My Top 10 Ways to Recognize Dog Days

A Little Dogball Anyone?

Well, here we are in the Dog Days of summer. I'm not sure what that means. I think I read somewhere that it has to do with the position of the "dog star" in the summer sky. I do know that dogs have a tough time in the heat of August. Some say that summer's heat is not fit weather, even for a dog. I like the hot weather, assuming that I don't have to spend too much time outdoors. I like to read my paper out on the porch in the morning. Along about 11:00 AM, I head indoors to the A/C. I leave you with my top10 ways to recognize that the Dog Days have arrived.

10. My mornings on the porch with the newspaper are ending earlier.

9. Those beautiful pansies are now dying.

8. Possible Thunderstorms has replaced Possible Snow Flurries in the weather forecast.

7. The days are already getting shorter. Only 2 more months until the autumnal equinox.

6. This is the season when sweet becomes the adjective for corn rather than for strawberries.

5. Dog tongues seem to be hanging out a little further than usual. Actually, so does mine, when I think of that cone of chocolate chip ice cream.

4. The bark on the Dogwood trees has turned strangely silent. Sorry about that one!

3. Even the grass is getting more crabby. Oh, that's even worse!!

2. My favorite baseball teams always seem to fade when the Dog Days arrive. My newest team, The Lancaster Barnstormers, ended the first half with the poorest record in the Atlantic League. Oops, I spoke too soon. They are now in first place in the second-half standings.

1. Good grief! The Philadelphia Eagles have just opened training camp. Now I know that the Dog Days have arrived.