Hot

I'm hot. And not in a good way. It's July and we're in the midst of a brutal heat wave. All heat waves are rough, but this one has heat indexes around 100+ degrees and the humidity so thick you can hold it in your hand.

Most people I know love summer and thrive on the opportunity to be outside, enjoying warm temps and the activities that go along with them. Me? I enjoy finding a place that is air conditioned. The bad news? It's getting worse as I get older. The good news? I haven't found any, but I'll keep you posted.

Dating in summer poses a significant problem for me. In any normal dating situation, and I'm playing it fast and loose with the word normal, I get a little nervous and a little clammy. Ok, a lot clammy. Add high heat and it's not pretty. Think drippy. It's hard to subtly wipe the sweat trailing down your neck while smiling coyly. And then I have to worry if the tissue left little white bits of lint as the telltale sign that I'm sweaty. Because I have short hair, I think it becomes more noticeable. Not only do you see my neck, but you also see when my hair is completely wet. Oh, help me.

Think of the impact. Summer activities like a nice walk, perhaps a game of mini golf have to wait until September or risk an ugly scene. I enjoy canoeing and hiking but can't consider those until after a few dates have been established. Going for ice cream? Only if we're eating inside. Dining al fresco? Maybe I'll be lucky and it will look like a storm is brewing.  That's a good excuse to eat inside.

By September, I reach a bit of a reprieve. It's usually cooled off enough to consider enjoying fresh air. But it's a long time until September. It's almost a lucky break I don't have dates set up for now. Did I just say that?