Sunday, July 01, 2012

Why I'm Hibernating

This year's summer has been awful. We've had triple-temperatures some days - yes, over 100 degrees - and add the humidity in with that, and let's just say stepping foot outside literally becomes a health hazard.

My heart goes out to those people who have to work in this weather. My brother is a manager for a pool-building company and works outside every day building and maintaining pools. My other brother is a farmer, and spends a large chunk of his day outside working. Unfortunately, he's also smack in the middle of a severe drought which just makes the heat that much worse. And my husband is working outside at a temporary job while he's out of school for the summer. He sweats buckets and comes home just drained.

Me? I'm inside all day in an office. I have nothing, nothing to complain about.

But I'm going to anyway.

Ha!

Because summer drains me. I literally feel stagnant, like I can't move forward with anything. My motivation disappears. Maybe it's my body not being able to tolerate heat. Maybe it's my inability to go outside and enjoy nature because I feel like I'm in an oven when I do. Or maybe I have the reverse of seasonal affective disorder. In contrast to summer, I come alive during the fall and winter. My mood is exuberant and I'm literally filled with joy.

During the summer I am depressed. Each year gets worse and worse. This year, it's especially bad. I don't know if it's the day job, the rejection letters on my manuscript (I am thisclose to getting an agent, and it's taking an incredible amount of patience and perseverance to keep at it), or the fact that I really just need a vacation and have no money for it thanks to my surgery a few months ago, BUT, I cannot wait for autumn this year.

And it's only July.

Ohhhhh boy. It's going to be a long few months...

18 comments:

  1. Your summer sounds like our winter, where we hibernate in a warm blanket by our fire. Hope you can survive.

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    1. I'll just stay indoors and eat lots of chocolate! ;-)

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  2. Oh, you poor thing! I feel much like you in the heat, but where I live the humidity is low and it only gets unbearably hot for a few weeks a year.
    I love the cooler weather, I come alive and feel invigorated. Right now we are in the middle of a very chilly winter. Lots of frosts. There's nothing nicer than layering on the clothes, lighting the fire and making pots of veggie soup.
    I hope autumn comes quickly for you!

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    1. Oh, lucky you! It's so odd to think that you're going through winter while we're having triple digit temps!

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  3. Oh, Melissa!! Hoping for your sake that someday you can live in a different climate... one that suits you better! :)

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    1. That is my fondest wish - to retire in a better climate. Unfortunately, my hubby is the opposite of me - he thrives in heat (although not THIS hot) and doesn't like the cold! We may have to retire separately! ;-)

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  4. I feel for you, Melissa. Temperatures like that are unbearable. They sap everything from us. At least, that's what I seem to remember. I think we're having the coldest, wettest summer on record. Bring on the crisp, sunny winter days.

    Hope it cools down for you soon!

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    1. It's so strange how summer affects different parts of the world! I would trade places with you in an instant! :)

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  5. Hang in there, sweetie! Cooler days are ahead:) Here, we've had colder weather and lots of rain. The hay farmers are crying over ruined crops because of it.

    I don't know what I want weather wise. I hate being too cold, but I hate being too hot. I'm having a weather identity crisis as well;) I think you would like parts of Oregon and Washington. When I was living in western WA it was very mild most of the year. Here is Ellensburg the weather is very extreme-and windy too:(

    Hugs, Melissa! And try to stay cool :)

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    1. I wish some of that rain would make its way to western Nebraska - my poor brother's crops aren't going to survive, I don't think.

      Yes, I've thought about the west coast as a possible place for retiring...but I have to convince the hubby!

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  6. I hear you, Melissa. My favorite time of year is the winter. Summer is just hot and draining, and it's worse for a lot of people this year. I can't stand to be hot. You can always put another layer on if you're cold, but you can only go so far the other way. Blech, lol!

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    1. Exactly, Brandi. There's always more layers you can add when you're cold!

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  7. I hear you! Here in Minnesota are feeling the heat with record high temps day in and day out. My dad is a farmer and we are hoping for rain and SOON! I LOVE fall and winter, the cold seem to always put me in a better mood. I wouldn't mind the heat if I was lying on a beach in some tropical location but I hate it when I'm running errands and feel like I'm sweating buckets. It’s only the start of July and I’m already looking forwards to Halloween, falling leaves, hot chocolate with a gazillion marshmallows and breaking out my long sleeve shirts! But if I can’t have that right now, then I want rain!
    I'm sending you good thoughts on the manuscript and I hope it all goes well for you!

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    1. Ohh, it sounds heavenly - falling leaves, hot chocolate, warm blankets, cool weather. I can't wait, either!

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  8. Here in Cornwall we have the opposite - just endless grey wet days that are slightly warmer than the cold grey wet days of winter. I don't know wihch is worse!

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    1. I'd switch places with you in a minute! :)

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  9. Prayers are sent to you and all yours! I grew up in that sort of heat, and summers are hard, no two ways about it. Do what you need to stay cool; God is with you as each day passes. :)))

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    1. Thank you, Anna. :) I just thank the Lord for air conditioning!

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