Bogs, Swamps, Humidity, August
August isn’t the hottest month in the Northern Hemisphere, but it seems like the swampiest month in a lot of places. The humidity coming off large bodies of water seems to be particularly bad.
So what better time than now to talk about swamps, bogs, humidity, and general moaning about August?
The novel Swamplandia! by Karen Russell contains some great descriptions of the swampy world of Florida’s southwest coast. It’s a really well written book, although filled with melancholy.
Speaking of August, The Guns of August is an engrossing, infuriating history of the start of the First World War by Barbara Tuchman. It describes how the leaders of the European powers grossly ignored reality on their way to a pointless war that left every country worse off than if they had done nothing.
If you want to talk about humidity, this article in Smithsonian Magazine discusses the relationship between humid weather and frizzy hair. It seems to have something to do with keratin in the hair forming hydrogen bonds with water molecules, causing “hair to fold back on itself at the molecular level at a greater rate.” I tend to cut my hair short during the summer, but maybe you struggle with frizzy August hair? If so, what do you do?
Maybe you’re a fan of swamp animals. Capybaras made a recent appearance in Deadsplinter thanks to Black Rod, and they are often seen in the swamps of South America. And of course turtles, beloved by many Deadsplinterites, have paddled around swamps for tens of millions of years.
So in this moistest of months, share any thoughts you may have about that dismal halfway existence between wet and dry, solid and liquid. Talk about the denizens of those places, survival strategies when nothing evaporates, or anything else about the month ahead.
Ah, swamps. My native habitat. We used to have a little natural spring on a vacant lot near the house I grew up in, and it basically flowed about 50 yards and ended at a big mud pool. I lost a shoe in that mud pool, and had to get it back — clothing was purchased twice annually when I was growing up. I dug around up to my elbow in that muck until I recovered the shoe. I did discard the socks.
I wonder if any of that is still there? Probably paved over by now. I’m sure it was private property, but kids don’t give a crap about that.
Did you read Swamplandia? I think Russell has potential to join Carl Hiaasen and Elmore Leonard as a part of the Florida chronicler.
I haven’t but I should.
I hate humidity. I was actually contemplating shaving most of my hair off this morning but I’ve been growing it out for the past year. So I decided that I can deal with crinkly shoulder length hair for a couple more weeks.
Just a couple? I’ve got a lot more ahead. Where do you live, Hudson Bay?
Seattle. So I shouldn’t even be complaining. Then again I’m headed to Montreal at the end of the month and that will be peak humidity hell.
Have some bagels and smoked meat while you’re there.
Always 🤤
I realize that technically July is our hottest month here, but August always feels worse. I think August doesn’t get the hottest title because a few cool nights towards the beginning of September skew it.
I think water vapor has a way of curbing temperature readings by a few degrees at least.
The swampy bayous of Houston and the month of August are a shit combination.
I’ve never been to Houston but I’ve heard the ethnic food is so good there it’s worth risking the humidity.
No, it’s not. I have a sister there & everything is fried. From food to people to brains, all fried. It is the taint of the south & that is saying something. The humidity is awful, like the drivers. I found NO ethnic food that was not 100x better anywhere on the west coast or NY. Even the Mexican they brag about is meh.
You just have to know the special taco trucks. Not fried, but absolutely delicious.
Well, it’s no Korean summer.
I spent a good 3 weeks feeling sticky from dawn to dusk with a torrential rain at around noon.
It’s a cure all for dealing with miserable humid Southern Ontario summers.
However thanks to Man Made global warming, it is starting to feel a lot like a Korean summer.
I’ve heard that about both Korea and Japan.
I just went for a night walk to try to cheat on the heat and humidity a bit.
Of course the skies opened up after a half mile and now I’m all wet.
i have no clue…i can tell you what you find when youve got a mood on and look for angry metal at 4am tho
ahahahaha
fucking cheered me up that did
just gotta remember….life is fucking bizar….and as long as bills are being made..you good?….could be worse at least
Looks like a 21st Century version of Chuck E Cheese
shit got wierder blue…..may need to just go back to bed
india is going to be the next world leader and super power
the metal index says so