Crackers in Bed

It is currently 5:00 pm and the thermometer is registering 86° F. This may not seem unusual or astounding in your neck of the woods, but in my little corner of the universe, about 10 miles due east of the Golden Gate along the shores of San Francisco Bay, it’s hot at hell. You must realize that we are accustomed to the influence of the cold Pacific Ocean on our weather. Overcast, or fog, or what the meteorologists call the marine layer keeps us rather cool throughout the spring and summer months. On the few days each year when the temperature climbs to over 75°, thanks to off shore breezes from the Central Valley or even the Great Basin, we bake and we broil. Air conditioning is a rarity here; it’s seldom needed and hardly worth the cost. Fully half of my half of this house I share was originally added as a sun room…windows on three sides (filling half the height of the walls), no insulation and, (are you ready for this?) a southern exposure. I shall sleep fitfully tonight.

However…My afternoon excursion to my favorite market, Berkeley Bowl (I’ll take you there when you visit!), yielded a most unexpected delight. I have found Nirvana in the the form of Green Tea Gelato with White Chocolate chucks. I meant to only have a few swallows to cool down the insides. Oops. The pint is gone. I guess I’ll have to go back tomorrow. Darn.