It's been one of those blazing summers, the kind of hazy, humid afternoons that just make you want to crank the a/c to the max, electric bill be damned.
Your apartment does a pretty great job at utilizing the icy air efficiently, and just as you start to drift off to a comfortable dreamland you hear it - a grinding noise followed by a clank, followed by...
deafening silence.
Your air conditioner has just died.
Grand.
Staying cool in an a/c-free apartment can be easier than you think, so there's no need to panic while you wait for the repair man to show up.
Try taking an old t-shirt, soak it in the sink, give it a wring or two, toss it on and then plant yourself in front of a good old-fashioned fan.
The effect will be immediate, and simply repeat as desired if your shirt starts to dry! Natural fabrics are also your friend, so ditch that polyester suit in favor of some comfy cotton underwear.
Light colors are also a safe bet, so skip the Yoda underoos and stick with classic tighty whiteys.
Close the blinds as well, which will keep both the sun at bay and the neighbors from lodging a public indecency complaint.
Fans can be great ammo in the war on summer, so buy a few of them to have around the apartment.
An overhead fan in the living room is a great way to keep the air circulating (even when the a/c is working), and for a true cool treat try freezing a few 1-liter bottles of water in advance, place them on the table in front of your face (with a towel underneath) and blast the fan behind them, enveloping your entire torso in a cool blast.
Ahhhhh.
If all else fails, try getting minty.
Take a cold shower with some menthol bodywash, which has a refreshing and overall cooling effect that is hard to beat.
So don't sweat it, pal - the a/c repair guy will be to your apartment in no time, and when he arrives you'll still be cucumber-cool.