What's Up With That?

People in Texas have a different way of life than people in Michigan. For example, I have mentioned previously that folks down south never open the windows of their homes, which I find especially odd in the late fall and early spring when the weather is perfectly lovely. And, then they don their winter coats, scarves, and knit caps when temps dip into the upper 50s - yet their air conditioners are cranking when it is 60 degrees outside.

Anyway, Houston this past week has been hot. They haven't issued "heat advisories" or anything like they do up north, but I have been doing my fair share of sweating. Several times, our highs have climbed over 100 degrees. We haven't had any rain. It is just sweltry.

Yet the people in Texas continue to wear long pants. In stores. At restaurants. While walking through the neighborhood. Everywhere.

We were at a casual restaurant on Sunday afternoon and over three quarters of the patrons had on blue jeans. Yes denim jeans. And it was 105 degrees outside. I wonder what the temperature would have to be in order for folks to slip on some light-weight slacks or - gasp - a pair of shorts? I even saw one man come into the restaurant wearing a long-sleeved sweatshirt. Jim says that, outside of work, the only time he is not in shorts in Texas is when the lows slip into the 30s or 40s, which happens maybe ten times during the winter. Just another quirky difference between north and south, I suppose.