It stormed all morning.

Today began as a summer Saturday that just wasn't fair. Hot, muggy and no sun. The minute you stepped outside, however, you were drenched, somtimes by rain, sometimes by your sweat that instantly started dripping.

I find it VERY hard, on these kind of days, to get motivated. Going through the regular motions (ie. morning run, breakfast, chores etc) is a challenge. But I get through it, pushing my body onwards. It's as though the muggy air is holding me back.

Once again, today, I broke through the summer funk and went downtown to do errands. Tummy rumblings reminded me that I hadn't eaten yet, so I stopped in at an intriguing place that I had only been to once before; Smilin' Jacks. It's in a small little brick building just off of Dixon. Zany, avaunt guard art speckles the walls. The door is always open out on the patio, as guests tend to spill outside in the summer.

I walked in with a mission and was ordering food when I first heard the strumming of a guitar. I turned around, and a small group of guys were just getting started on a bluesy, folksy song that seemed to push away the humidity and inserted cool, blue air in its place. I had very little time so I didn't look around for a poster or CD to learn their name. I guess at that point, it just wasn't that important. Their song refreshed and re-motiviated me. The singer, his black curls frizzing in the heat, grinned at me and continued with the happy song they began at my entrance.

May all of you have a similar summer experience - one that makes you appreciate the smaller, simpler things-like a little indie group's song.