This is Memorial Day weekend in the U.S., marking the unofficial start of summer. I'm not a huge fan of Atlanta summers, so I don't look forward to this time of year. I'd like to highlight my least favorite things about this time of year, so I can get the complaining out of the way, and then I promise to keep my griping to myself for the rest of the season (or at least not blog about it). :)
5. Bugs. Fire ants, mosquitoes, giant palmetto bugs, oh my. (Joke: What's the difference between a cockroach and a palmetto bug? About an inch and a half!) I'm not generally squeamish about creepy crawly things, but the constant itching, pain, and grossness of these summer pests? No thanks. Oh, and let's not forget the fleas who cause misery to our four-legged friends. Blood-sucking jerks!
4. Heat. I realize the broiling Atlanta summers are the price I pay for moving down here to get away from the snow and cold. The thing is, when you're cold, you can always add more layers, but when you're hot, you can only take off so much before you get arrested. Jail is probably air-conditioned, though....
3. Smog. Atlanta's air quality notoriously sucks all summer. The smog gets trapped in our heat bubble and makes breathing difficult. The air is full of gunk, and the sun reflects off of every tiny little particle of it, so you're squinting through a hazy goo all summer. Air should not be opaque. I'm just saying.
2. Humidity. The high temperatures are bad enough, but factor in the insane levels of humidity, and there's just no way to get comfortable. The only real solution is to hibernate in the AC all summer. Outdoors, you're sweating while sitting perfectly still in the shade. You have to shower twice a day. Some days, you're sweating while in the shower.
1. Length. I love autumn. HUGE fan of autumn. But the Atlanta summer drags on for so long, it seriously cuts into our fall time. By Labor Day, I'd like to feel a little chill in the air, or at least not be slathered daily in a sticky mixture of sweat/sunscreen/bug spray/baby powder. In reality, fall will probably kick in sometime in November and will last about two weeks. Sigh.
Okay, there, I've vented. To those of you who love summer, who live someplace where the air is breathable and the phrase "cool summer evening" doesn't make you laugh hysterically, who can walk from your front door to your car without being bitten half a dozen times, I say more power to you. Enjoy!
Ugh, so true. Southern weather can suck sometimes. But then i think about when I'm gloating in March because it's in the mid 70's.... I do hate those palmetto bugs. Sooo creepy!
Posted by: molly | Tuesday, June 08, 2010 at 11:30