39 and counting

Here in Saratoga Springs, we have a little something called the race track. Today was opening day at the races, and in an attempt to cure myself of a bad case of the late-July blues I've been suffering with, I've composed a list of things this silly season indisputably means to me. 

(Cue Julie Andrews:

"When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feeeeeeeeeeel

sooooooo bad")

The List:
 
1.) It will now take about 15 minutes longer to drive anywhere in town.
2.) Everywhere you look, there's a tourist stroking/trying to take a photo with/drunkenly trying to jump up and straddle a painted fiber glass horse statue or one of the City Hall lion statues. 
3.) For the next six weeks, I will no longer be able to find a parking spot in front of my apartment.
4.) There's no point in trying to run on Broadway at any sane hour of the day or evening -- it's too crowded
5.) It's fun watching people strolling across Broadway at Lake Avenue when there's a red light but a green left-turn arrow that they don't notice. And then they wonder why they get honked at.
6.) It's raining.
7.) More people order pizza when it's raining.
8.) Trying to park in The Saratogian parking lot during non-business hours practically requires handing over your social security number and DNA to the crotchety security guard to thoroughly convince him that yes, you are an employee of the newspaper and you are entitled to park in the lot, for the whole night, without paying 10 bucks to do so, and without getting towed.
9.) The line for coffee at Uncommon Grounds is out the door.
10.) Caroline Street. Enough said.
11.) And, finally, the season means a new and chic addition to my wardrobe. And by new I mean foisted-upon-me and by chic I mean apparently designed to attract snickers from interview subjects and neighbors, and excite dogs. On second thought, maybe the dog just liked the smell of my perfume...

Just like a bridesmaid dress, you can wear it again.