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Four O'Clock is the Worst

Pretty much every time I talk to my mother on the phone, she asks me how hot it is in TN. And all I can say is, "Mom, it's hot." And that's that. But I've been doing my homework because it's so humid and so damn hot that I started to wonder. So here's the comparison -- Monticello, NY / Nashville, TN -- at 4pmish for yesterday and today. 4pm's the killer:

Monticello: Thurs 21 July: 78 (feels like 79)
Nashville: Thurs 21 July: 94 (feels like 98)

Monticello: Fri 22 July: 83 (feels like 85)
Nashville: Fri 22 July: 87 (feels like 93).


I was a bit disappointed by today's numbers. Only 93? Then I hit myself in the head with a brick, as someone with a bad accent asked me, "Hot enough for ya?"

Seriously, though -- wear that sunblock, don't go out at 4pm. That's just a bad idea.

 
And They Say There Is Nothing New Under the Sun

There's a street corner in Nashville that I happen to drive by more often nowadays due to my new apartment. It's near my favorite record store, near a gas station (or two), and is on the way to school. Sometimes there are kids on the corner trying to raise money in carwashes, etc., which isn't anything incredibly strange -- in other words, I'm used to the sight of people on the corner with buckets trying to raise money for various causes. Or I was until this past Saturday, when I encountered a group of kids all wearing black tee shirts who held signs and buckets. The signs read: "WILL PRAY FOR MONEY." Now, I've seen "WILL WORK FOR FOOD" and I've seen "IF YOU GIVE ME MONEY, I PROMISE I WILL BUY ALCOHOL." But this was an unexpected churchy-mc-church thing to see on the street, even here. Now, I know I live in the buckle of the bible belt in TN, but, in such a locale of all places, wouldn't God be free? What's more, why would I want someone to pray for me? Couldn't I do that myself if I felt so inclined? How would I even know if that person had done so? Or was it the lure of having the entirety of a youth group praying for me (for my soul??!)? This is distressing to me on a lot of different levels.

I long for the blue states.