Jessica Alfieri

writes everything you see here.

• Toes

  Jun 12, 2008 tagged as heat wave, New York, summer, toes

  Sorry to reopen a difficult subject, but is this not a gorgeous shot of some colorful toes?

  (I definitely never thought I’d utter those words, but this summer photo trumps foot-loathing.)

  The heat wave has subsided (for now). Enjoy the memories.

  

  Ozier Muhammad/The New York Times

  
  

• Top Three Places Not to Live

  Jun 9, 2008 tagged as Al'Azizayah, Death Valley, heat wave, Oodnadatta

  With New York’s little heat wave this week, I’m reminded why I don’t actually love summer. I always think I love summer, a fantasy that swells throughout December, January, February, and March. But in reality, I’m not built for sweltering days. In fact, if the heat wave were a super villain, I would be his favorite target, Ice Feather, incredibly easy to melt down with his heat stroke gun.

  Anyway, a New York summer isn’t the easiest to live through, but it’s certainly easier than living near any of these three hells-on-earth.

  1. Al’Azizayah, the Libyan desert with the hottest recorded temperature on Earth (135.9 in 1922)
  2. Death Valley, the lowest and hottest place in the U.S. (The average high throughout the year is 89, with a peak average in July of 114.) We went to Death Valley in March ’05, and it hit 101. Not a friend to our little Mazda engine or my asthma, but it was crazy fun climbing the dunes.
  3. Oodnadatta, part of the central desert in South Australia. (123.3 in 1960)

  The temperatures may suck, but your Love is Like a Heat Wave.

  
  

• Out My Window

  Jun 8, 2008 tagged as heat wave, skateboarder
  • it’s 93 degrees
  • three shirtless, glistening skateboarders are driving along with the cars in the middle of the street