The Dog Days…

“The Dog Days of Summer” are words often used to describe the ungodly hot and uncomfortable long days that are the unfortunate consequence of living in Texas in the summer.  For me though, those words mean something completely off the beaten path and behind a chain-linked fence.  Yes, entirely new thoughts come to mind when I hear the utterance of  “dog days,” because as it stands this summer, I’ve not only almost had no contact with humans…but I’ve spent almost all of my time with two moody, grumpy, needy and wonderful dogs.  These are my “dog days” and I hope to embrace them for as long as I can (because if I don’t change my mindset soon I will surely soon resemble a rabid dog).

You wonder why a man who is 21 years-old and full of potential would spend his days snoozing and pondering food with the likes of the best kanines this side of Lassie’s fence?  Because we’re in a recession…scratch that…because I live in a crappy town that hates Baylor kids.  Funny how there’s a give and take for everything in this life.  Yes I get to attend Baylor and get to “enjoy” the almost castleesque relationship most of student body understands is present between institution and hosting city.  Two words, “Waco Sucks.”  Not that I’m one to write of a city or people group, but my patience with what I’ve come to call home is at an all time low.  I’ve applied to nearly 15 different blue-collar, minimum wage jobs to try and save money for this coming semester and have yet to successfully find employment in this God-forsaken city.  It seems there is no hope…applications to the 16th, 17th and 18th attempt have been turned in and now I begin the all-to-familiar waiting game.

It’s July 21st…I got out of school on May 12th…I’ve currently wasted almost 3 months of my life…these my dear friend are most certainly “dog days.”

Oh when that day comes

It’s been a long hot summer, this pressure that I’m under/

Can’t make nothin’ happen, so my mind begins to wonder/

wonder, why I can’t luck up, or even get a shot/

wonder why I’m getting nothin fo givin everything I’ve got/

Times is hard, just an excuse from my lips/

Gotta stay on my grind to fill that money clip/

But my sinking ship, can’t keep out water/

With each passing day, not drowning’s gets harder/

To quit is not an option, so I struggle and I struggle/

If I have just one good day, I’m sure to bust that bubble/

I wrestle with the thought of what’s keeping me down/

Is it me? Is it you? Or could it be this town?/

To escape and run away, new air and new land/

Maybe then, I can live off the labor of my hands/

Who knows? Who cares? I’m just another jobless bum/

But I’ll be on my feet again, oh when that day comes/

Oh when that day comes/

I will walk, I will run, I will sing/

Oh when that day comes/

I’m poper, I’m a prince, I’m a king/

Oh when that day comes/

You know I’ll give it my all/

Oh when that day comes/

I’ll brush of the dirt and start walkin tall/