The air is heavy.

The sun's rays, relentless.And the mercury is probably bubbling inside the thermometer.But for many workers, a day's pay depends on a full day's work outdoors in the sun, no matter the conditions."I don't think about it," said Steve Matalavage of Dutch Hill Construction in Tamaqua. He and his sweat-soaked crew installed a sidewalk along Washington Street on Tuesday, and the conditions were unpleasant.But a determined Matalavage, 56, focuses on his job, pays careful attention to details and doesn't let heat bother him.He said he and his workers try to find shade if things get too oppressive. He's been functioning that way for many years and knows how to handle it.As for roofers, Matalavage said they aren't always so lucky in terms of finding shade.At the other end of town, contractor Randy Kupres of Kupres Bros. Construction Co. of New Ringgold shed his shirt to install a roof at a home on North Greenwood Street. He said he and his crew are acclimated to temperature extremes.Kupres and brother Terry have worked in all kinds of weather doing all kinds of jobs."We did one last week that was even worse than today," Kupres said.What do contractors do when hell's heat reaches Pennsylvania rooftops?"We drink water," Kupres said. "Some of the guys hose down, too."Summertime can be bad, but winter has issues, as well.In winter, roofing work isn't too practical but sometimes necessary. Ice has been known to cause damage. At those times, a roofer might be sharing space on the same gable as Santa Claus.But contractors aren't the only ones battling weather. Equally impressive is the job of a wellness coach, somebody who pushes his limits to motivate others."I need to stay ahead of my clients," said Sean McGeehan, 40, of Hometown.McGeehan advises others on holistic nutrition and healthy lifestyles, and shows the way by example.On Tuesday, he defied the heat by jogging in muggy air along Cumberland Avenue."I do almost 30 miles a day, maybe three or four times a week," he said. "Just last week, I did the Buffalo, New York, Marathon, 26.2 miles."McGeehan has a passion for a healthy lifestyle, and he shares it with others. He said he'd been diagnosed with Crohn's disease at age 19."I was on 64 pills a day at age 30."But today, McGeehan shows no signs of illness and has developed extraordinary stamina, even in hot Hometown air that feels more like the jungles of the Amazon."I drink a lot. When I get back, I'll make a nice smoothie," McGeehansaid."The heat" can be a slang term for police. And they're affected by weather, too. Those who serve the public perform vital, demanding jobs in full uniform regardless of conditions.But at least one says it's important to maintain perspective."Stay hydrated and keep out of the sun," said Joe Yesavage of Tamaqua, retired from a career in law enforcement."No matter how warm it gets, remember this, you don't have to shovel it or freeze your butt off or pay out the kazoo to heat your house."So the month of July kicked off with a heat wave. But it seemed nobody was complaining.Snow shovels are stored away. Santa isn't due until five more months. And there's not a snowman in sight.All is calm. All is bright.