Having a cold in the summer sucks.

[nolawitch58]

I wanted to go to the community picnic today, but I don't want anyone else to get this nasty runny nose, sneezing and coughing crud. Ah well, I'm getting administrative crap accomplished. Yesterday, I got two more chapters ready to go to the writers' group Monday.

Shreveport's PPD was a lot of fun and a lot of work. It took me 5.5 hours to get there driving between 60-65 mph not using the A/C with the windows down. I only used 75% of a tank of gas. The downside was that I was cranky as hell by the time I arrived. The heat wasn't so bad, but the sunburn I got on my left arm was less than pleasant. I had wanted to spend more time shopping the vendors, but instead got embroiled in helping solve a problem. Their Lammas ritual was great. We had a lovely dinner Saturday night. Then a bunch of us had a nice swim at the hotel's pool Sunday morning. I left at 12:30 and got home at 6:00. On the return trip, I wussed out and ran the A/C. There were a couple of thunderstorms so I couldn't have had the windows down the whole time anyway. That took almost a full tank. Small things DO make a difference.

Not much else is going on with me personally. I'm staying in and resting to get rid of this crud so I can have a calm workweek ahead. Our IT support guy got a new job and so is handing us off to his backup, who will need a backup of his own. I've got to spend the next two weeks making sure I've gotten all the stuff he does for us documented. Then I'll take him to Willie Mae's for chicken as a bribe for future help if necessary.

On another level, things are happening and that will require another post unto itself.

Comments

[drgndancer.livejournal.com]

Umm... Yo know that using the AC is more efficient at speed than rolling the windows down, right? The exact speed where the change over is varies based on the efficiency of the AC and the aerodynamics of the car, but 60-65 MPH is way over the threshold for any vehicle.

After a point (usually between 30 and 40 MPH) the loss of aerodynamics from the open window burns more fuel than the additional alternator load from the AC. I suspect that you burned more gas on the way back for other reasons.

[nolawitch.livejournal.com]

I thought I saw a Mythbusters episode where they had two identical vehicles, the same amount of gas and one ran the A/C while the other rolled the windows down and the A/C vehicle ran out of gas first. I can't recall the speed that they were driving, but they were on a racetrack somewhere in California. I'll have to look that up.

[nolawitch.livejournal.com]

Well, that's always fun. I saw some info here (http://www.edmunds.com/advice/fueleconomy/articles/106842/article.html) that said A/C or no A/C didn't matter. Then there's Jamie and Adam's take (http://mythbustersresults.com/episode22) on the subject. I think I'll be driving with A/C at highway speeds and windows down at city speeds unless it's bitchin' hot.

What do you drive?

[apweiler.livejournal.com]

I know that in my elderly Fiat, the A/C drinks a *lot* of fuel (although at >70mph it's probably still better than windows down) - and actually eats up a slight, but noticeable amount of engine power. Whereas in my parents' Prius, the A/C not only works better than the Fiat's, but makes no perceptible difference to power or fuel consumption.

Re: What do you drive?

[nolawitch.livejournal.com]

A 1999 Saturn SC1. I need to back off my lead foot arount town. Most of my driving is in town and not highway. I could probably save some gas by not driving like a maniac around home.

[patrixa.livejournal.com]

I've solved the left arm sunburn syndrome in a very simple, though my sister says "funny" way: I bought a very cheap ($1.50) white* long sleeve t-shirt (in small) and cut off the long sleeves with pinking shears, putting a safety pin at the sleeve top. I keep 1 in the glove compartment. On sunny days, even with AC, one can still get sun burned through plain glass windows. I wear the long sleeve pinned at the shoulder to whatever top I'm wearing. Being a soft knit, it stretches so even tank tops or straps can be pinned. Looks strange, feels fine and no more sunburns.

(*white because it was the cheapest shirt, not because the color actually matters)

[nolawitch.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the tip. I'm sure there's something adequate to the task at a thrift shop. I've got room in the glove box since I no longer have to carry around a sheep's worth of pads and tampons.

[kitten-goddess.livejournal.com]

On Mythbusters, they had a program stating that the AC being a drag on the engine is a myth. Did you have more stop-and-go traffic on the way back due to the storms? That could have made a difference.

[nolawitch.livejournal.com]

Yeah, those of us who were sane motorists slowed down for the torrential rain. I really don't know how some of the nutjobs who were doing over 60 could see far enough in front of them to drive. I know I had to slow down to under 30 at times.

[kitten-goddess.livejournal.com]

That could have been it. Stop-and-go traffic does create a drag on the engine.

Sorry about your cold. *Hugs*

[voxwoman.livejournal.com]

Sorry about your cold, too! At our Pagan Picnic last week, a fellow showed up who we all knew had MONO (what a jerk!). I stayed well away from him; which was sad, as he is a sometime friend of mine... but one who makes bad decisions on more than one occasion... Hmmm... I may have to re-evaluate our "friendship"...

[voxwoman.livejournal.com]

Oh, and one more thing about car windows - the noise from the airflow from driving at highway speeds with the windows down *will* give you hearing loss, eventually. (sadly, I speak from experience. I have tinnitis, not actual hearing loss, but it's just as annoying)

[nolawitch.livejournal.com]

Worse hearing loss than loud rock concerts? I was blasting tunes, mostly Alice Cooper, both ways.

And that person with mono should have been booted. There's always someone who relishes being the "heavy" in a group. Find that person and make him/her the bearer of bootings. I've been the "heavy" on a number of occasions. "Harm none" includes not giving them mono, for fuck's sake.

[voxwoman.livejournal.com]

I think my worst hearing loss occurred in the computer lab at work - 8 to 10 hours/day with all the fans running constantly. Not the rock concerts, but 2 years in that lab. And yeah, we had hearing protection, but you couldn't have conversations with your coworkers and get work done when you're wearing those airport headphone looking things.