Ah, that fine desert living.

I can honestly say I know how you feel!!! Up until a few weeks ago I was in the same postion.Thank god for my husband and fixing the problem rather quickly. I must say the only nice thing about not having ac was the 5 pounds I lost due to sweat!!!

Rae: This is the usual state of things in our country (i.e., no air conditioner whatsoever and temperatures around the 100 F in summer).

Here are some suggestions for bearing it:

Build with thick adobe or solid brick walls.

Open all of your windows at night, and keep'em closed at day.

Have LOTS of cold water to drink. Avoid anything that has sugar like the plague. Eat salads and light dishes. The point is, avoid any excess calories.

Have portable fans ready.

Wear cotton clothes -- especially the underwear.

Well, hope this helps for the next time your A.C. equipment fails. Believe me, America is the only country that can take air conditioning for granted. In other parts of the world, and even in America in past years, that was not the case... and yet, people managed to live and to work.

Blessings,
Eduardo

You are right, Eduardo. I experienced this first-hand on a mission trip to Haiti. However, I do think that it is always harder to go from feast to famine, than famine to feast.

A dry heat is the easiest.

R: how true. Humid heat (like our summers down here) can be almost unbearable.