Sweating vs Glistening

I live in Oklahoma - well, that's where I'm currently parked - and they're currently experiencing some very hot temps. We're talking high 90s with a heat index in the 100s. It's been a weird year with a wetter than normal spring and a hotter than normal summer, and the forecast is for a wetter and cooler than normal fall. Go figure.

But back to the current heat wave. I live in an RV - her name's Myrtle - and over that wetter than normal spring she developed some leaks that nearly drowned me, so I got the bright idea of putting a tarp over her. Now tarps come in many sizes and colors and mils (that's thickness) and costs. With my budget I got one that is medium thickness and was probably a little bigger than I needed, but better safe than sorry. Right?

The problem? It's dark green. Now anyone who's been paying attention in science class can tell you that dark colors absorb heat. Yes, they really do. Myrtle is an oven. With the tarp over her the AC is out of commission because it's a roof unit. Even with the fans going and every window as well as the door open, I average in the low 100s inside.

Honest. I checked the thermometer just to make sure. With the wetter than normal fall predicted I don't dare take the tarp off or I'll drown again. So I sit here, writing my little stories... and I sweat. Buckets. Not a good picture, huh? Sorry, I passed glistening about 30 degrees ago.

But, help is on the way. I finally broke down and ordered a portable AC unit that can be hooked into a window via a cool dryer vent looking thing. It should be here in about a week. In the meantime, I may go sit in my car, which does have AC, and chill.

And what does this have to do with your writing? Good question. I decided to share the wealth with my characters and keep giving them desert planets to land on so they can swelter along with me. Yeah, I'm evil, but at least I share.