We are now living through the "dog days of summer".
You know what it's like: unrelentingly hot and horribly humid.
All the time, sunrise to sunset. And beyond!
I became curious as to why these days are called "dog days". So I did a little Googling.
It is the name for the most sultry days of summer, from about the first week in July to mid August.
Star gazers somewhere in ancient Greece, or thereabouts, noted that these "dog days" were the period of time extending from 20 days BEFORE to 20 days AFTER the conjunction of Sirius, the Dog Star, and the sun.
In the Mediterranean region this period coincided with the very hot days that were plagued with the most disease and the height of discomfort for the populace.
Hence, "dog days", which originally was "dog's days".
Now they go on to say that the time of conjunction varies with global differences in latitude, and because of the precession of the equinoxes it changes gradually over long periods in all latitudes.
So there you go!
I don't know about you, but when I start hearing the summer cicadas in the trees I start thinking of late summer, heading into fall. Right now those sounds are surrounding our yard.
It feels like late August.
Maybe our "dog days" came early this year?
All I know is that ice cream, Slush Puppies, and swimming pools dance before my brain as I chill indoors reading in my Barcalounger with my "bark-o-loungers" around me.
They have no desire to go out and neither do I in these unrelenting dog days.
Gotta go...nap time!
Stay cool...
