I miss the fireflies...

Where have they gone?
When I was young, it seemed there were hundreds
of fireflies blinking in the yard
every summer night.

Now, there are almost none.

Did I kill them?

I used to chase them through the yard
and catch them in my hand and put them
in a mason jar and close the jar with the
lid punched full of holes.

So they could breathe.

I'd keep the jar beside my bed and shake the
jar to make the fireflies blink.

Were they scared?

When I woke up the next morning, the fireflies
were all dead. 
I didn't cry or feel even a little bit sad.
I just emptied the jar in the back yard.

And waited for more fireflies to fill the night and
the mason jar.

Now I understand that nothing lasts forever.
I'm sorry fireflies.

September oneth...

the grass is
browning
not because summer ends
but because it
won't easily let go
and thus 
sucks the green
from every blade.

What I did on my summer unemployment...

Cabin fever hit hard yesterday so I mosied to the Boardwalk
and took some photos. (click for bigger)
This structure is the Bandshell. It was one of several WPA
projects in the area during the Depression.
It's used at least once a week for free concerts.









This is the pier... restaurant/bar. And you can fish off the end.










I wanted shrimp from Bubba Gump's but there was a huge crowd waiting to get in so I opted for a burger at
Johnny Rocket's instead.

It's a retro diner with a very fun staff.



Juke boxes play music from
the '50s and '60s and about once an hour
the staff sings and dances to
one of the old songs.
These kids are so young that they probably
never heard any of this music before they started
working here.
The little blond on the left was my waitress and
she had some... er, difficulties... keeping up
with the other girls.
The girl on the far right had it goin' on.

Cabin fever cured, for now.

It's so hot the weeds are wilting...

Oppressive, brutal, airless, humid, stifling, suffocating.
No relief, even at night.
Can August possibly be as bad or worse?

I've survived many summers without air conditioning
but I do not remember any this bad.

I put ice cubes in Sparky's water bowl.
I drink ice water by the gallon.

Chunks of cold watermelon is my favorite food.

July has been a horrible month for lots of reasons
but, this heat. is. the. worst.