Where we talk about summer, safety and making good decisions.
Well, well, welcome back to the Mailbag.
July is here (already?) and it's time for another holiday, and boy does everybody need it.
Juneteenth happened far less than a month ago and it already feels like it's been ages.
We've had brutal storms across the state and close to home we had a couple of towns ravaged by tornadoes. Just for good measure, Mother Nature tossed us a record-setting heat wave and everybody that didn't lose power to a storm system got to play a fun game of “Will my AC keep working?”
In Lubbock, those of us trying to have a green thumb got a handy reminder that the “full sun” designation on the plants at Lowes and Home Depot doesn't mean here, more than a couple people had windshields and rooftops damaged by massive hailstones and, if we're being honest, just walking to the car from the office in afternoon heat has been a chore.
It's been hot folks.
But it looks like the weather is going to cooperate with us for the Fourth of July. Right now it's looking like we'll be in double digits for temperatures and (knocks on wood) maybe even in the high 80s for much of Tuesday.
Now, we get it. That kind of weather is a godsend after the warmth of the past few weeks, particularly if you're planning on being outside for some day long celebrations.
And we're with you. We plan on enjoying our day out as well, but we're here to offer a few words of caution.
First: Drink plenty of water.
It may feel downright cool Tuesday, so you wouldn't be blamed for thinking the risk of dehydration was low, but the main toxin in adult beverages isn't going to help you stay hydrated. Sprinkle in a bottle of water from time to time.
You can thank me for that little tip later.
Second: Wear your sunscreen.
There's a chance for some storms Tuesday morning and the clouds might linger into your planned activities. Don't let that gray sky fool you, much like my garden, your skin can take a beating even if that bright sun is trying to hide behind the clouds.
Third: Be careful with the explodey things.
Fireworks can be a lot of fun, but we caution you to use them wisely. I've had more than one friend suffer from a poorly executed bottle-rocket toss and have myself been forced to seek the cover of a flatbed trailer to avoid the shrapnel sent in the air by a lit fuse blowing into a box of fireworks.
And – for the record – be kind to your neighbors and their dogs. The Fourth can be a traumatic event for our four-legged friends, so try to show a bit of respect to their tender little ears.
We wish you all the happiest of days celebrating the birth of this great nation of ours.
If you're on the road, safe travels and we'll see you all when you get back.
Happy Fourth of July Red Raider nation!
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