Cool thoughts on a hot day
By Sun-Times Staff June 28, 2012 1:06PM
close-up of a girl drinking water from a bottle
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Updated: June 28, 2012 1:10PM
The weather forecast, last we looked, has Chicago knocking on or near 100 degrees Thursday. We didn’t think that would happen until we were all crowded on the field for Lollapalooza. Here are some ways to keep your cool.
68 DEGREES
Water temperature of Lake Michigan, according to the National Weather Service.
MOVIES TO KEEP YOU COOL
“Ice Station Zebra” (1968): Improbable Cold War thriller set at the North Pole, featuring Rock Hudson, that tall, cool glass of water. Billionaire hermit Howard Hughes used to watch this film endlessly and that alone should make your blood run cold.
“The Day After Tomorrow” (2004): As a new ice age descends upon the planet, mankind hunkers down in the New York Public Library, waiting for help somehow to arrive and allowing time for the all-star cast to state the obvious, such as, “I think we are on the verge of a major climate shift!”
10 CHILLWAVE TRACKS
From Spotify, a playlist of chillwave tracks for your icing-down pleasure ...
“Novio,” Moby
“Soft,” Washed Out
“To Wait,” James & Evander
“Gila,” Beach House
“Sing It Back,” Moloko
“Terminally Chill” (Yacht Mix), Neon Indian
“Corvette Cassette,” Slow Magic
“At the River,” Groove Armada
“Sundriped,” Com Truise
“Rusty Scars,” Summer Heart
YOU SCREAM FOR ...
Peppermint
Mint chocolate chip
Vanilla
STEP AWAY FROM THE STOVE
For dinner, serve hummus with veggies on toothpicks for dipping, chunks of cheese and ham on skewers. As a finale, fill ice cream cups with cut-up fruit. Done!
HEALTH ESSENTIALS
Shade and water. “We see a lot of people who don’t plan out their day, especially if they’re in areas that don’t have shade or enough water,” said Dr. Rahul Khre, an emergency medical physician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
According to Khre, people in peak physical condition are among the most susceptible to heat-related illness because they fail to adjust their workouts for high temperatures. “Even excellent athletes, it doesn’t matter how good you are. You just have to stay prepared,” he said.
AVOID A MELTDOWN
Don’t be surprised if the heat makes the kids cranky. If it happens, fill up the tub and toss them in. (If they’re older, insist they take a long shower.) The water will relax and cool them. Immediate mood changer.
