It's August

And it is hot! And I am lazy. I am just finding everything so difficult to get excited about. Even blogging lately. I have not updated Travels with Charley for almost two weeks. I find it impossible to find a political topic with any legs to stand on these days. And evidently I am not the only one. A couple of my regular blog buddies are taking breaks. I miss reading their thoughts.

Maybe it is just August. Mother used to call them the dog days of summer. I long I heard that phrase, knew what it meant but not from where it came. Did you know the Greeks were the first to use the term Dog days of summer referring to the Dog Star - Sirius. And they sacrificed a brown dog to appease the rage of Sirius who they felt was responsible for the hot, humid weather this time of year. Sirius no long rises at the same time of the year due to the progression of the equinoxes but we still call them the Dog Days of Summer.

Per Wiki:

The phrase Dog Days or "the dog days of summer", Latin: Caniculae, Caniculares dies, refers to the hottest, most sultry days of summer. In the northern hemisphere they usually fall between early July and early September whilst in the Southern hemisphere they are usually between January and early March. The actual dates vary greatly from region to region, depending on latitude and climate. Dog Days can also define a time period or event that is very hot or stagnant, or marked by dull lack of progress.

I like that part: define a time period or event that is very hot or stagnant, or marked by dull lack of progress. Oh, so true of me this time of year.

PS the mud covered animals in the picture are not dogs but wart hogs.