Madness and the Summer Equinox

The summer equinox seems to bring it's own form of insanity to our town. I've nearly been hit 3 times in the last week as drivers run red lights and take their share of the road up the middle.The total prize goes to the driver of the red truck who made a right turn...from the left lane beside me. I have great reflexes or you wouldn't be reading this. That driver may claim his prize in person...I guarantee he'll find it interesting.
Everyone is seemingly going solar. One of my clients gave me an intriguing link to solar panels. I had been certain that he'd go for one of the over-priced packages from Real Goods, but he pleasantly surprised me with a link to the lowest solar prices that I've seen yet. Pardon me for a minute while I rummage among my bookmarks. Yes, here it is, http://sunelec.com/, with many panels for less than $3 a watt. Now, I know that the manufacturer's El Dorado is to achieve solar panels for $1 a watt. In the real world, however, that dollar is a slippery fellow who keeps changing value. Consumers at this point are extremely happy to see panels under $3/watt. That's our golden goal.
We have rich, loamy garden soil which turns to rich, reddish brown dust, inches of it, in the summer. DH Matt is busy trenching for water and for moving solar generated electricity around the property. I am busily watering and fertilizing my ginormous (I was furious when that word was added to Webster's, I use it as an act of defiance) garden. Which makes us both entirely dusty and muddy
and grime-covered, and disreputably dirty. I stopped for gas this evening on my way home from the property and an afternoon's adventure in gardening. It is amazing the reactions people give to a bit of dirt. Other gardeners smile and wave, recognizing a kindred soul. People without a tan, with manicured nails and clean clothes, are entirely condescending. When clean, I fall into the generic category of "cute"; also the first person people approach to beg money or favors from. I've actually ducked down into my car seat in a large parking lot as a panhandler scanned the lot for me, no doubt thinking, "Now where was that easy mark?" Apparently, dirty, I now resemble someone who ought to be washing their car windows for them. Now I ask you, would people behave that way in winter? Winter people are polite and reasonable. Spring people are optimistic and kind. Fall people are rushed and motivated (we won't dwell on the pre-Christmas grouchiness). But, Summer people are stark, raving, mad.