What. A. Day.

Let me just say, yesterday was exhausting!

First, the temperature in Central Park (4blocks from our apartment) reached 103 degrees.

Last week I scheduled an appointment with a broker to look at apartments in the Financial District for 10:30am yesterday. Let's just say, it was not the best day to be out walking through busy, crowded, hot streets looking at apartments. Thank goodness all the buildings had air conditioning!

While I was cooking dinner last night (TJ's chicken sausages, fresh New Jersey corn on the cob and kale chips - all requiring the stove top or oven) the light in the kitchen started flickering. About 5 minutes later our air conditioner sputtered to a stop. Within a few minutes we learned there was a fire on five floors above us and the distinctive smell of smoke was floating through the stairwell next to our apartment. By this time though, the fire department was already on site, but the fire wasn't under control. Long story short, people we're running down the stairs (we're on the 19th floor, so these people were above us) in extreme heat. Since we lived here during the fire 3 years ago, we knew it was best to stay in the apartment unless the alarms sounded on our floor, so we stayed, gathered a bunch of our valuables and some clothes, and chatted with neighbors comparing what had power and what didn't. We had most of our electricity, only a few lights out, but no air conditioning. Others had no electricity or air. Still some others had everything. It was weird.

A few firemen visited our floor and we learned the fire was out, so I finished making our hot dinner and we ate with the windows and door open (a little airflow was more important than privacy at that point). Once the elevator started working Woody went out and found two fans for us so we could endure the hot night. While he was out, I enjoyed this juicy pear and some New Jersey cherries to stay cool.

Just before 11pm everything went dark. Woody and a neighbor jumped on the elevator and went down, but while they were gone everything came back on. (And oddly, the lights are brighter now than ever before.) Apparently an electrician had finally arrived and while switching out a fuse everything went off momentarily. Whew!! The air came back on and we were able to sleep well in the heat. It was quite an eventful evening, one that I hope we don't have to re-live tonight.

Through all of this, I am extremely thankful for the firemen who climbed 24 flights in full gear when it was still 95 degrees outside to put out our fire. I am also thankful for the electrician who saved our night. And I am extremely sympathetic to the thousands of people around the area who have lost power in this heat wave and for those without air conditioning. Also, the thousands of people who don't have a home to go home to and get out of the heat. I do hope they find one of the hundreds of cooling centers around the city to get some relief.

If you're a runner or athlete of any kind, please be careful when you're deciding whether or not to exercise outside. I know some people were running yesterday and I just hope you got home safely and are feeling okay. Heat really isn't something to play games with. Stay hydrated people! I'm already on the 3rd refill of my 20oz water bottle!

On another note. I went to the farmers market right after the gym and found this interesting little thing: Avocado Squash
the description says it has a "nutty, dense, and rich taste. Raw, saute, grill or roast. Whatever, they'll be the best"

I can't wait to try this and enjoy all the other great stuff  I got this morning! I'm glad I was able to get there and support all the farmers who will be spending their day in the heat.

Wow. This post was exhausting. Thanks for sticking through to the end!

What is your favorite way to stay cool when it's hot?
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workout stats - (playing catch up)
July 6
13 miles bike
20 minutes StairMaster
3x12 cable pull twists
3x10 tricep extension
3x10 tricep kickback
3x10 tricep dips
3x10 cable push downs
100 crunches
stretching

July 7
20 minutes walk/jog intervals
14 miles bike
3x10 upright row
3x10 straight arm front raise
3x10 glute kickbacks
3x10 hip abductor
3x10 weighted side bends
3x10 leg press
3x10 lat pull downs
stretching