On this day in 1964:
Country western musician Jim Reeves and his manager were killed in a plane crash.

Ranger 7 sent back the first close-up photographs of the moon (images were 1,000 times clearer than anything ever seen from Earth-bound telescopes).  It then crashed onto the Moon.

Al Parker glided his Sisu glider for 644 miles without any motor .

The Rolling Stones concert in Ireland halted after 12 minutes due to riot 

South Vietnamese gun boats attacked the North Vietnamese island of Hon Me

The Federal Reserve launched the first production $5 bills bearing the inscription “In God We Trust”.

And, now my personal favorite:  

On this day in 1964, my parents- Willam and Patricia were married in a small ceremony at a relatives home.  I could not ask for better parents and I want to wish them all the best.

I have a real weakness for old-school country fairs.    The Benton County Fair fits that bill, with small animal exhibits, a bustling (albeit small) amusement area, and (my favorite)- the best little rodeo around.   The fair runs from today, July 29th through Saturday,  August 1st.

Benton County Fair 2007

You couldn’t have paid me to be out there today in that insane heat, but with cooler temperatures on the way, I’ll certainly be there for the Friday night Bull Riding event and to check out The Edgar Winter Band, who will be performing that night.

Benton County Fair 2007

Fair admission runs $8.00 (amusement rides tickets and reserved seating at shows may be purchased at an additional cost.)  More info at the Benton County Fair website.

When I arrived in my office this AM, the temperature was 86 degrees…  INSIDE.   The air conditioning proceeded to drift in and out of commission throughout the day.  When I left just after three PM, it was nearly 88 degrees in my department.  I have heard rumor that it reached 91 by four.

So far this afternoon and evening, I have resorted to the following:  hiding out in a darkened house in front of the fan, guzzling bottled water (I went through 11 bottles yesterday…  haven’t even bothered to count today), enlisted the assistance of the plant mister (great chilled), set my patio chair over the top of the soaker hose so that I AND the lawn were the soakees, and lastly- resting a frozen 20 oz Coleman BriteIce block on my neck.

It’s too humid to take a shower.  This place would steam up like crazy.  I’m hot and I can’t sleep.

Tomorrow AM….   we start all over again .

(if you’ve got “beat the heat” tips to share, please feel free to comment)