Summer. Gross.

I realize many of you enjoy summer.  I realize to you it means the beach and lemonade and flip-flops and sun dresses and sunshiny rainbowed happiness.  To me, it just means it's hot.  It's humid, being outside is unpleasant, my electric bill has jumped $50 in one month, my hair needs twice as much product to be tamed, I have to rush directly home from the grocery store lest everything frozen instantaneously melt.  Also, there seems to be a lot more stickiness in summer.  I don't care for stickiness, generally speaking. I thus become irritable, moody and quick to anger.  We've already had more 90+ days than are acceptable for so early in the summer and I feel this is unfair.  July and August are miserable enough.  Hellish heat can't have June too.  But given that I am feeling generally grateful lately and have a lot to be happy about, I am trying to identify things I actually like about this uncomfortable time of year in the hopes that if I distract myself, October will get here really, really soon.

This hatred of heat also extends to hot showers.  I'm telling you, this derision is all-encompassing.  I like my showers on the hot side of warm, anything more intense and my feeble constitution needs an ice water.  My new favorite thing after a shower is to slather myself in Gold Bond Extra Strength Medicated lotion.  My skin is neither super dry nor itchy, I just love the way it feels all cool and tingly and menthol-y.  So refreshing and perfect after your shower on a hot, miserable, sticky, sweaty day.

My new favorite summer drink - coconut water on ice with a splash of pineapple.  Summery, delicious, and good for you.

I didn't think it could get any better, but sometimes Joe has very good ideas.

Speaking of Joe, he bought himself a new toy about a month ago in the form of a charcoal grill.  He's grilled out on the balcony about twice a week since.  I fully support this and am willing to admit it is a part of summer I can get behind.



Balsamic BBQ chicken, grilled asparagus with lemon and grilled pineapple makes a damn fine meal.

Warm mini blackberry pie with homemade sweetened whipped cream.  I do like summer berries, in pastry form and otherwise.

I also do like baseball games.  Anything that offers cheering, cold beer and cotton candy is worth it.  If I can sit in the shade.

That's really the most I can muster so far.  Would all of these things be equally enjoyable if it was only 70 degrees or cooler?  Yep, pretty much.  Am I trying to grow as a person here by putting a positive spin on this hateful season?  Sure.