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  • The Heat Index Explained: Why a Humid Afternoon Feels Hotter Than the Thermometer Says

    The Heat Index Explained: Why a Humid Afternoon Feels Hotter Than the Thermometer Says

    Anyone who has spent a summer in Middle Georgia knows that ninety degrees is not always just ninety degrees. Some afternoons are bearable in the shade. Others feel like walking into a warm, wet towel. The difference is humidity, and the number that captures it is the heat index.

    What the heat index measures

    The heat index, sometimes called the apparent temperature, combines air temperature and relative humidity into a single number meant to describe how hot it actually feels to the human body. The National Weather Service uses it in forecasts and alerts, building on research published in the late 1970s. On a humid summer day, the heat index can run well above the thermometer. A ninety-degree afternoon with fairly high humidity, for example, can feel like a hundred or more.

    Why humidity makes heat feel worse

    Our bodies cool themselves largely by sweating. As sweat evaporates from the skin, it carries heat away. In dry air, evaporation happens quickly and cooling works well. In humid air, which already holds a great deal of moisture, sweat evaporates slowly. It sits on the skin, we feel sticky and our natural cooling system becomes much less effective. That is why a humid Georgia afternoon can feel more draining than a hotter day in a desert.

    One detail is easy to miss: heat index values are calculated for shady conditions with a light breeze. According to the National Weather Service, standing in full sunshine can raise the heat index by as much as fifteen degrees. The number on your app is the shady version.

    Planning a summer day around it

    • Check the heat index along with the temperature when you look at the forecast.
    • Schedule yard work, exercise and errands for early morning or evening, when the heat index is lower.
    • Take frequent breaks in the shade or indoors, and drink water steadily throughout the day.
    • Wear loose, light-colored, breathable clothing and a wide-brimmed hat.
    • Check on older neighbors and relatives during hot spells, especially those who live alone or without reliable air conditioning.
    • Never leave children, older adults or pets in a parked car, even for a minute.

    Some coaches, outdoor workers and event planners also use a measurement called the wet bulb globe temperature, which adds factors such as sun angle, wind and cloud cover. If your child plays a summer sport, you may hear it mentioned.

    Know when heat becomes dangerous

    When heat and humidity reach dangerous levels, the National Weather Service issues heat advisories and warnings, and you can find current alerts for your area at weather.gov. Heat-related illness is serious. The CDC publishes its warning signs at cdc.gov, and they are worth reading before the hottest weeks arrive. If someone becomes confused, faints or seems seriously unwell in the heat, call 911.

    Respecting the heat index is not about fear. It is about working with a Southern summer rather than against it, the way generations before air conditioning did: slow afternoons, early mornings and a long glass of water in the shade.

  • Skincare Basics for Men: A Simple Routine That Takes About Two Minutes

    Skincare Basics for Men: A Simple Routine That Takes About Two Minutes

    Plenty of men grew up with one bar of soap for everything, a razor and maybe an aftershave that stung. There is nothing wrong with keeping things simple, but a Georgia summer is hard on skin: sun, sweat, heat and long hours outdoors. A basic routine that takes about two minutes a day can make skin feel noticeably more comfortable. Here is a plain version, with no jargon and no shelf full of products.

    Step one: wash with something gentle

    Many bar soaps are made for the body and can leave facial skin feeling tight and dry. A mild facial cleanser, in a gel for oilier skin or a cream for drier skin, is gentler. Wash at night to clear away sweat, sunscreen and the day’s grime, and again in the morning if you like. After a sweaty afternoon of yard work, a quick rinse with cool water feels good and keeps the day’s sweat from sitting on your skin.

    Use lukewarm water rather than hot, and pat dry with a clean towel instead of rubbing.

    Step two: moisturize, with sunscreen in the morning

    Moisturizer is not only for dry skin. A light lotion helps skin feel comfortable after washing and shaving. The simplest approach is a daily moisturizer with broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher, so one step does two jobs in the morning. On days you will be outside for long stretches, use a dedicated sunscreen and reapply it as the label directs.

    Do not forget the places men often miss: the ears, the back of the neck, the top of the head if your hair is thinning, and the lips. A lip balm with SPF fits easily in a pocket.

    A more comfortable shave

    • Shave after a warm shower, or at least after washing your face, so the hair is softened.
    • Use a shaving cream or gel rather than soap or plain water.
    • Use a sharp, clean blade. A dull one tugs and irritates.
    • If your skin gets irritated, try shaving in the direction the hair grows.
    • Rinse with cool water and follow with a gentle moisturizer. Alcohol-heavy aftershaves can sting freshly shaved skin.

    When to see a professional

    A simple routine is about comfort and habit, not about fixing problems. If you notice a spot or mole that changes in size, shape or color, a sore that does not settle, or irritation and razor bumps that keep coming back, make an appointment with your doctor or a dermatologist. It is one of the most worthwhile half hours you can spend.

    A starter kit makes a thoughtful Father’s Day gift, too: a gentle cleanser, a moisturizer with sunscreen and a good lip balm, with a note saying how much you want him around for a long time. Two minutes a day is not much to ask, and it is a small way of looking after the person in the mirror.

  • Traveling With Essential Oils and Skincare: Your Questions, Answered

    Traveling With Essential Oils and Skincare: Your Questions, Answered

    Summer trips often come with a small bag of comforts: a favorite face cream, a sunscreen that does not sting, a bottle of lavender oil for the hotel pillow. Getting them there intact, and using them considerately once you arrive, raises a few practical questions. Here are answers to some common ones.

    Can I bring essential oils and skincare in my carry-on?

    Generally, yes, within the limits for liquids. Under the Transportation Security Administration’s liquids rule, carry-on liquids, gels, creams and aerosols must be in containers of 3.4 ounces, or 100 milliliters, or less, and all of them must fit in a single quart-size bag. Larger bottles belong in checked luggage. Rules can change and exceptions exist, so check the current guidance at tsa.gov before you pack. If you are flying internationally, check the rules of your airline and destination, too.

    How do I keep bottles from leaking?

    Changes in cabin pressure can push liquid out of loosely closed containers. A few habits help:

    • Fill travel bottles only partway, leaving a little air at the top.
    • Tighten caps firmly, and consider wrapping a strip of tape around each lid.
    • For extra protection, place a small square of plastic wrap over the opening before screwing on the cap.
    • Pack each bottle in its own zip-top bag, so one leak does not spoil everything else.
    • Keep essential oil bottles upright and away from anything they could stain.

    Is it okay to use essential oils on a plane or in a hotel room?

    Think of shared spaces first. On planes, buses and trains, people sit close together, and strong scents can bother neighbors who are sensitive to fragrance. Keep scent personal there: a sachet in your bag, or a small amount of a well-diluted oil you can enjoy without filling the cabin.

    In a hotel or rental, check the property’s policies before running a diffuser, and never burn candles where they are not allowed. A drop of oil on a cotton ball tucked near your pillow is a subtle way to bring a familiar scent to an unfamiliar room. Ventilate the room, and stop if anyone traveling with you finds the scent unpleasant.

    What about the heat?

    Heat is hard on essential oils, fragrances, sunscreen and many medications. A parked car in a Georgia summer can get dangerously hot within minutes, so take these things inside with you rather than leaving them in the glove box. At the beach or pool, keep them in a shaded bag or a cooler. If you travel with medications that need special storage, ask your pharmacist how to carry them.

    Any special precautions for beach and pool days?

    Yes. Several cold-pressed citrus oils, including bergamot, lemon and lime, can make skin more sensitive to sunlight when applied before sun exposure. On beach and pool days, save citrus blends for the evening, apply them only to skin that will stay covered or choose products made without these oils. Reapply sunscreen as the label directs, and pack a gentle moisturizer for after-sun comfort. As always, if you have a health concern, are pregnant or are traveling with young children, talk to your doctor before using essential oils on your trip. A little planning lets your favorite comforts travel as well as you do.

  • Drying Herbs and Flowers From the Summer Garden: Bundles, Sachets and the Story of Potpourri

    Drying Herbs and Flowers From the Summer Garden: Bundles, Sachets and the Story of Potpourri

    By late June, a Georgia herb garden is often producing faster than anyone can keep up with. The mint has climbed out of its pot, the rosemary is bushy and the basil needs cutting every few days. Drying some of that abundance is an old and satisfying way to keep summer’s scents for the months ahead, in sachets, bowls and jars of tea.

    Why potpourri means rotten pot

    The word potpourri comes from French and means, quite literally, rotten pot. It was borrowed from the Spanish olla podrida, a slow-cooked stew of many ingredients. The earliest scented potpourris were made by a moist method: layers of partly dried petals and salt were packed into a crock and left to ferment for weeks, producing a damp, unattractive but intensely fragrant mixture kept in lidded jars and opened to scent a room. The pretty bowls of dried petals we know today come from the later dry method, which favors color and appearance as well as scent.

    Air-drying in humid weather

    Georgia humidity makes drying slower than it is in drier climates, and mold is the main risk. A few habits help:

    • Harvest on a dry morning, after the dew has evaporated but before the heat of the day.
    • Gather small bundles of five to ten stems and secure them with a rubber band, which tightens as the stems shrink.
    • Hang bundles upside down indoors, in an air-conditioned room out of direct sunlight. Garages, porches and attics are usually too humid in summer.
    • Check after a week or two. Herbs are ready when the leaves crumble easily between your fingers.
    • If a bundle stays limp or shows any sign of mold, compost it and try again with smaller bundles.

    Rosemary, mint, lemon balm, oregano, thyme and sage all dry well this way. Among flowers, roses, statice, strawflowers and globe amaranth hold their color. Hydrangeas are a special case: many people stand the cut blooms in a vase with a little water and simply let them dry as the water evaporates.

    Simple sachets

    A sachet is just a small fabric pouch filled with dried, fragrant plant material. Use a cotton or muslin bag, or sew a simple square from scrap fabric. Fill it with dried lavender, rosemary, mint or rose petals, alone or mixed, and tie it closed. Tuck sachets into drawers, closets, suitcases and pillowcases. When the scent fades, squeeze the sachet gently to release more, or refill it with fresh herbs.

    Storing herbs for tea and the kitchen

    Herbs you plan to use for tea or cooking deserve a little extra care. Strip the dried leaves from the stems, keep them as whole as possible and store them in clean, airtight glass jars away from heat and light. Label each jar with the name and date. Most dried herbs are at their best within about a year.

    Keep bowls of potpourri out of reach of children and pets, who may be tempted to taste it, and be especially careful with simmering liquid potpourri around cats and dogs. Your veterinarian can answer questions about specific plants. Then, some gray morning next winter, open a jar of summer mint or a drawer with a sachet inside, and the garden will come back to you for a moment.

  • Halfway Through the Year: A Midyear Review Without Judgment

    Halfway Through the Year: A Midyear Review Without Judgment

    The end of June marks a quiet milestone: the halfway point of the year. January’s intentions may feel as if they belong to a different person. The seasons have turned from short gray days to long, humid evenings. It is a natural time to pause, look back and gently consider what you want from the second half.

    A midyear review is not a report card. Its purpose is not to count how many resolutions you kept, but to notice how you have actually been living, with kindness rather than criticism.

    Set the scene

    Give the review a little ceremony. Choose an hour when you will not be interrupted, perhaps an early morning on the porch, a quiet table at a coffee shop or a summer evening after the house has settled. Bring a notebook and a pen you like. A cold drink helps. The point is to make this feel like a pleasure rather than a chore.

    Questions for looking back

    Choose a few of these and write freely, without editing:

    • What moments from the past six months am I most grateful for?
    • When did I feel most like myself?
    • What drained my energy more than I expected?
    • What did I let go of, on purpose or by accident, and how do I feel about that?
    • Where did I find rest, and where did I go without it?
    • What has surprised me about this year so far?

    If an answer stings, that is information, not failure. Simply notice it and move on to the next question.

    Celebrate what went well

    Many of us skip straight to what needs fixing. Before you do, make a short list of things that went well, however small. A friendship that deepened. A habit that stuck. A hard week you got through. A garden that survived. Writing these down can be surprisingly moving, because ordinary victories are so easy to forget.

    Adjust rather than overhaul

    Now look ahead to July through December. Instead of a long list of new goals, choose one or two small adjustments. Perhaps you want to protect your Sunday afternoons, take more walks, call a friend every week or simply go to bed a little earlier. Ask yourself what would make the next six months feel a little more spacious, and write your answer somewhere you will see it again.

    If your January intentions still feel right, keep them and simply recommit. If they no longer fit, let them go without guilt. People change in six months, and a plan made in winter does not have to bind your summer self.

    Close the review kindly

    End with a sentence of encouragement to yourself, the kind you would offer a friend: you have done more than you think, and you are allowed to rest. Then close the notebook and enjoy the rest of the evening. Half a year is behind you. The other half is waiting, long and green and full of possibility.

  • Reading for Rest: How to Build a Summer Reading Habit You Look Forward To

    Reading for Rest: How to Build a Summer Reading Habit You Look Forward To

    For many of us, summer reading brings back memories of library reading charts and required book lists. As adults, we get to keep the best part of that tradition and drop the rest. A summer reading habit built purely for pleasure can become one of the most dependable forms of rest you have: quiet, absorbing and available almost anywhere.

    Why reading can feel so restful

    Reading a good book asks for a particular kind of attention. You follow a single thread, at your own pace, without notifications or autoplay pulling you somewhere else. Many people describe getting lost in a story as one of the few times their minds feel genuinely quiet. It is a different kind of rest from scrolling, which tends to scatter attention in many directions at once.

    Choose books for pleasure

    The most important rule of summer reading is that it should be enjoyable. Set aside the books you feel you ought to read and pick the ones you want to read. That might be a mystery series, a sweeping historical novel, a memoir, poetry, a gardening book or a stack of cookbooks you read like novels. Rereading an old favorite counts, too. There is real comfort in returning to a story you already love.

    If a book is not holding you after fifty pages or so, it is fine to set it down. Life is long, but summer evenings are short.

    Make reading easy to reach

    • Keep a book where you rest. One by the porch chair, one on the nightstand, one in the beach bag or the car.
    • Use your local library. Public libraries lend books, e-books and audiobooks free with a library card, and many run summer reading programs for adults as well as children.
    • Try audiobooks for walks, long drives and chores, when your hands are busy but your mind is free.
    • Find your reading spot. A shady corner of the porch, a hammock or an armchair by a window. Outdoors, choose shade, since bright sun on a white page can tire the eyes.

    Give it a time of day

    Habits stick best when they are tied to a regular moment. For some people, that is twenty minutes with coffee before the house wakes up. For others, it is the hottest part of the afternoon, when going outside is out of the question anyway. Many people like reading as part of their bedtime routine, in place of a screen. A paper book, or an e-reader without a bright backlight, is gentler for that last stretch of the evening.

    A family reading hour can work beautifully in summer, too: everyone in the same room, each with a different book, the only sound pages turning.

    Let it be slow

    There is no reading goal to meet and no prize for finishing the most books. Read slowly. Reread a sentence you love. Put the book on your chest and look at the sky for a while. Summer reading is not about productivity. It is about giving yourself a few hours in another world and coming back a little more rested than you left.

  • Coming Home Gently: Easing Back Into Routine After a Vacation

    Coming Home Gently: Easing Back Into Routine After a Vacation

    A good vacation can be undone remarkably fast. You walk in the door to a stuffy house, an empty refrigerator and a pile of mail, and by bedtime on the first night home the calm of the trip feels like a distant memory. A little planning can soften the landing, so the rest you found lasts a bit longer.

    Plan the landing before you leave

    The kindest thing you can do for your returning self happens before the trip begins:

    • Tidy the house before you go, so you come home to order rather than chaos.
    • Put fresh sheets on the bed. Climbing into a clean bed after a long trip is a small luxury.
    • Leave something easy in the freezer for the first night’s supper.
    • Set the thermostat so the house will not be sweltering when you arrive, or ask a neighbor to adjust it.
    • If you can, schedule a buffer day between coming home and going back to work.

    The first evening home

    Resist the urge to unpack everything and catch up on every chore that night. Bring in the bags, unpack only what you need and start one load of laundry if it makes you feel better. Then stop. Take a shower, eat something simple and go to bed at a reasonable hour. Tomorrow will be easier if tonight is gentle.

    Easing back into work

    Many people find the first morning back the hardest part. Consider keeping your out-of-office message on for one extra day, so you have time to catch up before new requests arrive. Block the first hour or two for reading email and sorting priorities rather than diving into meetings. Make a short list of what truly needs attention this week, and let the rest wait. Your inbox will still be there tomorrow; your sense of ease may not be, if you rush.

    Bring a little of the vacation home

    Ask yourself what you enjoyed most about being away, and look for a small way to keep it. If you loved slow breakfasts, try one on Saturday. If you walked every evening, keep walking. You might cook a dish you discovered on the trip, frame a favorite photo or light the candle that scented your rental. A familiar fragrance can call the feeling of a place back for a moment, which is one of the quiet gifts of scent.

    When the post-trip blues linger

    It is common to feel a little flat for a few days after a vacation ends. The contrast between relaxed days and ordinary routine can be sharp, and usually the feeling fades as you settle back in. If low feelings linger or deepen, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional. For most of us, though, a soft landing and one small habit carried home are enough to let the trip keep doing its quiet work long after the suitcase is put away.

  • Sleeping Well Away From Home: Hotel Rooms, Guest Rooms and Campsites

    Sleeping Well Away From Home: Hotel Rooms, Guest Rooms and Campsites

    You finally arrive, tired from the drive or the flight, and climb into a perfectly comfortable bed. Then you lie awake listening to the ice machine, the air conditioner and the unfamiliar creaks of a strange room. If the first night of a trip is often your worst, you are far from alone.

    The first-night effect

    Sleep researchers have a name for this: the first-night effect. People often sleep less deeply on their first night in an unfamiliar place, and some research suggests that part of the brain stays a little more alert, as if keeping watch in new surroundings. It usually eases by the second or third night. Knowing that can take some of the frustration out of a restless first night. It is normal, and it tends to pass.

    The rest of the work is helping a new space feel more familiar and more comfortable, as quickly as possible.

    In a hotel room

    • Control the light. Pack an eye mask, and a couple of binder clips or clothespins to pinch gaping curtains closed. Cover small glowing lights with a bit of tape or a folded tissue.
    • Soften the noise. Earplugs, a white noise app or the room’s fan setting can mask hallway sounds. When booking, it is reasonable to ask for a room away from elevators and ice machines.
    • Cool the room. Set the thermostat a little cool before you go to dinner, so the room is comfortable at bedtime.
    • Bring a familiar cue. Your own pillowcase, a favorite sleep shirt or a lavender sachet from home can make the room feel more like yours.

    In a relative’s guest room

    Staying with family brings its own challenges: different schedules, early risers, pets, a mattress that has seen better days. Bring your own small comforts, such as an eye mask, earplugs and a book. It is perfectly polite to ask about the household’s morning routine, so you know when the coffee maker starts and the dog goes out. If the room is warm, ask whether a fan is available. Most hosts are glad to help their guests sleep well, and a gentle request is easier than three restless nights.

    At a summer campsite

    Camping in a Georgia summer is mostly about staying cool. Choose a site with afternoon shade if you can, open the tent’s vents and windows for airflow and set up on level ground. A good sleeping pad makes more difference than most people expect, and a small battery fan can make a warm night far more pleasant. Respect the campground’s quiet hours, and check the park’s official website ahead of time for rules, closures and fire restrictions.

    Keep your rhythm

    Wherever you are, try to keep something of your usual wind-down routine: a warm shower, a few pages of a book, the same lights-out time you keep at home. Familiar habits signal that it is time to rest, even in an unfamiliar room. If you have ongoing trouble sleeping, at home or away, talk to your doctor. Otherwise, be patient with yourself on the first night. By the second, the room is usually starting to feel like yours.

  • The Hand Fan: A Short History of Keeping Cool in Style

    The Hand Fan: A Short History of Keeping Cool in Style

    Long before ceiling fans and central air, people kept cool with a flick of the wrist. The hand fan is one of humanity’s oldest comforts, and its history stretches from royal courts to small-town church pews. Even today, on a hot afternoon at an outdoor wedding or a ballgame in July, there is something pleasing about the slow, rhythmic sweep of a fan.

    Fans of the ancient world

    In ancient Egypt, large fans made of feathers on long handles were held by attendants to cool royalty and to mark their status. Fans were found among the treasures in the tomb of Tutankhamun, including one with a gold handle that once held ostrich feathers. Ancient China had rigid fans of silk, bamboo and feathers, and the round silk fan became a classic object of art, often painted with landscapes, flowers or poetry.

    The folding fan and its travels

    The folding fan, which opens like a wing and closes into a slim baton, is generally thought to have developed in Japan, where early versions were made of thin strips of wood. It spread to China and later, through trade, to Europe. By the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, fans had become essential fashion accessories in European society, made from painted paper, silk, lace, ivory and mother-of-pearl.

    Victorian booklets claimed to decode a secret language of the fan, in which the way a fan was held or moved sent messages across a crowded room. How often anyone actually used such signals is doubtful, but the idea captures the fan’s place in social life as much more than a cooling device.

    The church fan of the South

    In the American South, the most familiar fan is far humbler: a piece of printed cardboard stapled to a flat wooden stick. Before air conditioning, these fans were a fixture in church pews, often printed with a religious image on one side and an advertisement for a local funeral home or business on the other. On a Sunday morning in August, a whole congregation might be fanning in slow waves during the sermon. Many people still keep one tucked in a drawer, as much for memory as for cooling.

    Scented fans have their own tradition. Fans made from thin slats of sandalwood, common in parts of Asia, release a soft, woody fragrance with every stroke, combining cool air and scent in a single gesture.

    The quiet pleasure of fanning

    A hand fan does not lower the air temperature, but the breeze it creates helps sweat evaporate from your skin, which is why it feels cooler. There is more to it than physics, though. The steady back-and-forth has a calming rhythm, a little like rocking in a porch chair. It slows you down.

    • Keep a folding fan in your bag for outdoor events, hot waiting rooms and summer services.
    • Try fanning slowly in time with your breath: one sweep as you breathe in, another as you breathe out.
    • With children, fold a sheet of paper back and forth into an accordion, pinch one end and decorate it together.
    • Look for fans made from natural materials, such as paper, bamboo or wood, that will last for years.

    In an age of thermostats, the hand fan may seem old-fashioned. But on a sticky Georgia afternoon, it remains one of the most graceful ways to make the heat a little more bearable, one gentle stroke at a time.

  • The Siesta Tradition: What Hot-Climate Cultures Know About the Midday Pause

    The Siesta Tradition: What Hot-Climate Cultures Know About the Midday Pause

    In many hot parts of the world, the middle of the day has traditionally been a time to slow down. Shops close, streets empty and people retreat indoors to eat, rest and wait out the worst of the heat. The Spanish word siesta has become the shorthand for this habit, but the idea is older and more widespread than any one country, and the old South knew it well.

    The sixth hour

    The word siesta comes from the Latin hora sexta, the sixth hour. In the Roman way of counting, the hours of daylight began at dawn, so the sixth hour fell around midday. Over time, the phrase came to mean the rest taken at that time. Similar customs took shape in many warm places: the Italian riposo, the long quiet afternoon in parts of Greece and midday rest in parts of Latin America, the Philippines, North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia.

    The details vary, and modern work schedules have changed the habit in many cities. But the logic is the same everywhere: in a hot climate, it makes sense to work early and late and to protect the middle of the day.

    Before air conditioning in the South

    For generations in the rural South, the largest meal of the day was often eaten at midday and called dinner, with a lighter supper in the evening. Farm work started at first light and paused during the hottest hours. Afternoons were for shade, porches, fans and quiet indoor tasks, and work resumed as the day cooled. Many older Southerners still remember a slower summer afternoon, from the years before air conditioning made it possible to ignore the heat.

    Why it still makes sense

    Two things line up in the early afternoon. Most people feel a natural dip in alertness after midday, part of the body’s daily rhythm. And in summer, the sun’s ultraviolet light is strongest around the middle of the day, while air temperatures usually peak later, in mid to late afternoon. A pause in that window works with both the body and the weather rather than against them.

    Borrowing the siesta, even with a schedule

    Few of us can close up shop for two hours. But the spirit of the siesta can still shape a summer day:

    • Move outdoor errands, exercise and yard work to the morning or evening.
    • Take a real lunch break away from your desk, ideally somewhere cool and quiet.
    • Keep early afternoon for lighter tasks, such as reading, email or planning, rather than demanding work.
    • On weekends, try a true siesta: a light meal, a darkened room and twenty minutes of rest, whether or not you sleep.
    • Close the blinds and let the house be quiet for an hour.

    If you find you need long naps every day, or feel exhausted no matter how much you rest, talk to your doctor. For everyone else, the siesta is simply an old, sensible idea: the heat of the day is not the time to push. It is the time to pause, so that the cooler evening finds you rested and ready to enjoy it.