These Dog Days of Summer sure are ruff.

That was some torrential rain last night, but we sure needed it. The lawns were getting downright crispy looking.

This morning the weatherman said it was 93% humidity and shallow fog. Well, no wonder with all that rain! I peered outside and saw no fog, but, there were leaves and debris littering the street, hours after I saw that same flotsam floating in the rain water which had collected in the street and was rapidly rising to the top of the curb during the height of the storm.

Thinking that Council Point Park might be a haven for mosquitoes this morning, I decided to take the car for a spin, and just walk laps at Meijer and enjoy the air-conditioned store, rather than endure buggy or muggy conditions. But, out of force of habit, I was halfway to the Park before I realized “oh-oh ... wrong destination” so I blamed my brain fog on the warm weather and just stayed the course, because ... doggone it, how hot and humid could it be there anyway in the early morning?

I parked and headed toward the pavilion where I saw the perimeter path was already filled with most of the regular crowd, so I decided that I had made the right decision to swelter at the nature nook versus ten trips past the produce, dairy and meat departments, and, at the other end of the store, strolling past the school supplies. Yep, they’ve been out since 4th of July.

But, if you check out this Great Dane and his master, a pair I regularly see walking the perimeter path, they both look hot and dog tired, don’t you agree? Usually, on their morning meanderings, the dog is walking with its head high, and is very regal-looking next to its handler. This pooch and his master do look a little pooped to me, and the dog kept stopping on the path, four feet planted firmly in place.

Unfortunately, there was no breeze this morning, but there must have been quite a bit of wind at the Park last night during the storm because there were leaves, and even some small branches, scattered about the grounds. It was nothing compared to Memorial Park which I passed on my short road trip, where there were large branches laying everywhere.

Actually the walk was not so stifling as you’d think, since the sun had been just filtering between the clouds, but, on my last walking loop, the sun finally popped out and was full strength. Whew! I was beginning to regret my decision, but, I got four loops walked, (which was four miles), and more steps than I’d have garnered at Meijer by walking laps around the perimeter of the store, especially since I often stop to chitchat along the way.

Hang in there - the “Dog Days of Summer” are here ‘til August 11th ... thankfully, relief is in sight this weekend, which ought to make us feel frisky and like young pups again.

You can catch up on my blog posts before I started blogging at Patch in August 2013 by going here: http://lindaschaubblog.net/