Blood temperature: 98°F, 12% humidity at 7 p.m. in our fair community. The heat is like a weapon, ready to strike as soon as you emerge from the air conditioned car or out from under the deep shade of the tree. The cats are no where to be seen, having sensibly found a cool spot in the shade and the damp undergrowth and are still napping till sundown.

When I put my hand on an outside wall, I can feel the heat demanding to come through. And the bricks underfoot on the patio are hot enough...well, hot enough to fry my feet, that's for sure.

I do believe it's really summer.