I’ve mentioned before that I live about 30 minutes away from Hell, MI. I just checked my weather app, and the temperature in Hell and the temperature in my backyard (95F) are the same. So it may not be hotter than Hell right now, but it is just as hot as Hell. And it feels like it.

Side Note: Hell is still for sale and I have a birthday coming up in a few weeks. Just sayin’.

It certainly feels like Hell outside (the one without the cool ice cream parlor). As someone descended from Scandinavian and Central European stock, it is way too hot for me to do anything outside once the sun rises. Naturally, there are a ton of things which still need to get done, so this just means that I’ve started working outside early, then coming in for breakfast.

Unfortunately, one of the things which still has to happen is the puppies eliminating waste, so I do have to spend some time out there. Even they don’t want to stay out and run around.

Fortunately, the hot weather held off until after the outdoor show we had last weekend. More on that below.

The majority of the week has been spent doing a ton of housework. It is amazing how no matter how much cleaning one does, it always feels like there is more to do. I’m operating in a state of perpetual exhaustion and annoyance right now. On the plus side, I’ve had plenty of time to listen to audio books.

One thing that I have been doing lately it participating in studies through the University of Michigan. I had a lengthy intake survey last week for one which officially began today. I’m not sure exactly how much I can say about the study, but I find the actual workings of it fascinating. Every hour or so a reminder pops up on my phone which prompts me to take a quick (five minute) quiz. In this way, the people running the study receive information about how I feel in the moment instead of having to rely on my recollection of how I felt some time in the past. This is a huge improvement over the questionnaires I administered back in the day.

Listening To: As mentioned above, I’ve spent quite a bit of time listening to audiobooks while doing housework and while driving back and forth from conventions. I polished off None of This Would Have Happened if Prince Were Alive by Carolyn Prussa in two days. It’s a delightful novel about a woman who is dealing with a cheating husband, her children, her mother, and a hurricane at the same time. It sounds dire but the story is filled with humor and honesty. I am most of the way through Trad Wife by Saratoga Schaefer in which an influencer is willing to do anything to have a child to save her marriage and increase her standing on TikTok.

Currently Reading: Edits, proofs, and submissions.

Current Obsession: We have a little time left on a free trial of Apple TV so we’ve been trying to find things to watch there. We both enjoyed Wolfs a lot. There’s just something about a Clooney/Pitt match up that make one smile. This story is a great blend of humor and action. We watched it after I had a particularly stressful day but I ended up bark laughing a number of times.

Everyone is all healed up and eating well. I’m still a little nervous to see how they will deal with the noise which will accompany this weekend’s holiday, but as I mentioned last time, we still have some left over doggie downers so we’re all set.

The puppies’ big adventure this week was their first experience in the pool. They…didn’t seem to care for it. The Mrs had purchased them each life vests (see the thumbnail) which they seemed a bit confused by. Why were we putting on sweaters when it was so hot outside? Finnigan swam very hard for the edge of the pool as soon as he got in. Quinn settled down a little and was OK swimming in a small circle as long as I was right there. Once she spied the side of the pool, however, it was full speed ahead for freedom.

Both Quinn and Finnigan have been fitted with new collars (they outgrew their old ones). They each also have a Tractive

We would like to thank everyone who came out to Port Huron for Frankenfest. We had our best show of the year so far.

July is a pretty empty month for us, with our only appearance being on the 25^th at the Historic Howell Theater where we are sponsoring the film Dagon. Don’t worry, we will come roaring back in August with two shows and then a tone more in September and October.

One of the unseen benefits of it being too hot to do anything outside is that we’ve been making progress on the projects that we’ve fallen so behind on.

I’m not going to lie to you, it’s just been too hot to actually think straight the last few days. I’ve also been spending way too much time consuming media on the socials. Some of it seems promising, such as the Supreme Court actually realizing that the Constitution does still mean something and upholding birthright citizenship, but most of it has just left me depressed and angry. I could spend churn out a bunch of paragraphs on how pissed I’ve been lately, but I’d rather not spread that kind of vitriol right now.

Instead I’m just going to wish you all a happy and safe Independence Day/Canada (or just a great weekend for those not in North America) and go back to listening to 1^st Wave radio where General Public just segued into Madness.

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