dog days

contrary to popular opinion, the hot and sultry days of august were not named thusly because animals of the canine persuasion rolled around on their backs and stuck their tongues out.. from what wikipedia tells me, it was coined by the Romans for the period of summer when my zodiac sign Sirius (aka Dog-Star) is directly overhead, coinciding with the period of summer when it is hottest and humidest (can i get away with using that word?) in the northern hemisphere..

if this conjures up images in your head of lying at the beach, or on the patio overlooking a lake, with a colorful drink sporting a tiny umbrella in your hand, while music wafts by on the still air.. then good for you. this luxury seems preserved for those of you still lucky enough to be in college, or else having made your millions, are able to afford taking a vacation at this most unholy time for the beverage production industry..

the end of august also spells the end of summer.. which is a shame, because pretty women every where will soon think of packing away all the itsy-bitsy tops, the teeny-weeny skirts, the yellow polka-dot bikinis.. thus depriving the general viewing (and in some cases, paying) public the small joys of life.. after this the only time you will get to see a fine pair of legs is if when autumn blows around a young lady's skirt and generously billows it up and about a la Marilyn Monroe

and finally, the end of august also means time for school to resume. for most students, it's back to school after a summer.. in my case it means back to college after an almost two-year hiatus. yes you heard it here first, i am headed back to grad school! it's not like i suffer from particularly masochistic tendencies, but this move is the right way ahead for my career. i will still be working, this is all part-time.. though i wish i could go back to full-time college with the money i have now.. heh, that would be real trouble then!