How to stay cool

We do not have air-conditioning.

It's true.

We don't have a window unit or central air, to be precise. But we do have a box fan, a stand-up rotating fan, a Honeywell QuietSet magic fan machine and two ceiling fans. And windows! And an apartment close enough to Lake Michigan that we get a lovely breeze about 95 percent of the windows-open season.

But there are days - when our thermostat reads 89.9 (digital thermometers are awesome!) and it's a little difficult to absolutely love the freedom of open windows and the sweaty breezes floating in from outside.

Here's how we keep cool and collected during these hot spells:

• Ice and water - Drink lots of it. It's 90 degrees right now and I'm cucumber cool after chugging two frosty glasses of H2O. I also splash water on my face, shoulders, and back of my neck if I come home feeling overheated.
• Frozen Grapes (pictured) - I love frozen grapes. They're sweet and tiny and delicious. They're like little icy bombs to eat. Plus they're fruit so they are good for you. I buy grapes whenever they're on sale, give them a rinse and pop them in a freezer bag so I can take a scoop whenever it's hot.
• Escaping - Whenever it's really hot we take a walk. Almost everywhere besides our apartment is cooler than our apartment. So, the grocery, the pub down the street, CVS - all prime candidates for visits from us when it's hot-hot-hot.
• Remember - it's summer! It's supposed to be hot! We appreciate the heat. It's time to wear shorts and lay about. Come winter time it will feel good to make soup and wear hoodies - that's the fun of seasons. When I go to school, the air-conditioning requires me to wear a jacket! I want to dress for the season that's really underway, not for artificial temps.