I returned to Madison almost a week ago from the always beautiful lakeshore of Wisconsin. Mequon boasts a unique summer weather pattern that that keeps it, at minimum, ten to fifteen degrees cooler than the rest of the northern hemisphere (excluding Russia). Madison does not abide by such civility, and by consequence, I've spent as much time as my tanned, yet easily sunburned skin, can endure poolside. Approximately three hours in the last four days. As a side-note, why is it that, even at a relatively tanned stage, do I still leave the pool with a reddish hue? Admittedly, the pool did serve to cool me off, but the walk home from the pool was always much more damaging to my internal thermometer.
With modern conveniences like pools, cold showers, and ice cubes, I find it difficult to justify air conditioning. Plus, after nine months of threatening my roommates each time they glanced at the thermostat, for fear of adding to our mounting heating costs obviously, it feels unfair that we must once again pay to keep from melting. My point being, I refuse to use the air conditioning and will continue to tell everyone I am perfectly comfortable, even when they can see the sweat stains on my clothes, furniture, and sandwich bread.
Ok, I lied. My stand against air conditioning lasted less than a week, but here's the kicker! This afternoon, after a frazzled exchange by phone with a tickets representative from the Brewers, I gave in. I pictured this man, sitting in his comfy office, drinking a cold soda, responding to my questions in the calm tone that one uses with their puppy, and I realized I need air conditioning, if for no other reason than to improve my bargaining skills. In a steaming apartment, one can only wait out an awkward silence for a few seconds before you break for fear of fainting due to heat stroke. But an air conditioned room would last me until my next craving for sour skittles, or some equally enticing health food, became unbearable.
The reason I share this with you is simple. I gave in to the air conditioning, and for five wonderful seconds felt cool air blowing on my face. Then, small pieces of dust, lint, or other things I refuse to think about blew out of the unit all over my body, furniture, and carpet. That is my punishment for giving in, and for those of you who wish to be strong, that is your motivation.
