Summertime

I've got them and I've got them bad.  The summertime blues.  I hate summer.  Why you ask?  Just because, I answer.  I hate summer for many, many reasons.  First off, it's stinking hot.  And living where I live, it's also humid.  So, you have the heat--usually around 95 degrees and then you have the humidity--usually around 80%, that equals a heat index of somewhere around 100-110 degrees.  I never really knew about the heat index until I moved to the mid-west.  I didn't know about the wind chill either for that matter, but since I love winter, I won't talk about wind chill right now.  It'll make me too sad.  Oh, how I long for fall and winter!

I hate waking up in the morning, spending all that time getting ready--shower, makeup, and a blow dry and then stepping out into the sun and within 10 seconds everything on me begins to melt right off.  Makeup disappears, my straightened hair immediately springs up into ridiculous curls, and sweat begins to pour down my armpits.  My glasses fog up, I can't see, and I am instantly in a bad mood.

Within another 5 minutes, I begin to smell something and pray that it isn't me.  It is.  I now officially have BO.  No matter what type of expensive deodorant I buy, nothing works.  I stink.  All I can think about is taking another shower.  However, I suck it up and start my day--smelly, shiny-faced and curly haired--I'm off to the grocery store.  Where upon arrival I think to myself--wow, I sure wish that person would have taken a shower before they left the house this morning.  And then I realize--they probably did.

I am trapped in an air conditioned room inside my house.  There are windows to view the outside world.  It looks beautiful.  There are flowers planted everywhere (my work is done in the semi-coolness of darkness) the leaves are lush and green, the river is flowing peacefully, birds are at my feeder, and I am longing to go for a walk.  Out there, outside, in other words not in here but out there!  But, I can't, I won't, it's too hot.  It's too hot to meander through little boutiques, too hot to dine al fresco, too hot to walk the dog.  Too hot!

Is there anything redeeming about this season of hotness?  Well, thunderstorms.  They are awesome.  And they water my plants for me.  They keep it green here, clean feeling.  It isn't dusty, or dry.  It's rather lush and beautiful.  But still, if you can't step outside without sudden heat stroke, what good is it?

There's only one month left of this oppressive heat.  We've been told by the weather people that this has been one of the hottest summers in 140 years.  I feel like throwing something at the TV, but I can't.  In this heat, she is my only solace. She is my friend.  My indoor friend.  The TV.  Her, and my books--they are all I have in this horrible heat.  I hate you summer.  One more month.