Summer Time

-

 Summer Time 

"Hot Summer Streets and the City is burning, and I sit around. Trying to smile, but the air is so heavy and dry..."

Or maybe I should say "Summertime and the livin'  is easy..." If you stay indoors, where the AC is, and keep the windows closed and shuttered to block the sun from warming the inside. 

It's too hot to take the dog for a walk until ten at night, and even then, it is still warm. When you walk at night, you need to dodge the cockroaches. Nasty creatures. They are big and fat this year. They love the heat. Last year, I vented in June about the heat. This year, June was not a killer. We are expected to be in the triple digits for the next two weeks. I'm not a fan of this time of year.

I spend my days off recruiting online, writing, editing, and playing fetch with Barney, my rescue dog, in the hallway. In the background, I have movies and series playing, or nature shows for Barney. 

Ways to stay cool in the summer: One: stay indoors. Two: drink lots of water and take water with you, but do not leave it in your car unless you enjoy drinking hot water. Three: anything you need to do outdoors, do in the morning before eleven. Four: Put a cool towel around your neck or hold your wrists under running cold water. Five: wear light colored, loose-fitting, breathable, cotton clothes. Six: Avoid eating hot foods like soup, cayenne pepper, hot spices, brown rice, and garlic, as these can raise your body temperature. Seven: Eat food items that contain a lot of water, like cucumber, zucchini, watermelon, pineapple, and mango. Eight: To combat boredom, window shop at the mall, go to a movie, or read books at the library. 

For your dog: Avoid walking your dog during the heat of the day. If you want to test if the ground is too hot for your dog, stand on it barefoot and see how long it takes for you to say no. If you have to walk your dog in the heat, consider getting booties for it. However, keep in mind that a dog perspires through its feet, so you are essentially putting a coat on its paws. The best advice for walking your dog is to find an indoor place or do it early in the morning and late at night. If your dog gets overheated, do not throw water over it! Get a cold towel and use it to gently wipe the dog's feet and head. Do not put anything ice cold over your dog; this causes the blood vessels to shrink and generates more heat. Do it gradually, with cool water.

Last but not least, when it does rain, go out and dance in it. Stay hydrated, my friends.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

We Need Art

-
Image
                                                        The World Needs Art Tonight, I attended a gathering in support of Art. A building downtown has sold, and another Art Gallery is being pushed out, probably to make way for another (insert heavy, heavy sarcasm) mortgage or Real Estate office.  My mother is an artist, and my father is a wood-making artist. I have a sister who is not only a culinary artist but also a master seamstress and another who is a pianist, flutist, dancer, and performer. I also have two brothers-in-law (one a former) who are musicians. I am a writer. I come from a family of creators. We were taught young to appreciate art. I grew up in St George, Utah. I loved going downtown and checking out the shops. I won a contest in elementary school and got to paint a picture on one of the store windows. Art was appreciated and e...
Read more

Misty Mae

-
Image
 Misty Mae Misty came into my life five days after my beloved Peyton passed away from cancer. He was my show Afghan. His breeder contacted me and let me know she had a female I could have for the cost of airfare. How could I say no? I drove to Vegas and picked her up. She was scared, barking, eyes wide, and shaking in a claims area. I took her out of the travel crate and hugged her.  I dedicated the song Yellow and Sparks by Coldplay to her and sang them to her as we drove home. Afghan hound puppies look like little lambs when they are young. They have long feet, a long nose, and short, fuzzy hair. Misty was a blonde domino color. She had white diamonds around her eyes, two white patches on her shoulders, and white markings on her legs. She was a very serious puppy who would stop and sit while she figured things out. She loved to chew on shoes, furniture, and anything left on the floor.  Unlike Peyton, who slept next to me, Misty would sleep on the floor, on her dog bed, ...
Read more

Venting/Accepting

-
Image
 2024 Election I was hoping for better results. I was hoping for a woman to finally step into the role of President and lead. Instead, we went with the felon. Is this because people fear what a woman could do with the Presidency? Is it because Biden screwed up, and everyone was worried she would follow and support his policies? I don't know. What's done is done. The American people voted and the results swung a different way.  What I have noticed, though, on this day of results, is we did not have riots. We did not have protests. We did not have people screaming that the voting count was cheated. We did not demand a recount and stomp our feet, raise guns, and threaten to take democracy back. No, we mourned the loss.  Vice President Harris accepted the defeat with grace, strength, and dignity. She promised a smooth transition. She didn't call for revenge. She didn't rant and rave, point fingers, and make accusations. She reacted with class. She is an inspiration of hope ...
Read more