I am hoping for a great summer. We have a beach house and we spend a lot of time there in the summer. However, two summers ago I got very sick with a mystery virus at the beginning of July and it turned out that I was very anemic. Long story short, I had no energy for many weeks, so although I was at the beach house, I didn't enjoy it the way I usually do. Last summer, the house was being remodeled (basically rebuilt!) and was not done until the last week of August! Ack. So THIS summer I have high hopes for lots of beach days, many hours reading on the new screen porch, "field trips" with the kids, and DH's first-ever 3-week vacation. (He usually takes 2 weeks.) My kids are less scheduled this summer than they usually are, too (just one week of camp each) so it will be interesting to see how we all do with lots of togetherness!

We are also going to Switzerland in a few weeks, which is exciting.

Finally, I would like to NOT gain weight this summer. Happens every year -- ice cream, pasta salad, and summer laziness all lead to tight jeans in the fall.

My summer began today! First morning in so many where I did not have to jump up and do the whole send-off before school. I still woke up early, but got to loll around in bed for a while. Bliss!

I am going to paint my window trim this summer.

I am going to be less obsessive about my vegetable garden this summer.

I am going to hire an electrician to finally come in and install the lighting I have been collecting.

I am going to host a neighborhood party next month.

I will also be in VT for a few days celebrating my 20th anniversary.

I will go to the Cape for a couple days while DH plays chamber music.

We will have two months kid-free while DD is on an internship in Burgundy.

No big trips, no chorus rehearsals, no committee meetings, no early-morning women's biz meetings, no school plays, no late-night carpools. Probably lots more work, but that is a good thing for me!

This summer I will:

1) Finish the house! We just came up with the design for a new workspace for me, which involves moving the pantry-ish closet to a place much closer to the kitchen, and making it an honest pantry as well. EVERYTHING will work better as a result. We want to have it ready before DD starts high school (!) in the fall. Involves framing, drywalling, painting, probably ourselves (until we injure ourselves and decide to farm it out), but I already know that we're going to have someone install/finish the salvage white oak flooring we've had sitting in our garage for months, too.

2) Keep swimming at least 4 times a week. For some reason, racewalking isn't even good for me anymore -- makes me tighten up -- but swimming is always makes the day for me, and doesn't hurt. It's a spiritual/visceral thing.

3) Learn Spanish. I have offers from students to chat in Spanish and English this summer, to solidify what I will learn from Rosetta Stone. One lesson a day at least (probably more).

That should keep me busy while DD does her music and science camps, both local and sleepover...we'll have the house to ourselves for a week -- first time ever since DD was born --DH will take time off from work then too, so I'm looking forward to a second honeymoon (you know, the kind where you remodel your house 16 hours a day? : ))

1. Celebrate my 50th birthday (less than a month to go!)
2. Take more mini-vacays.
3. Finish working on our backyard
4. Dine al fresco on the deck at least 3 times a week
5. Take the dogs in more walks. We currently have 5 dogs so that can be tough but great exercise!

I will master the swiss ball pike roll-out as seen in this video
ab exercise

I will fix-up the back & front porches so that when I'm out there, and look around while dining alfresco or reading, they will be a charming, lovelier places than how they look right now.

I will have non-family dinner guests, to enjoy my lovely porches, at least 2x a month.

I will find a way to squeeze in a trip to HHI before the scheduled Sept trip.

My baby is now old enough to enjoy the outside, so this summer will be tons of fun! Today we went to the metropark and played at the beach, then went to their splash-pad to play in the fountains. It was a blast.

This summer I will try to do fun things like this at least once a week. I also started a mom's group in the area so I hope to enjoy events like today's with other families in the area.

It sounds like you all have lots of fun things on your agendas. For me, summer is really no different now that the boys are older. I work full time, and we don't vacation, so the schedule doesn't change. But I do love the weather, and being able to dine al fresco sometimes, and the boys play in a summer symphony, so there is always the anticipation of wonderful music.

I'm so glad school is out just about can't stand it. Lil guy's teacher drove me/us bonkers this year -- me/him and her just weren't on the same wavelength. Got to the point we just wanted it to be over.

Monday was their official first day of summer vacation. No homework to stress over after dinner and it was so nice.

Added basketball hoop and volleyball to the pool this year. We're going to hang out at home. Kid #1 is doing an accelerated Spanish class for credits, kid #2 is going to a band camp to play trumpet. As for me and the dog, we've agreed to walk every day and a lil farther than normal. Work-wise, just turned a big corner on one project but it's ongoing and have something else I'm working on with a fall launch date. Plus, still trying to squeeze in some client work in between. And that's 'bout it.

No lazy here, just crazy.

My little farming venture is going gangbusters right now.....the spring greens are being harvested, the peonies are needing cutting twice a day, the strawberries are ripening.... and the planting goes on. Add in the marketing and deliveries, and there aren't enough hours in the day.

This year I have a walk in cooler!!!! And a part time helper!!!

I was afraid that with the recession peony sales would be down, but they are stronger than ever. Lots of graduation parties, weddings, and showers. My customers are terrific!

I'm working long hours and it can get stressful, but it is a lot of fun too.

Wow, some of you really have a lot of inspiring goals! Our summer was late to arrive, but I'm so glad it's here!

We're going to finally get our backsplash installed in the kitchen and I plan on sewing some curtains.

Last weekend I started sanding down my old farmers table to refinish it.

We love to take long drives and ended up at Lake Erie a couple of weeks ago. We plan to take another trip in a few weeks. Where to? We don't know, we usually just get in the car and pick a direction.

I can't wait for 4th of July. We want to BBQ and have a request in for home made ice cream, yum!

DH & I are going to start walking again in the evenings too, now if I could just find some sandals I like....

1) Spend as much time outside, working in my gardens, enjoying my gardens, walking the dogs, enjoying my family.
2) Eat as many meals outside on my portals as possible
3) Enjoy my time back in Michigan on beautiful Lake Huron with my family
4) make new slipcovers for my family room throw pillows.
5) Make new slipcovers for my front portal furniture and, hopefully, sand and re-stain all the wood furniture out there (a huge job).
6) Read lots of good books. I'm already several chapters into a great new one out, "Lady Blue Eyes: My Life With Frank" by Barbara Sinatra
Lynn

...go to bed before 10 p.m. on weekends so that I can get up early and enjoy a couple of hours outdoors before it gets insufferably hot.

...go to the grocery store when it opens at 7:00 a.m. so my cold items won't melt/spoil on the way home. It was already uncomfortably hot at 9:30 this morning when I ran errands.

...spend some more time in our kiddie pool. I bought a 6' X 22" pool with an inflatable bottom that's very comfortable for reading and lounging in the afternoon. It would be great to have a real pool again, but in this economy that's not going to happen. As long as I lock the gate so that the yard guy/Sentricon tech doesn't surprise me, I'll get over being embarrassed about how I look. Yes, it violated my no made-in-PRC rule, but it was the only way I'd spend time in the sun and I need the vitamin D (or so I justified it to myself.)

...actually remember to water the potted plants and not let them just bake.

Les, I work part-time and I don't have kids, so I do understand that it's not a big change. For me, it's more a change in attitude I guess. We get pretty hot here and things do seem to slow down (probably because we have a lack of energy!). Many water activities in our area - people have to stay cool LOL!!

We prefer to do most of our traveling in spring/fall although we are taking a trip to the Highlands/Cashier (NC mountain area) this summer - and it will actually be COOLER!

You're in or near Chicago - right? So don't you enjoy the warmer weather after your winters? Enjoy gardening? And how about "staycations"? Take a few days off and do some things around your area, etc. It's all in the mindset!

tina

barb, I'm so jealous (in a healthy way : )) -- how much land do you have? Is it all full sun? How do you handle irrigation? Anything else you want to share would be so welcome...although now that I'm writing this - maybe would you start another thread about your farming venture? TSMIA : )

Gosh, tinam61, if I sounded mournful or as though I was whining, I apologize. That was not my intent at all.

I think I did mention that I love the weather (I HATE winter, and yes, I am outside Chicago) and as I said, the boys play in a community adult symphony, so that is a real treat all summer long.

Not a gardener (black thumb instead of green) which is why I am a silk floral designer, rather than fresh! LOL

I will take a couple of days off during the summer to create some long weekends, but no chance to do any family vacations, or staycations unless they happen on the weekends. DH's work requirements as an IT consultant, and our financial limitations, mean we stick around home.

But it truly is fine! I just don't have all the exciting plans that so many here do - perhaps I can live vicariously!

Our limited means mean that too, with DH's work requirements as an IT consultant, les -- right there with ya : )

Our one trip this summer will be a family trip with the local science museum to a ranger station in eastern Oregon -- we'll look at fossils, learn how to polish beautiful Oregon rocks, and look at the stars at night with no city light-noise. We get back one day before DD starts HS. That's it.

Our cats also don't like it when we take long trips, even though we have wonderful catsitters now. So we stay at home.

(and finally, I personally don't believe in black thumbs -- I know you could grow things if you wanted, with your insightful mind and instincts!)

I will admit that I hate the heat. 4 more months of this, yuck. I go out in the early morning hours to water and that's it. I'm already dreaming of fall....

Tina, I hope you enjoy Highlands! The Old Edwards Inn is a lovely place to stay and eat.
Whiteside mountain is a great place for a short walk/ micro hike.

But, on topic, lots of indoor stuff: painting, deep cleaning, movies, deep cleaning, nothing special.
We'll go on vacation this year in November to the beach.
Always Myrtle.
We have a timeshare and are saving points for a bigger vacation next year in Florida.

Les, no need to apologize and no, you didn't sound that way. I don't think we're doing anything particularly exciting, but we do enjoy this time of year.

I'm not particularly fond of this heat either, and it has started early for us, but I guess I just adjust. To a point, that is! Once the humidity gets worse, it gets harder for me. I am out more in the mornings and evenings, or in the shaded areas (and under the umbrella lots! LOL), but I just cannot bear to stay inside. Staying near the water is almost a must in this area when the temps get high.

We've been through the area Bumble and have actually been to Whiteside Mt. - just never stayed there. We are renting a cottage - which looks just lovely! The owner has been so nice. It has a sunroom, a deck and a fenced in area (the pup will be going with us). It is decorated with lots of antiques (I've seen several pics and can't wait to check out all the decorating LOL). Perhaps we will check out the Inn, I will have to look at some of the literature the owner has sent me and see if I see it.

We're doing one of the Charleston area beaches in October. Again, renting a house. Where in Florida are you looking? We love Amelia Island.

tina

Bumblebeez- "I will admit that I hate the heat. 4 more months of this, yuck." You took the words right out of my mouth!

It's a relief to know someone else feels that way! It seems almost unbelievable to most that there are people who don't really care for summer. I find summer to be neither lazy nor crazy, just kind of hazy!

I like to go out early too--to do yard work, and run errands. Was out at 6:30 A.M. today to rake, water and tidy up. (Went out yesterday afternoon around 5:00 for an hour and almost passed out!) Got a solid hour of work done and really enjoyed being outside as the temp & humidity was fairly mild and low.

Then all the "worms" came out...people walking (and talking!) I do enjoy talking to these people, and enjoy visiting with their dogs as well, but then I didn't get much done the remaining hour I was out. After 9:00, certainly 10:00, I can't work in the direct sun. I may try to go out again after 5:00. There's a finite period during which I can get things done outdoors during summer.

Your idea of a trip to the beach in November sounds nice!

People are expecting me at the neighborhood picnic this weekend. Eating outside in the noon-day sun when it's in the 90's is not my idea of a good time. I told one neighbor, "If they'd just have this thing in December, I'd love to go." She looked at me like I'd turned green and sprouted horns. I'm such a grouch. The "Grinch who stole summer!"

-Keep working on my workout routine! Finally started back a couple of weeks ago and very excited

-Eat light and healthy. Have been experimenting with salads and trying to incorporate veggies and fruit into my sadly mundane diet

-Go on our annual girls' trip with my daughter and her BF to Captiva. My week in Paradise

-Get as much of the logistical planning done as possible for next academic year. Working at a university summers are QUIET. I usually allow myself to drift along but am determined to do things now that will make life less crazy months from now

Captiva is beautiful RIP!

What do you do at the university? I also work at one. Mainly with our graduate students.

tina

Tina, What do *you* do at the university? I've so often seen you mention that you work PT at a university with graduate students, but you never say what you do with these students! Tell us more!

Oh Stinky - nothing glamorous! LOL Although I do enjoy my job (most of the time) and I become "mama" to many of our students (or at least I feel like it). I am kind of a liason between the student and the university to start with. Assisting them through the application process, setting up visits for those prospective students. I deal with them their whole time here - through thesis or dissertation, then graduation, etc. I also work on some other programs with professors in the department such as setting up seminars for our research center. I am lucky to work with a great bunch of people and dealing with the students is a plus!

Hope I haven't mentioned my job too often, but it big part of my life. I'm always interested when someone else here works at a college/university.

tina

Thanks for filling us in, Tina! Your job sounds too fun to be called work! It really sounds like a blast! Lucky you.

I kinda doubt the students think of you as "mom!" Maybe a hip, cool aunt is more like it! At any rate, I'm sure you are a beloved and well-appreciated member of the staff.

No, you don't talk about your job excessively. In fact, you've been too "sphinx-like" about it! I've wondered often about the details you never share!

Sphinx-like? LOL

I am not one to share alot of personal details online. I learned the hard way!

It is a good job and I work with many good people. I've been here a long time and many of the "long-timers" are much like second family. Then again, there are always those days when you want to pull your hair out! Seems like many of those lately as our department is going through many changes.

Thanks for your interest!! It's been a while since we've had one of those posts about what we do so maybe it's time to do that again.

tina

I'm an administrator, and as Tina said,it is always better to say less than more :). Also like Tina I work with students, consider them my kids, and absolutely adore my job. I am so blessed to have found a job that is also a passion and a calling.

And having said all that gooey stuff, just as with the kids I birthed, I also enjoy a pause from my university offspring occasionally...like during the summer when they aren't around and I can catch my breath and concentrate for more than 10 minutes without a face popping into the office and that famous line "Mrs. Runningplace, do you have a minute?" Lazy days, indeed. Bring 'em on!

Ann

Thanks, flyleft, for the nice words. That was a nice lift to a long day!

I like to arrange fresh flowers, but growing them is another thing. Not fond of bees and wasps and bugs divebombing me as I sweat in the dirt. LOL

Stinky, I'm glad your my comrade in arms!

The "Grinch who stole summer!" I hear ya, that is so funny!