Tuesday, July 18, 2017

MUSINGS ON A HOT AFTERNOON

Sometimes you're really mean, Jon.

I should be. I was taught by masters.

People who know me well, know that my bark is worse than my bite. Sometimes. 
I actually prefer to purr - - but occasionally a bark is necessary.
WOOF! 

Major Tennessee heat wave has arrived. Accompanied by humidity. 90 degrees outside (Fahrenheit). 475 degrees in the house. The luxury of having central air is gone. I now have three ceiling fans and two floor fans.

There were two window air conditioners here when I purchased the place, but I removed them because they're so ugly and cumbersome. One of them weighed about three tons. 

Flashback Summer Photo:
 Keansburg, New Jersey, 1918
The woman on the right is my maternal grandmother Anna. The other two women were friends. 

Flashback Summer Photo:
 Me in a Bakelite pool. That pool was bright yellow and had a blue fish pattern on the bottom. Hopefully the wire hovering above me was for hanging clothes - and not electrically charged.

I remember that day vividly because I was stung by a wasp. The wasp was skimming the water and I foolishly reached out to touch it.

My paternal grandfather was there. He took me in the house, removed the stinger, and put Mercurochrome on the wound.
I must have been way under two years old, because my paternal grandfather died when I was two. 

This story coincides with what happened yesterday. After living in the wilderness sting-free for two and a half years, I was stung by a wasp yesterday. I was out on the back porch and a wasp nabbed me on the right knee. I was wearing shorts.

I only wear shorts at home, never in public. I don't want to scare anyone. I haven't looked good in shorts since I was two or three.

 We've seen that photo many times before, Jon.

Well, you're seeing it again.
I don't have any current cheesecake photos of myself.

The wasps are making nests everywhere around here. I counted eleven of them this morning.

One nest was under the swing on the front porch. I sat out there one evening and the wasps kept attacking me. I pulverized the nest today.


 Scruffy is feeling better and ventured out on the front porch today.

 Scratch (Kitzee) this afternoon, trying to beat the heat.

 I'm presently reading Lawrence of Arabia by Jeremy Wilson. If you can get past the excruciating introduction, you're home free. Only 1180 pages to go.

I keep this volume by my bedside at night. I could easily use it to kill an intruder. 

20 comments:

  1. Oh poor little Jon. Good there was someone to take you under his wing when you were hurting. Lots of those flying, stinging insects around here too.

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    1. Paula, there are more bugs here than I ever saw in Texas. I'm just glad that I don't have scorpions....

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  2. You are to funny Jon. Just what does one have to do to get you to purr????? Now mind yourself in this heat. Is there a swimming hole to jump in? Scratch that. There may be leeches.

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    1. Maddie, you always make me purr. I only bite when I'm around old sourpusses who enjoy insulting me....

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  3. Adorable shot of you in that Bakelite pool! Knock wood, I've never been stung by a wasp, but that's bound to leave an impression.

    I'm seriously envious of Anna and her friends' bathing suits. Today? After a certain age, I'm convinced it's a public service.

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    1. Heck, I could sure use that pool now. I wish I still had it (but I probably wouldn't fit in it as well as I did a thousand years ago).

      I remember my grandmother telling me that those "bathing suits" were navy blue and made of wool. They must have been EXTREMELY uncomfortable. I like those little bathing caps.

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  4. Hi Jon - I'm pleased to hear that Scruffy is feeling so much better. Wasp bites sting like a bugger - ouch! That's a lot of nests - too many for comfort. Enjoy your humongous book which would take me ten years to finish. As long as you don't wear dorky shorts with knee high socks and sandals, you'd be fine. Take care ...

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    1. Scruffy is much more fragile than my other two cats. I'm really glad that she's eating again and quite lively (despite the heat). I was able to eliminate three more of the wasp nests today - and I didn't get stung (they were extremely angry!).

      I would really look hilarious in knee socks and sandals!!!!

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    2. Argyle knee socks would be the worst.

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  5. The cats must be melting too in this heatwave you've got. Sorry the wasps have gotten to you. I'm allergic. Lucky you aren't. LOve the vivid image of you in the pool. those blue fish on the bottom. your grandmother and friends look like they were having fun.

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    1. I was initially really afraid that I'd get a reaction from the wasp sting. For some strange reason I'm allergic to tick bites - and so far this summer I've had three of them.

      That Bakelite pool lasted a long time. Those made-in-America things were really sturdy back then.
      Nowadays, the made-in-China pools from Walmart fall apart in a month.

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  6. I have a fear of wasps and bees...awk! Sorry one got you.
    Glad Scruffy is feeling better.
    Love the old photos. Hope it cools off for you soon. :)

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    1. I have a healthy respect for wasps and bees - but it's impossible to avoid them around here. I knew my good luck at not being stung wouldn't last....

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  7. Great summer scenes, Jon. I think I identify most with Scratch lounging and adjusting to catch cooler air currents --it's an art.

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    1. All of that cat fur looks hot as heck to me - - I'm considering shaving my trio of kits so they look like chihuahuas.

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    2. The photo of Scruffy on the porch really made my day. I've never been stung by a wasp, but a bee once got me above my right eye: I ended up with a painful lump the size of a golf ball!

      I wish those pesky wasps would leave you alone. It's good you're getting rid of the nests, but do be careful how you go about it!

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    3. I've only been stung a very few times. The first time was in that swimming pool when I was less than two years old.
      Then I was stung in the neck (OUCH!) when I was twelve.
      And now, two days ago.

      There are an enormous amount of wasps here this year, so I'm trying to be very careful.

      I'm so relieved that Scruffy is just about back to normal. I always watch the cats VERY carefully. I don't let them outside often, but when I do I only let them on the porch.

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  8. You made me smile while reading your post, and then laugh in the comment section.

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    1. I've been such an old Grumpy lately that I don't make people smile very often.
      I'm delighted to know that I made you laugh.

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I love comments. Go ahead and leave one - I won't bite. But make sure you have a rabies shot just in case.