This reminds me of election day. I'm running around Tampa (in a black dress, because we're supposed to be businesslike, and that was the only thing I had other than jeans) and it is insanely hot. Like a good volunteer, I had signed up for the whole day. Like a possibly insane volunteer, when they had said "business casual", I had not said "I've only really got jeans, can I have an assignment where that's okay?"
About 1 p.m. I was at a precinct dealing with issues with another lawyer, and I started to going beyond hot to hot, weak and dizzy. And you know what? It was really hard for me to say "You need to take me back to HQ now". I felt like I was not being a good trooper. What made me say it was that I was sitting trying to remember all of the symptoms of heat exhaustion and whether I had them (I did, actually). The fact that I was even *thinking* about it made me realize I needed a break. (The fact that the poll monitors were urging me to go sit in the shade and telling me how unwell I looked also helped.)
You know, if I had not gone back, not only might I have collapsed, long before I reached that point I would have reached the point where I could not think clearly enough to be effective at the job I was supposed to do. Which is the bottom line, I think. (As it was, I went back, drank a staggering amount of non-caffeinated beverages, and recovered enough to do four more hours, in which I was able to do what was needed of me.)
So, I understand completely where you're coming from.
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Their's not to question why....
Date: 2004-11-09 12:07 am (UTC)About 1 p.m. I was at a precinct dealing with issues with another lawyer, and I started to going beyond hot to hot, weak and dizzy. And you know what? It was really hard for me to say "You need to take me back to HQ now". I felt like I was not being a good trooper. What made me say it was that I was sitting trying to remember all of the symptoms of heat exhaustion and whether I had them (I did, actually). The fact that I was even *thinking* about it made me realize I needed a break. (The fact that the poll monitors were urging me to go sit in the shade and telling me how unwell I looked also helped.)
You know, if I had not gone back, not only might I have collapsed, long before I reached that point I would have reached the point where I could not think clearly enough to be effective at the job I was supposed to do. Which is the bottom line, I think. (As it was, I went back, drank a staggering amount of non-caffeinated beverages, and recovered enough to do four more hours, in which I was able to do what was needed of me.)
So, I understand completely where you're coming from.