Entry #653663, added on 06-08-09 @ 10:43 am EDT
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| Hot Summer Mornings and Cool Lake Water | Entry #653663 |
Title: Hot Summer Mornings and Cool Lake Water
Date: June 8, 2009, Monday
Thought: I’m surprised I don’t see folks walking around buck-ass nekid, soaping up and saving on their water bill.
Jog: It’s June in Texas. Those who aren’t familiar with Texas will shrug and say, “So what?” Actually it really isn’t a big deal; but June in Texas is the precursor to some really hot days. A few years back we had over 100 consecutive days where the heat registered over 100 degrees. Now, there are places in this world where it gets hotter, and I guarantee you will not find me there. But, Texas in June, July, and August can be a scorcher. Life can be miserable. The funny thing is that when I was a kid, no one ever told me how hot it was; and, I really didn’t give a flip. I spent my entire summer outside doing stuff.
This morning as I left the house, early because that dang dog had been pestering me for about 45 minutes, I realized summer was here. It was 7:15 and it already felt like an oven. It is near 80 degrees outside and the humidity is 80%--a veritable recipe for discomfort. It’s almost like getting a mobile sauna. By noon we will be at 95 degrees and the humidity will still be 80%. I’m surprised I don’t see folks walking around buck-ass nekid, soaping up and saving on their water bill.
However, it does explain something about that black Lab dog of mine. It helps to explain why in the world he becomes deaf as we walk around the lake. I think the heat and humidity affects his hearing, because there is no way he will mind me as I holler, “Max, No! Max, No, damnit!” as he jumps into the lake. It seems to make no difference to him that I had just given him a bath yesterday, groomed him and killed the wet-dog smell that he sometimes gets (after all he is a dang dog.) And, it is my responsibility to keep him that way for at least a week. Do you think HE will get in trouble as we come back into the house dripping and grinning that dumb-ass grin he seems to get sometimes. Nope, I’m the guy who gets chewed on and who get to wash him down again in the backyard, as he stands there thinking, “Wow! What a deal! Getting wet twice in one morning!”
However, today I really thought I was going to have to go into the lake and save his black butt from drowning. You see, although Max loves to swim, he can’t do it for great stretches of time. After all, the most he does during the day is terrorize the UPS guy as he leaves a package at our door. The guy has given up on knocking on the door. Max thinks it’s great fun to snarl, snap and bark like the dickens when he hears the UPS truck. There’s no way he would bite the guy; Max just likes the show. And, the UPS guy isn’t taking any chances.
Anyway, after Max disobeyed me so blatantly and jumped into the lake today, I went ahead and tossed a stick into the lake and let him swim out and retrieve the thing about a dozen times. Hoping his urge to swim was satisfied I walked on down the pathway with a dripping dog scampering happily around me. I almost made it home. However, down at the shore was a multi-colored soccer ball floating along the shoreline. That’s the other thing Max loves—balls. So, down to the water’s edge and into the lake he goes. He was able to retrieve the ball by pressing it against the shore and biting into it, which totally deflates the thing.
Anyway, as it turned out the ball retained enough of its air to float along the surface and still hold its shape. Max brought the ball to me and dropped it at my feet. I am well trained and realize this is my cue to toss the thing back into the lake, which I did. Only this time, it was located away from the shore. Max jumped in and swam to the ball. However, each time he nosed it this time, it floated further out into the lake. Soon, Max is swimming in circles out in the middle of our little lake. Each time he noses the ball it pushes out in front of him. And, Max, has no intention of stopping. I called him several times to no avail. He either could not hear me or would not. All he could do was focus on that dang ball.
Just as I was thinking I was going to have to go out and get him, the ball began to be shoved toward the shoreline. Eventually, it snugged up against the bank and Max retrieved the thing. He walked up next to me, dropped the ball and laid down. He looked at me with those big brown eyes as if to say, “Don’t you throw that dang thing back into that water. I ain’t chasing it any more.”
I just answered back to him, “Hey, I’m not the one who insisted to take a break from the heat and jump in the lake. Next time listen to me!” Yeah, sure, as if that’s gonna happen.
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