My Dog Dayz of Summer

"Dog Days" are the hottest, most sultry days of summer. In the northern hemisphere, they usually fall between early July and early September. In the southern hemisphere they are usually between January and early March. The actual dates vary greatly from region to region, depending on latitude and climate. Dog Days can also define a time period or event that is very hot or stagnant, or marked by dull lack of progress. The name comes from the ancient belief that Sirius, also called the Dog Star, was somehow responsible for the hot weather.

In Ancient Rome, the Dog Days extended from July 24 through August 24 (or, alternatively July 23-August 23). In many European cultures (German, French, Italian) this period is still said to be the time of the Dog Days.

The Old Farmer's Almanac lists the traditional timing of the Dog Days as the 40 days beginning July 3 and ending August 11, coinciding with the ancient heliacal (at sunrise) rising of the Dog Star, Sirius.

I took my Dog Day afternoon to the Pecan Cafe and coffee shop on Franklin Street this afternoon. I had a healthy fruit mango smoothy and a not so healthy cream cheese croissant in honor of Bastille day. And since Bastille day isn't until this coming Wednesday, I suppose I'll have to have another croissant then as well.  :-)

P.S. I actually think I saw Sirius, the Dog Star, the other night when I was watching the sun set off of Christopher St. pier. So bright I thought it was an airplane, off in the western sky right at sunset.