Still registering over 100 degrees every day here in Memphis. My own heat-related misery was coumpounded in 2 ways yesterday, leading me to believe that the end (or my end, anyway) is nigh.
First, we had Convocation yesterday afternoon. It was about 107 degrees when the “procession” started, during which we make about a quarter-mile march outdoors. And, yes, that was a procession IN FULL ACADEMIC REGALIA!! Now, I was actually excited to be wearing my funny-PhD-outfit for the first time, but that was only because I wasn’t aware that the regalia is made out of some material clearly designed for participating in the Iditarod. Which leads me to wonder… why IS academic regalia so hot and heavy to wear? I mean, for the most part, one only wears the full regalia in August and May (for Convocation and Commencement)– neither of which are cool-weather months. Those things are hot, hot, HOT!
Then, to add insult to injury, I discovered after returning home last evening that my downstairs AC wasn’t running. It wasn’t yet scorching hot in my house, so I think it must have gone kaput sometime in the late afternoon, but I had to sleep without it last night. Ugh. Needless to say, this is NOT a good time to try to contact an AC repairman, since the weeks of 100+ weather have wreaked havoc on everyone’s AC. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I can get someone today (which is supposed to only reach a tame 105 degrees).
Please, please cross your fingers, too.
Academia regalia developed from the clerical dress of northern Europe, which was worn year round. However, the American Council on Education does allow for the materials to be climate-appropriate, so someday you could get a new set made out of cotton or silk.
Thanks, Daniel. I knew that somehoe there must be northern European clerics to blame.