We’re having an “heat-wave advisory” in St. Louis this week…. Temperatures have been hovering in the high-90’s, but the humidity and “other” factors have been giving us heat-indexes in the triple-digits.

Radio broadcasts this morning report that the power company, (citing a shortage of fuel), is asking people to turn up their thermostats a few degrees.

The local weather service labels days like today, “Orange” air quality days… These days are accompanied by recommendations that people with respiratory problems, the elderly, etc – should stay INSIDE – and that EVERYONE should avoid physical exertion out of doors.

You have to suck a little to get that sugar coat off the information provided by the weather folks…. “Other” factors…. It’s smog… but for some reason that term has fallen out of vogue.

My perception isn’t a good standard to evaluate by – it’s changed too much over the last couple of years so much…. but…. I really don’t “remember” these lousy air quality days being so dismal.

Maybe I’m just noticing it now…. Just like a couple of weeks ago during that two week stretch of crystal clear 71-degree days…. I had to stop the car and ask the guys, (who’d not lived here their entire lives): “Have the skies and clouds always been this dramatic here?” …. their answer was yes.

So… for now.. I guess I should spare the green-party rant about why in the hell is our air quality so whacked and listen to the nice man on the radio and…

STAY INSIDE!!! DON’T BREATHE THE AIR!!!!

Guess while I’m at it I better not blog either.