Ugh, summer doldrums

They seem to be starting early this summer.

We're under the accursed "dome of high pressure" and after the weather guys got our hopes up that "it'll move off west later this week, which might allow for rain," now they're saying "Whoops, no, it's going to get SO MUCH LARGER when it moves off to the west, no rain, not for the foreseeable future."

Seriously: they could tape ONE weather forecast early in June, and then take off until October or so:

"Hot. Dry. Be careful if you're working outside. No chance of rain. Don't drop cigarette butts out of your car, don't weld outside, don't have open fires."

I went out Saturday morning and did fieldwork (And I think it's getting close to time to shut down for a while; I don't know what the bees eat during the height of summer but apparently it's not from prairie plants; there was much less activity this week). I was so "meh" when I got back home, even though it really wasn't THAT hot that I didn't really do much Saturday afternoon.

I think part of it is that it's the hard-slog part of the summer - summer classes can get very tiring and this is the point where, in the regular semester, I'd be looking at a break (either mid-fall break or spring break). Yeah, we get Independence Day off next week, but....I think part of the problem is doing fairly extensive fieldwork PLUS teaching, it's just a lot to juggle.

I also find I have a low tolerance for heat and humidity. And a low tolerance for feeling as if the weather is never going to change. 

Last week, I did add some to the hexagon quilt, so I grabbed a photo:



I probably need to get out and do something "fun." Friday afternoon after my dental checkup I did go grocery shopping, but that doesn't really qualify as "fun." Friday and Saturday of this week, there is a quilt show in town, and I plan to go. I have not decided on which day yet; I do need to put in one day of fieldwork (I didn't do trapping Saturday, I just didn't feel like putting in the extra time).

What I thought about doing Saturday afternoon, and probably should have done, was to drive down to Denison and spend some time antiquing. It's been way too long since I did the "fun no-point shopping" where you just go to look at what is there, and don't necessarily plan on buying anything - of late, my shopping has mainly been, "make a list, get stuff on the list, pay, and scram" type of shopping, whether it's grocery or a new pair of jeans or laundry detergent or whatever. I had plans a couple times to go to McKinney but then either I decided I didn't want to spend the money, or I didn't have the energy, or I heard that construction was bad, and I didn't go.

Sunday, I couldn't - most of the places are small family or individual-run businesses and they are closed Sundays. So, I don't know. I might consider going somewhere over the "long" Fourth of July weekend (I get Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). I just need to get out of town occasionally (and field sites don't count).