I’ve decided that I hibernate like a contrary grizzly bear. I make it through the winter months just fine, but when temperatures and humidity levels rise, I fall. I go into some kind of heat coma and become lethargic and without purpose. If I have a task at hand — an assignment or some other critical project — I can pull out of it and operate somewhat normally. But, if left to my own devices and enthusiasm levels, I’m in big trouble.

The last month has been hot. Very, very hot. Temps of up to 108 with heat indices much higher still. At night it only cools down into the 80s. That’s just not right.

Finally, in the last few days we’ve had some relief. Temps in the 70s and lows at night in the 50s. I feel reborn. I’m back to taking morning walks in the cool, crisp air and I’m beginning to get excited about some special projects that I have in the works. There is also plenty of travel on the horizon and that’s always good.

One project I’ve had deep in my back pocket for years has involved robots. Not real, functioning robots, but those that are put together from salvaged material. Sculptures, really. The nearby Mulvane Art Museum currently has a show of just these kinds of robots and we paid a visit yesterday.

My favorite was this one by David Lipson of New York:

I should mention that these images were taken with my iPhone using the ultra-sweet Hipstamatic app.

Will I finally build my robot from spare car parts and ancient bits of cast iron and bakelite? Who knows. But the show was inspiring and it got my juices flowing again. I felt creativity wake from the depths of its summer slumbers like a hungry grizzly. It’s good to be back, and next year I think I’ll find a nice cool location to shoot in for the month of August.