How Hot Is It?

Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon created the "How hot is it" routine -- Johnny opening with, "It was so hot in Los Angeles today," and sidekick McMahon asking, "how hot is it." The other late night comedians continue the tradition.

I was thinking of this last night while waiting for darkness to cool off the Hill Country. Normally, by nine at night, it's pleasantly cool outside on the porch. Lately, that's not true. In fact, last night at nine, it was still a breathless 93 degrees F. outside.

Natalie Babbitt in Tuck Everlasting described August heat perfectly. "The first week of August hangs at the very top of summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning. ...but the first week of August is motionless, and hot. It is curiously silent, too, with blank white dawns and glaring noons, and sunsets smeared with too much color."

Oh those glaring noons are awful, but I must confess that I do love the sunsets, smeared with many shades of orange, gold, hot pink, and violet. Breathtaking. So, how hot is it? Hot enough to stay inside and read a lot.

By the way, there are a few webpages dedicated to those kinds of jokes, i.e., Yooohaaa  and Punchlines so visit there for some good chuckles.

Takeaway Truth

Leave a comment about the summer in your part of the country and be entered to win a prize in the Week 1 Prize Giveaway. Prizes to be awarded August 7.