The Sun Does Not Stop at the Windows (Unfortunately)

May I recommend

Driving gloves

Summer has arrived even in icy Ottawa and with it my fiercest enemy (after the chafe, but before that one lone tent mosquito). That enemy is, of course, the sun. When my sister did our ancestry test, the whole gingered, freckled lot Tectors was unsurprised to learn we were Irish through and through — if you cut us, we bleed mashed potato and Guinness…

Anyhoots, that obviously means we are not built for the sun.

My mother is an Aussie who grew up before we miraculous healed the Ozone Layer (remember when we did? Identified a massive environmental issue, took the science seriously, worked together across nations to change behaviors and resolve the problem, dusted our hands, said, “Good job everyone, what’s next?” … and then went stark raving crazy?) Anyway, she grew up under that terrifying hole in an extremely hot place, so she drilled sun protection into us (eventually… those mid-70s/early 80 years were ceaseless, skin-peeling sunburns, but I’m sure that’s FINE)

None of this anti-sun rhetoric should surprise you, my good Méli-Mélo friends… In the past I’ve talked about my love for:

• good sun hat. Still 100% recommend this one.

• My enjoyment of a window air conditioner

• My passion for the BEST summer movie

• Picking some dang flowers

But one important area I’ve neglected is the urgency of driving gloves in these hot months. My mother has been wearing them for years, and I’ve only bandwagoned more recently, but listen, your hands and arms are EXPOSED to those nasty rays! Also, don’t you want an excuse to look like an elegant LADY in elegant gloves?

Photo by Bare Kind on Unsplash

Skin cancer is no joke and also, as Instagram really, really really wants me to know: your hands have way less collagen than your face and are — HORRORS! — aging much faster. Eek! All our crèmes and serums and unguents will be for naught if we forget to protect our hands from aging! Imagine if we let the ball drop and allow the world know that we are (deep breath) getting OLDER?! Disgusting!

I bought some driving gloves from Amazon (Boo!) and have now upgraded with these pretty darlings, which make me think I am a walking piece of Victorian wallpaper - huzzah — just what I need when I am zipping around country lanes (navigating suburban intersections) in my sporty roadster (dented and filthy 2019 Subaru Impreza).

Anyway, how do you protect yourself in the car? The sun does not stop at the windows!!!

Substack Links

Article Roundup!

• 9 Shows for 80s-90s PBS and Masterpiece kids

  • This article is right in my wheelhouse - lots of good humour/murder-y recommendations.

• 59 Actually Useful Tips for Using your Phone (a Little) Less

  • Some of these are really good. I tried making my phone greyscale, but I hated it (which was probably a good thing). I have a friend who leaves the house without a phone for errands. It’s eye-opening how much the thought of doing that scares me, so I guess I should try it. I did delete most social media apps from my phone. I still have them on desktop, but they are more fiddly to get to, so that’s been effective. Also, I always have an e-book on my phone to read, which is good.

Free Books

Once again, I’m in a book round up of FREE Mysteries and Thrillers. Peruse the books on offer and click on the ones that appeal. You “pay” by providing your email address for that author’s newsletter (but hot tip, you can instantly unsubscribe if it’s not your bag and you keep the free book… diabolique!). Click HERE or on the image!

P.S. One last thing

I had dental surgery this week. Gahh (literally). I’ve still got a few more days of the “soft food” diet… Anyone have any hot tips for soft food I can make that is savoury and nutritious. I am reaching my limit on yogurt, scrambled eggs, soup and mushy lentils. All suggestions welcome!

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