I always thought the dog days of summer were that period when it was just too damn hot to be a dog. Those days when dog walking is either done before 9:00 a.m or after 9:00 p.m. (You try wearing a fur coat when the mercury is pushing past 30 degrees celsius.) Turns out I'm sort of right. The boring dictionary definition is a period marked by lethargy, inactivity, or indolence. Indolence? Who uses that word? Calling it indolence doesn't make lazy any less, well, lazy. And hey, there's nothing wrong with lazy. Lazy has gotten a bad rap. Just like bored. It's okay to be either one every now and then. Especially during the dog days of summer.
The more interesting definition is the sultry part of the summer, supposed to occur during the period that Sirius, the Dog Star, rises at the same time as the sun, now often reckoned from July 3 to August 11. Well, that's certainly another way to say when it's really really hot out. But here's what I like: Sirius is the brightest star in Canis Major (the big dog). So is it just a coincidence that Sirius Black of Harry Potter fame became Padfoot, a large black dog, when he was in his animagus form? I think not. (Damn it, JK Rowling -- you're good!)
Personally, I love the dog days. They are put your feet up and read days. Drink beer and BBQ days. Doze off on the lounge days. Eat outside on the deck days. Write a bestselling novel days. Hey, any excuse not to clean the house. We live in such a goal driven society that most people feel guilty when they're not accomplishing something. I say, "Enough!" Look at your dog (if you're lucky enough to have one). Does she look guilty about anything? (Okay, right now, mine is feeling a little bad for puking on the carpet -- twice -- at 5:30 this morning, but she'll get over it.)
So go ahead. Be your dog. Just try not to puke on the carpet.
On another note...Speaking of dogs -- The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein is a wonderful book narrated by a dog named Enzo. It's an onion book -- it has layers and it just might make you cry. At the very least, you'll be looking at your dog in a whole different way.
You make me laugh...and by that picture, it looks like you make your dog laugh too...or is she laughing AT you, not WITH you...after all, who puked, and who cleaned it up???
ReplyDeleteFYI, J.K. Rowling has a new book out under her pseudonym Robert Galbraith. It is called "The Cuckoo's Calling". 'Splain this to me...why does a successful author write a new book under a pseudonym? I don't get it.
That is a picture of the happiest dog on the planet!
ReplyDeleteI ordered The Cuckoo's Calling from the library as soon as the news broke. They only have 2 copies right now (and I'm like #52 on the list) -- bet they'll need to order more. So why publish under a pseudonym? Most authors, Stephen King included, claim to want to publish without all the hype they usually generate. Some do it when they switch genres so they don't piss off their hard core fans. And I think it could also be a personal test to see if they can sell a book not based solely on their name and fame.
Oh, so they don't want to receive all those millions of $ because people bought the book based on their name alone...hmmm....nope, still don't get it.
ReplyDeleteWell, first off, I don't think either JK or Steve are hurting for money. Secondly, they always get "outed" and so they end up with the bucks either way. Actually, when you thing about it, it probably generates more interest in the book in the end. And maybe it's a bit of a game -- see how long it takes someone to figure it out. In JK's case, not long.
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