on the way to their offices.
#4. People on the subway seemed more chatty than normal.  I’m not sure what the connection to the heat is here, but I’ve never seen so many New Yorkers speaking on the subway at 8am before – even through the typical L-Train “We are stalled because of train traffic ahead of us…” announcements.
#5.  After walking for 2 minutes in the heat from the subway to my office, I had an urge to post all of my clothing on Ebay apart from bathing suits and my two favorite sun dresses.
#6.  Also on my walk to my office I noticed a severe decline in the number of smokers standing outside of their buildings for their “start the day right” cigarette.  This could possibly be the only good observation I post here.
#7.  When sweat drips from my chin onto the paperwork on my desk, the ink doesn’t run as badly if the paper is high-quality.  *Note to self, on 100 deg+ days, use high-quality paper to avoid ink bleeds – or work in an office where the air-conditioning does its job. 
#8.  Tourists find an excuse to use the free fans they give away at the Broadway shows:

#9.  90% of my emails today (work and personal) mentioned the heat.  ”Stay cool!” “I hope you’re inside in air-conditioning!” “Can you believe this heat?!” 
#10. Everyone carries a tissue around:

#11.  In Brooklyn they unhook the water hydrants and let the kids run through the water – this is one of my favorite things from today:

Watch out, New Yorkers.  It’s going to be another scorcher tomorrow!