I was curious what I was up to four years ago — during the COVID shutdown. I was reading a Julia Cameron book called “It’s Never Too Late to Begin Again” trying to find motivation. I’m feeling lackadaisical just like I did then. Maybe it’s the prospect hobbling around on broken toes, or maybe it’s the heat.
Here’s what I discovered about the Dog Days of Summer:
What are the dog days of summer? I found this on Wikipedia:
The dog days or dog days of summer are the hot, sultry days of summer. They were historically the period following the heliacal rising of the star system Sirius (known colloquially as the “Dog Star”), which Hellenistic astrology connected with heat, drought, sudden thunderstorms, lethargy, fever, mad dogs, and bad luck.
It is hot, humid, we’re predicted to have thunderstorms. I’m lethargic. I don’t have a fever, I don’t see any mad dogs and I’m not buying into the bad luck. But otherwise the phrase “dog days of summer” fits.
Okay. About that bad luck. My daughter just called me and said she fell in the dark on her stairs last night trying to get Waffles back in the house. She broke her foot. Now she’s on crutches and trying to get in for an MRI appointment without missing any work. This means she can’t exercise, walk Waffles and will be struggling for weeks to come. I feel like I should be up there to help her.
Fast forward four years, and I’m the one hobbling around, not my daughter. Maybe I have to reconsider that luck thing in the dog days of summer.
Are you feeling the dog days of summer? Are you seeing any mad dogs?
What are you doing to stay motivated?
Sorry to hear that you’re hobbling, but I had to laugh. We must be on the same page . . . kind of. I was picking out a couple books this morning to reignite my reading and pulled Cameron’s book off a bookcase and put it on my desk. I bought it a few years ago, but have never read it. Hope to start it soon.
That’s a coincidence that you’re starting a Cameron book. Which one is it? I like “The Artist’s Way” best of the ones I’ve read.
It’s never too late. I can’t find my original artist’s way. It saw my creative output – or lack of output – and got legs and ran away🤣🤣🤣
You are too funny! “Lack of output and it got legs and ran away.” 😂 I gave my copy away to a friend who started painting a year ago. Now she has a studio and is selling paintings!
The humidity is crushing me….
I couldn’t believe how hot and humid it was when I saw you! We have hotter, but dryer. With thunderstorms on the way, it’s more humid today.
We are supposed to get rain. Hoping it cools things off
Me too!
Oh…Waffles. Hello, there, cutie! 🥰 And I hear you, Elizabeth, about the ‘meh’ feelings. When they drop in unannounced, I try to ride it out…especially when there’s so much to think about in the world…crazy weather, crazy people, risks and nonsense everywhere. I know it’s not my best long-term solution, but I’ve learned to take my foot off the gas and check out. Even if it’s only for a bit. Sending hugs!
Pics of Waffles improve the meh feelings. I like your technique of checking out for a bit.
Waffles might be a cure-all. Between Waffles and Olive…I mean…LOL. Take care! 🥰
Definitely Olive too. She brightens my day!
🥰🥰🥰
💕💕
Waffle’s chin is a sight to behold. This week we’ve had a break in the heat + humidity, but it is scheduled to return this weekend. To stay motivated… I dunno… maybe drink more iced tea! That’s my dog days of summer go-to beverage.
Waffles has a great chin! I’ve been drinking water, but I’ll have to try iced tea 😊
I think “meh” is all around for many of us right now. You aren’t alone EA! I feel like a lot is coming at us, too much to process at one time. It feels like a weight, an oppressive weight.
You are so correct! The world, the country, the little things in daily life. It all adds up.
Our summers are very long and very hot. But as we are used to them, we are ready for these very hot days. The luck factor- I really don’t believe in bad luck 🍀
Yes, for the last 40 years, I’ve lived in the desert. I’m used to long hot summers, but sometimes it can be too much.
Dessert heat is something else entirely. Ours is a very humid heat so it has its own challenges
I’m not used to humidity anymore.
It’s quite draining.
We went to NYC and CT a few weeks ago and it was hot and humid there! We stayed inside most of the time.
Air conditioning is the only remedy for humidity.
Our last home couldn’t have a swamp cooler because there was no insulation or space between the ceiling and tile roof. Our new home didn’t have a swamp cooler either, but we installed solar and use the AC. So we use AC even if it’s not humid.
We’ve done the same.
👍🏼
I’m so sorry about the broken toes, Elizabeth. But how interesting to have that full circle moment with this post and your daughter’s broken foot four years ago. I love the selfie with Waffles!
I thought that was a strange coincidence with my daughter too. Waffles is a camera hound, so taking a selfie was easy 😊
The heat is crushing and brutal, so it’s hard not to feel at little bit oppressed by it. The rain will be a welcomed visitor!
That’s how I feel. I’m hoping for rain. My old home town hit temps of 125 degrees, so I shouldn’t complain!
I don’t sense any foreboding or bad luck on the horizon. I don’t feel particularly motivated – at least as far as writing projects and my genealogy class go. I could be content just vegging out or hiking in the mountains like I did yesterday.
I think vegging out sounds perfect right now! As for hiking, it’s too hot here.
How crazy, both you and your daughter, four years apart. Hang in there Elizabeth, I know it’s painful, so get a lot of rest, elevate that foot, and have the hubby wait on you “hand and foot,” so to speak. It’s starting to cool down in the Bay Area. I hope you get relief too! Hugs, C