Sweat is creeping down the small of my back, curling down my thighs. I would go shower but I’ve already done that today and we are still in the midst of a nasty drought. I can feel my hair curling up my neck as the humidity presses closer.
The weather is like a particularly obnoxious ex-lover; the kind who just won’t take a hint. It presses against you and breathes hot, damp need in your face. On the plus side, at least it brings you flowers.
If only he meant it, this time.
On the negative side, after delivering yet another series of bright promises, springtime always fades quickly. Summer soon arrives, wearing its stained strappy T-shirt and holding a six-pack with 2 beers missing. It’ll lean in close and eye your AC unit with an experienced eye. Then it’ll laugh with a sardonic twist to its lips. And the heat and misery you thought you were suffering a few weeks ago will now seem a delicious haven.
"Mu'ab Sol! Your name is a killing word!" "It is the weirding way."
I was thinking this morning, as I was running along: why, again, did I choose to start my running program in the summer?
Oh, that’s right. That whole “insane” thing.
Seriously, folks. There has got to be something wrong with me. Because sane people don’t do this sort of thing. Of course, many sane people choose to live somewhere the sun isn’t actively trying to murder them, too.
On a more positive note, there is something that I have noticed. When I am smiling and feeling happy, the run feels tons easier. Not that I am slowing down – the music wouldn’t let me! No, just my attitude seems to impact how it goes. When I am feeling crabby and hating everything around me, then it seems like lead weights are strapped to my ankles and everything takes far.too.long. Conversely, having a happy whilst watching the dragonflies and birds zoom around as I go by means that the run is over too soon.
Attitude truly is everything.
Of course, I still think that the sun is terrible and angry.
To be fair, at least half of this issue is not so much the sun’s fault as it is my own. Y’see, instead of doing my run before the sun rises, I am out there about 8AM or so. This is what works for my moring schedule – get the Girl up and dressed. Fed and out the door. I wait a decent amount of time while tying my shoes and stuffing my hair under my hat. I gather my iTouch and put my sunglasses on. Then – when I feel that there is no one on the streets of my neighborhood? THEN (and only then) do I head out the door.
I don’t like to run in front of other people. I am extremely self-conscious of what I look like when I run. It’s a holdover from when I was big. Even now, with the wonders of modern bra technology, I still look much like the Jell-O scene from Airplane! the Movie.
On that note, I’d like to thank the Parks and Recreation dudes this morning who stopped to watch me this morning. I could hear the wholf whistles over the üntz coming through the earbuds. Had I missed that, the slowing to a crawl in the center of the street would have been a dead giveaway. I smiled into the middle distance and ran on my way.
Now, if you will excuse me. I am off to find a shower and a giant glass of water. And possibly a better running bra.
PS – It is Tuesday today, so double-post; fiction later on this afternoon. I think I’ll put up some character sketches for a Talislanta module I wrote some time ago.
PPS – How many geek references do YOU see in this post?
Hey! You!
Yeah, you.The snooty bitch in the grocery store parking lot. You know how you wrinkled up your nose as you walked past my (admittedly) extremely filthy car?
Every now and again, I use the spray stuff so I can see out the back window.
Yeah. Want to share a little something with you. You know, in case you’ve forgotten about it.
Nary a drop to drink.
How severe *is* the drought? I am gonna go with pretty goddamn severe. I am not sure if that is the, you know, official title or whatever for drought conditions. But, I feel that it accurately portrays at least a bit of the bleakness that many people in Texas are feeling right now. People like these guys:
Notice the date? This has been going on awhile.
Who are watching their livelihoods dry up and blow away.
I realize that I might be overreacting a bit to your turned-up nose and moue of disgust. On the other hand, I don’t care. I have a sneaking suspicion that your car is shiny-clean and that your Chem-lawn is still a brilliant emerald. And if they are, you can shove my grungy car and burnt-up lawn up where the sun don’t shine.
The Process 