This is the first week of the year where I’ve said, “Man, it’s hot!” We were blessed with mild weather in June and now summer has officially arrived. It looks like we’re moving into a monsoon type cycle like the Phoenix area. I was discussing that with my neighbor last night because it rained yesterday. Not just a little itty bitty baby storm like we’re used to here. It freakin’ poured! Then we had lightening storms all night long. I felt like I was back in Phoenix! I wonder if blinding dust storms are just around the corner…

I’ve long blamed the humid, suffocating monsoon season in Phoenix on the artificial lakes. It used to be a dry heat, then they started building all these planned communities with water features and man-made lakes. Pretty soon July and August began to feel more like Atlanta than Phoenix and my make-up used to literally melt off my face in the afternoons. Men didn’t have that issue so much I’m sure, but we ladies did.

Now the same thing is happening in Las Vegas. We’re used to 2-5 percent humidity on average and today, for example, the humidity is 15 percent. That may not seem like much but when you’re used to 3 percent and it’s 115 degrees on top of it all…it’s a might bit uncomfortable.

That’s why I’m looking forward next week to those 80 degree days they’re having in San Diego for [1] Comic-Con. My friend Rani and I have hashed out our [2] panel schedule and I have all of my paperwork in order. Just have to swing by Trader Joe’s to get some more provisions, make a list of things to bring and start packing! If you’re going to the convention, you should check out Matt Goldberg’s [3] 5 Tips for Surviving Comic-Con. Stay tuned for photos and other information for the Comic-Con convention starting next Thursday!

One other purchase I made to prepare for the con, and because they had me at “digital compass” is the new [4] iPhone 3GS. Not that I need a digital compass, but it has a severally high coolness factor and who knows? I may need it sometime while hiking; I’m just sayin’.

I was hesitant to make the switch from my BlackBerry because I liked the convenience of using my fingernails to type. I was worried I would have too severe of a learning curve with the digital keyboard on the iPhone. My fears are allayed because I’ve only had it a few days but I’m getting proficient already.

Actually, like other Apple products I don’t know how I lived without it–I am a Mac Jedi you know =]. I can get all emails for all of my accounts on there if I so choose. I can use Facebook and Twitter using the free apps from the Apple Store. It’s an iPod too, so my little Nano will be used strictly at home to listen to music. Because the iPhone screen isn’t the size of a postage stamp, it’s actually convenient to watch shows and movies on. I can even connect to the university web site and answer discussion questions or read course material. In short, I’m glad I took the plunge and joined the iPhone revolution.

Speaking of Facebook and Twitter you can connect to me on either site to follow me at the convention. Find me on Facebook at [5] http://www.facebook.com/macjedi and on Twitter at [6] http://twitter.com/mac_jedi. If you don’t know what either of those things are let me know and I will write a novice guide to social networking. =]

By the way, I saw [7] Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince last night. It was marginallly better than the last but for some reason [8] David Yates has made Harry Potter a yawn inducing experience. There were a few good scenes and some funny parts but on the whole not as much action as the book. I used to go to see Harry Potter on opening day. I even used to take off work early to see it. Now it’s like any other film that I’d like to see but not overly excited about which is sad, really. I’ll watch the next two but I’m not going to rush to theater to see them or buy the DVDs on release day. I can wait.

On another note, the theater was packed with people so clearly the Harry Potter name is still drawing audience. Quite a few very young kids were in the theater in spite of the PG-13 rating and moments that would be scary  for younger children. More than once I heard a screaming kid and kid-size footsteps running up and down the stairs. Seriously, what are people thinking bringing a 4 year old to a movie like this?

I’m stepping off my soap box and bidding you all adieu for the day.