Shortest Longest Days

Let's see; in five days we begin the downward count.  In four days we'll reach that point, that longest day every year when a lot of folks around these parts are outside doing things until pert'near 10 p.m.

Iz that the correct spelling for "pert'near"?  Have never before used it in print, but it seemed like a good word this morning.

Anyway, yes, this is the outside time of year, and we usually have plenty of time to get our outside stuff done.

In reality, this is the second straight year that we've failed to experience much semblance that the days sure are getting longer. 

I saw my friend Mindy yesterday and told her how often I'd quoted her in the past couple of weeks.  She stood in our driveway one evening about this time last June and lamented that we'd had no real sensation of long days.

Nothing has changed.  I guess we have to move to Alaska where I hear they've seen the sun frequently this year and have enjoyed their usual long hours of midnight rays.

Last night I was ready to submit to my "snooze" button about 6:15.  I was content to sit on the couch long past the national news and happy to watch Tom Sherry fiddle with all those chicken wings on his barbecue grill while fumbling through yet another weather forecast.

Wasn't it last week that Tom's weather report showed a week of suns and 70s, except for possible showers last Saturday?  I could have sworn I saw that graphic several times last week.

Then, like so often this year, the graphics began to change with each new day of unpredicted rain and cold weather.

I am calling for a panel of quality controllers to investigate our weather forecasters.  They don't seem to have to answer to anyone. 

Furthermore, as they tease us with those rosy forecasts while flipping burgers, hotdogs or chicken on the outdoor grill, they display no remorse for their ineptitude in giving even a semi-accurate forecast.

Experts talk about Global Warming all right; the only place I see it is on Tom's sizzling grill. 

And, around this house a new outdoor grill was supposed to come home with Bill last night.  I even pulled out two packages of ground beef---in the morning in anticipation---before the incessant rain began again. 

Well, while Tom was talking "possible sun and 69 degrees" for today and showing how he was marinating those chicken wings, I was frying hamburgers IN the kitchen IN the frying pan.

Bill came home, late as expected, cuz he took the big pickup and had planned to stop by Home Depot to pick up a new grill.  Our old one mysteriously had a part break off over the winter.

By the time Bill arrived home, I'd eaten my hamburger and was watching the CBS Evening news.  He prepared his burger and came to the living room in time for Tom Sherry to start up with the 6 o'clock weather forecast and to begin turning those wings.

"Didya bring home a new grill?" I asked Bill. 

He shook his head. 

"I looked at them,  but the weather . . . ., " he said.

I agreed.  Who would want to grill soggy hamburgers while standing in wet grass?

This morning I told Bill about my trip around town yesterday,  looking for a long-sleeved top for my mother to wear to tomorrow's WOW luncheon.  

I had already picked up a couple of short-sleeved, wine-colored shell tops for her to wear under her pretty white jacket shirt decorated with bling.  I bought the short-sleeved shells last week when all those suns were appearing on Tom's forecast.

First of all, finding a long-sleeved shell top during June in Sandpoint is about as hard as seeing the sun for more than five minutes.  I finally spotted one hanging in the display window at Eve's Leaves and bought it.

I think all of our local clothing-store owners need to do more consideration of cold, wet summer weather when they plan their inventory for this time of year. 

Anyway, I didn't want my mother to freeze at tomorrow's luncheon, so I was happy to find a warmer top to go under the shirt. 

Only problem was when we tried it on, the neckline was far too revealing for what my mother would want to wear. 

So, we made a pact. 

"You wear your sleeveless shell under your shirt," I told her, "and we'll have one of your winter coats on hand for you to wear to and from the luncheon."

She seemed all right with that. 

Meanwhile, in between Tom's weather forecasts last night, we saw stories of people whose dependence on warm weather for their summer tourism businesses to stay open.  The outlook was dismal, at best. 

Still, we have four more long days before the short days start anew.  Maybe one of those will give us some sunshine and a reason to stay outside our warm houses past the 6 p.m. weather report.  

In the meantime, I'm wondering who gets to eat all those chicken wings.