Summer sucks – I said what I said

After all of the articles I have posted on this website, I find it interesting and fulfilling that my article, “Why I HATE (and I mean HATE) summer” has as many views as it does.

What’s more, if you google “I hate summer” you will find posts about it all over – precisely what everyone wants for what they search: confirmation that others have the same feeling/thought process. Never mind the fact that my posts are written from a skilled trades perspective, or even that I post lengthy and substantive posts about relevant topics, those who hate summer have a shared hatred and I welcome the camaraderie nonetheless.

I would like nothing more than to find this website take off, with millions of views a month, and the skilled trades excel but hey, if I gain views because of the miserable nature the summer season brings, who am I to punch a gift horse in the mouth?

Summer sucks

The above article, however, is listed and found under the search of “I hate summer.” With new miserable temperatures punishing everyone in 2022, I had it in my mind to screenshot the temperatures for sometime now and create a new post for a new year entitled “Summer sucks.” I’m trying to corner the market from all angles which actively dismiss this miserable excuse for a season. The extra locution, “I said what I said,” is pure fun in a post of loathing. I need something to laugh about, after all – and it sure isn’t the temperature – it’s enough to make me wanna cry.

Additionally, the reasons I hate summer may seem to repeat themselves but I can get rather creative when it comes to that which I loathe and despair. I’ll let the article speak for itself.

What are some of the reasons?

I’ve taken several screenshots of the weather this summer thus far and for the explicit reason to post them on this very article. I have a lot of words to say about summer – all of them negative – but as they say a picture is worth a thousand words. So here are 10,000 words – all describing how I loathe this season.

This last day I took the screenshot I was in Charleston. Of course, I knew it was hot but it adds extra gravity to my complaint – especially when it is further south than me.

During the time I was taking most of these screenshots, my wife, who was in the Midwest, decided to inform me how moderate the temperature was. Much of the time she liked to remind me it was in the 70s – all while it’s in the 90s – and it feels like it was in the 100s. OK, there’s no need to rub it in.

What’s more, millions of my brothers and sisters are out in this heat too, dealing with the massive amount of sweat pouring from their brows – and other places.

“I LOVE working outside in those temps,” said no one ever.

Reasons summer sucks

Let’s start off with the obvious: All those barbecues, beach trips, and summer cookouts aren’t taking place during temperatures like this. Come on now; let’s be real for a minute. During those times, people are holed up in the A.C. in front of the T.V. – and who can blame them? It’s because SUMMER SUCKS. Those summer temps literally beat them down during the week. Anyone who tells you they are throwing down on the weekend aren’t sweating during the weekday. The skilled trades are full of people who brave heat exhaustion on a daily basis to build the country. They should be celebrated like the superstars they are.

Heat Exhaustion

When you stop sweating – you are in trouble

I loathe summer for a variety of reasons – most of which are linked to comfort. Heat exhaustion, though, is a legit concern for those who work in the elements. Water, for all it’s perks, gets to a point when it loses it’s effectiveness. After that, it really is time to take a break because heat exhaustion is stalking you now.

Over the past decade or so when I do OSHA 10/30 classes, I have become amazed at the number of youth who admit they’ve have heat exhaustion – much of it deriving from sports. I’m not coming down on sports per se, but the connection is there for anyone who is willing to see it. And anyone who has had heat exhaustion knows all too well the likelihood of it reoccurring is greater. Unfortunately, this sets them up for greater difficulty for the rest of their lives.

This is the very real reality for millions in the skilled trades. Many of them brave the heat all day, walking that line between remaining healthy and overheating. After a hard day’s work, many find themselves having to do more around the house – furthering their likelihood to overheat. No rest for the weary? More like, no comfort for the sweaty. Down with summer.

Chaffing

Chaffing is like an apocalypse between those pieces of skin

While I’m on the topic of that which is painful, people have never experienced pain until they have some good ole chaff on a blazing hot day. Stubbing your toe barefoot? Hit your head on something above you? Burn yourself on something hot? Smash your hand with a beater? Trailer hitch to the shin? It all pales in comparison to chaffing. I often tell people the best tool in my toolbox is Gold bond – and I AM NOT JOKING. That sweet relief you get from putting on Gold bond is AMAZING, let me tell you. Seriously, if babies could talk they wouldn’t cry about diaper rash, they’d cuss you out and demand baby powder for eternity. Parents, you better get right.

If you’ve ever been caught with a serious case of chaffing you know the pain I speak of. And if you haven’t? Consider yourself fortunate. No, seriously. The only pain I can say with accuracy that may even hold a candle is mouth pain (which is its own kind of pain outright) and the infamous kidney stones (which I have no experience – and hope never to). It takes pain to a whole other level many never seem to get to partake of. You walk like you have something in your pants but really you just want some space between pieces of skin. Man, when it hits you’d take a meteor full on to bring sweet relief.

Say it from the rooftops with me: SUMMER SUCKS.

Cutting Grass

Having to cut this every week in the heat of the sun is NOT my favorite thing to do

I REALLY hate cutting grass; it is such a waste of time. What’s more, you have to do the chore sweating to death. A long time ago, I was a fool like many others, all about creating that perfectly manicured lawn to show off to others. I got some age to me and wisdom seemed to follow; I suppose I should be glad. After all, now I just don’t give a crap. Truth be told, the first time I cut grass in the spring is mainly when I get a letter from the city saying I need to – I like to push the envelope as far as I can. It’s a testament to how much I believe SUMMER SUCKS.

In an attempt to minimize cutting grass and lower the frequency of doing the retched chore, I have adapted a couple different tactics to lower my time in the blazing sun. First, I try and take up a little bit of grass each year and turn it over to garden. That way, I have less lawn to take care of – and I only do that to keep the city off my back at that.

The second is to try and spread a certain type of grass that grows slowly, so I spend more time between the times I actually cut the grass. St. Augustine is the grass I have been transplanting via plugs to get it to spread – furthering its reach. The more it spreads, the more it takes over. The more it takes over the more my lawn is St. Augustine. The more lawn that’s At. Augustine, the slower the whole lawn grows, reducing the number of times it needs to be cut. See, there’s a practicality that comes with what I plan. And it all stems from my feeling that SUMMER SUCKS. I don’t sit and idly make plans – they have a reason and purpose.

*It’s funny: I was out to lunch the other day with someone who said he hated summer as well. One of the standard responses from someone who hates colder temps is they don’t want to have to shovel snow. He had a level headed approach when it came to this: he only has to shovel snow once maybe twice a year but he was having to cut grass every week in the sweltering heat. Put in the proper perspective, he makes perfect sense. Kudos to him; he has given me a new rebuttal I will use many years to come.*

Air Condition Bills

I don’t like paying bills – but AC bills are especially heinous

I don’t know who thought being an adult was a super cool thing but I bet they didn’t have bills in mind when they uttered that ridiculous statement. Being an adult means paying bills until you die – and summer is no different. The swelling heat brings with it higher than normal A.C. bills and further propulsion into adulthood. Rest assured, it is but another way to remind you of your station in life – and how much being an adulthood sucks. And the connection – which I have clearly made – is that because of this, SUMMER SUCKS.

Mosquitoes

Created to spread discomfort, disease, and pestilence – the great mosquito

Have I mentioned mosquitoes yet? Who in their right mind enjoys mosquitoes – which, by the way, is synonyms with summer??

You can be sure that being outside brings mosquitoes and that includes work. Little blood suckers. Besides, where I live they laugh at bug spray and citronella candles. They sip that stuff for evening cocktails before dining on blood. Not too far from here is an area where the mosquitoes are so big, they stand flatfooted and have sex with chickens – yeah, they are the obnoxious summer bird.

When summer is in full swing so too are mosquitoes. SUMMER SUCKS.

Crappy Choices for Beer

This type of flight is NOT found in the summer

Summertime seems to bring on a poorer quality of beer in mass – and IPAs are the worst. Whoever said IPAs were for basic white guys like pumpkin spice is for basic white girls deserves all the cred they can handle.

During this time, not only is it hot and miserable but when the day is over and you want to kick back, relax, and have a nice cold one (or several – whatever floats your boat), you have limited choices of good beer. IPAs, light and fruity, and even your standard beer (budweiser, bud light, miller, etc.) are in ample supply. If you want a good porter or stout – good luck – you are about to embark on a trying to find a unicorn during the sweaty season.

IF someone is having a cookout or gathering, you know what types of beer they usually have in the cooler/fridge? You guessed it: substandard. While many are sucking down horse urine, I am looking for that bread in a bottle.

Yet one more reason SUMMER SUCKS.

To conclude – summer sucks

I could probably come up with some more but alas, my point is made. Summer sucks. There are reasons galore; and, I feel the need to remind readers that there is more to celebrate during the rest of the year as opposed to summer time. For my money, there isn’t a better time of the year than November and December – there is an awful lot to be packed into those two months.

All in all, most approach the summer season from a vacation and/or time off perspective; I look at it from having to spend time in the field and sweat out my body weight. Yes, I know there are some who work in the field and actually prefer hotter weather – a testament to how working in the heat has really warped their thinking.

Down with summer.