This Week’s Magic Elixir to Happiness is Spelled H-Two-Oh

It's a good day to just sit back and drink....water.

Meteorologist Todd Simcox is telling us that it's going to be an uncomfortable couple of days, with temperatures in the 90s, and heat indexes reaching above 100. Wicked hot. Wicked uncomfortable. A good day to take it easy. Forget the daily jog and maybe do a little walking on the treadmill in your air-conditioned house. Or better yet, sit on the couch, as much as possible, and relax.

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At this point, that ice-cold beer in the fridge seems pretty tempting. But, kind of like the crisp apple being offered by the wicked stepmother in Sleeping Beauty, the alcohol holds an unhappy surprise. While it may taste amazing going down, it's not doing your body any good. In fact, according to the Maine Emergency Management Agency, that beer will actually dehydrate you, stripping valuable fluids from your body. So, if you think you're uncomfortable now, wait until after a couple of those alcoholic drinks hit your system.

The Maine CDC reports symptoms of heat illness include: heavy sweating; fainting; vomiting; cold, pale, and clammy skin; dizziness; headache; nausea; and weakness. If you start feeling these symptoms, get into an air-conditioned space as soon as possible, or climb into a cool tub. Drink WATER. Put cold compresses on your neck. Do whatever you can to cool off. And if it's still not working, call 911 or have someone drive you to the hospital.

Years ago, a woman told me that she came home from work to find her husband sitting in the shade, pulling beer after beer from a nearby cooler. When she asked him what he thought he was doing, he said, "Cindy Campbell told me to stay in the shade and drink...so that's what I'm doing!"

For the record, this is me telling everyone to drink water today. It's the magic elixir that will see you safely through some dangerously humid days.