No Regrets

Up, up, up.  Time to get up.  What time is it?  I wasn’t sure.  It had to be late, I was alone which meant Tracey was already up and had started her day.  I grabbed my cell  phone, 9:10am.  Temperature? Already 85^o.  Ug.

I had some things I needed to get done today.  Not a lot, do some more work on the smoker, put things back in the reconstructed shed, clean up the deck.  Nothing earth shattering, but I wanted to get a jump on them early.

I’m not one to usually bag things I need to do just because it’s hot. I’ve always felt that if the grass needed mowing, than the fact that it’s 90^o doesn’t matter.  But today is different.  At 85^o, the temperature was already beginning it’s steep climb to a high today that would finish at some where between OMG! and WTF?!?  I needed to get out there and get started.  No regrets.

After the usual Saturday morning rituals I decided to also go out and pick up a few more things at The Home Depot and Pathmark.  I wasn’t really looking forward to it.  Then I decided a quick stop at the liquor store was in order.  I weighted my options.  I took the day into consideration.

The first thing I had to do was get a coat of paint on the smoker.  The high temperature paint I bought said not to apply it if the temperature exceeded 90^o.  That struck me as funny.  I only had a 5^o window remaining.

It was already hot outside.  The kind of hot that tells you it’s only going to get worse.  I quickly went to my task, covering the firebox with flat black goodness.  Had I ever sweat before from just spray painting?  This wasn’t fun.  After I had used up my one can of paint, I hopped in the shower to clean off.

Off to the stores.  The truck is hot as hell.  The thermometer in it says 93^o.  Lovely.  Once I picked up more paint and a few other supplies I headed back home via the local liquor store.  As I walked in, I was greeted with the usual chorus of hellos.  I stayed focused.  I firmly walked back to the coolers as so many times I’d done before.  But this time I followed them down farther than I normally go.  To a section I rarely visit.  No regrets.

As I carried my selection up to the counter I couldn’t help being over come by a wave of uneasiness.  Much like the feeling I’m sure some people get walking out of the curtained back room at a video store with the sign declaring “ADULTS ONLY” over the curtained threshold.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: Notice how Ed is trying to write this analogy in a way that leads you to believe he’s never done that before. LOL]

I quickly push the feeling aside.  Tall, confident and with a purpose I walk to the counter. I make firm eye contact with the clerk as he rings me up.  I show no sign of embarrassment.  No sign of faltering.  No regrets.

On the drive home the black bag sat in the passenger seat like the proverbial 400lb gorilla.  My usually loyal truck anti-theft system seem to sense some thing was up.  And he eyed me questionably.

Whatcha got in this bag, Ed?

Once home I withdrew my purchase and popped it into the freezer.  Again I found myself outside finishing up on the grill just as the weather app on my phone hit 98^o.  I turned my attention to the deck, cleaning up the remnants of some projects I’d done while also getting stuff put back in the shed.

All things totaled it took me a little over an hour and soon I was back inside the house.  I’ve always wondered why you really notice the sweat more when you walk into a cool room.  Outside it hadn’t seemed all that bad, but now standing in the kitchen I was drenched as if my skin was pushing out every drop of moisture in my body.  There’s probably some reason.  But I’m a chemist, not a dermatologist, Jim.

I walked over to the freezer and withdrew my purchase.  It was cold.  Inviting.  I went to the glass cabinet and absentmindedly pulled out a glass.  I laughed.  I’ve written in the past how I didn’t think glassware really matters that much when it comes to beer, and in this case it certainly didn’t.  I didn’t want to waste time selecting another glass, they were all stacked in the cabinet requiring to much effort to liberate a better one.  I needed relief.

I poured the beer into glass and let the head settle before taking that first long sip.  Heaven.  At that VERY moment it was the best beer I’d ever tasted.  So refreshing, so what I needed.  I thought of my blog.  Maybe I should do a review?

THEM: They say it’s beer.

ME: It’s ice cold.

There.  Covered.

As I greedily finished the first glass and poured my second I thought about beer and the many ways it can enhance our enjoyment of life.  Every beer has a purpose.  Even if for some beers it’s simply to wash a scorching summer day from your mouth.  Any beer.  You just have to have no trepidations , no prejudices and most importantly,

Time for another beer…