An Introverted Summer (Hint: I've Been Reading a Lot)

Aaaahhhh....

Please excuse my absence last week. I was breathing a sigh of relief and celebrating the fact that I am officially DONE with my summer classes and DONE with one year of my graduate degree! One year down, one to go!

So, I've got a couple weeks of freedom (well, as much freedom as a full-time employee has) until the fall semester begins.

That means, it's time to reread Harry Potter! I am currently on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Hello Marauder's Map, Remus Lupin, and Crookshanks. I've been trying to catch up on other books, too. Time off from classes = more time to read! (Since I am studying to be a *real* librarian, this is not lame. It is professional development.)

Since my vacation is long over, summer has been a smidge dull.

Not quite as horrible as Harry's summers with the Dursley's, but dull nonetheless.

A bright spot this past week was a party with friends. Outside games, delicious food, hilarious conversations...the kind of fun that I don't get to have too often. It made me miss college, when I always had people to hang out with.

As an introvert, it's always been easier and more comfortable for me to relax by being alone. However, introverts get lonely too! I have come to appreciate my time with friends, as it seems opportunities are rare these days.

ANYway, we had a bonfire at the party, complete with roasting marshmallows. It was perfect for a chilly night (what is up with this August cold??), except for the sparks zooming and crackling towards me. Yes, I am a fire wimp.

You may be surprised to learn this, as I have such a sweet tooth, but I am not really a huge fan of marshmallows. Happily, there is yet some junk food that I can resist. Even marshmallows roasted to a perfect golden brown.

Of course, I was absolutely exhausted by the time I got home. Social interaction is draining! But it was just what I needed. It's been great to get out and relax without the pressure of assignments due. I've been catching up with friends with phone calls and Skype, and it feels lovely.

So here's to summer! To Harry Potter! To friends, to fun, and to a break from classes.

Now I'd like some warmer weather, please.

Source

Care for a Bit of... *Magic*?

So, yeah, I went to Hogwarts.

*eeeeeeeeeeeeee!*

Definitely an amazing experience. I only wish The Wizarding World was bigger! I did explore the rest of the Islands of Adventure, but honestly the rest of the park seemed kind of run-down. Clearly all the recent $$$ has gone to Harry Potter.

Let me start at the beginning. My sister and brother and I got to Universal bright and early and headed straight for The Wizarding World. We hung out there in the morning and then later on in the afternoon. Here are the highlights.

 HOGWARTS CASTLE Oh my, I could not take enough pictures of this place. The sky was so blue and the buildings were so awesome. I kept staring up, up, up at the castle like an idiot. We headed to the castle straightaway to get in line for the ride. The queue wound through the castle (finally, after we waited outside in the heat for forever) and we saw talking portraits that looked so REAL and Dumbledore seemed so real and Harry, Ron and Hermione were there and it SNOWED and the Sorting Hat talked to me and there were hallways and the Pensieve and I loved every minute, OBVIOUSLY.

THE FORBIDDEN JOURNEY RIDE This was definitely the best theme park ride I have ever experienced. I could have ridden it 17 more times in a row. Now, let me first say that I was a bit nervous since I knew the ride would simulate some crazy movements. I was thinking of Soarin' in Epcot, which I really didn't like as it gave me vertigo. However, it turned out I had nothing to fear; I loved the exhilarating feeling of zooming through the air with Harry and Ron! The world was so familiar, and the mix of projection screens and animatronics seemed so real and so perfect. The "Hogwarts students" do a good job of getting people onto the ride quickly ("Watch your step, Muggles!"). I saw Aragog, I came thisclose to Dementors, and the Whomping Willow sent me reeling! Yes, I did scream out "Expecto Patronum" during the ride. It seemed like the right thing to do. Loved it. Pretty sure I beamed through the whole thing. Especially when Draco "saw" the riders and shouted, "Showing off for your Muggle friends, Potter??" I did get to ride it twice; the second time I went in the single rider line (tip: zip in through Filch's Emporium) to get there faster since I had already seen everything in the queue.

BUTTERBEER Yeah, had to get the butterbeer! I heard that the frozen butterbeer was a little too sweet, so I went with regular. It was really good, like cream soda with a sweet foam on top. I'm not a huge fan of soda, though, so I got kind of sick of it after drinking about half. But refreshing on a hot day!

THE SHOPS Definitely very fun to poke around in. However, why do they have to be so crazy small? I guess I know why: authenticity. But you would think that efficiency would trump that when it comes to a theme park world that everyone knew would draw a gazillion people a day. Definitely hard to maneuver around in the shops, but fun to see the extravagantly priced Bertie Bott's Beans and chocolate frogs. I tried on Gryffindor robes, waved Bellatrix's wand, even peeked at the Monster Book of Monsters (looked vicious). I didn't purchase anything as my vault at Gringotts is rather empty currently.

OLLIVANDER'S This was for sure one of the most magical experiences of my life. I had to wait for 45 minutes outside in the hot sun to get in, but it was so worth it. I stood with a small, hushed group of people as the wandkeeper chose out a young girl to participate. He gave her several wands to try. She waved a few with semi-disastrous results as things crashed around the shop. Finally, a wand chose her. A light shone on her, wind blew through her hair, music swelled (those effects!)...yeah, I definitely got goose bumps. It was a short five-minute experience, but I was completely transfixed. You could have heard a pin drop as everyone watched breathlessly. We were then let out into an actual shop where you could buy any wand you wanted. Only $30, which seemed reasonable to me. You could definitely buy any character's wand. My brother got the Elder Wand. I resisted. SO MANY people buying wands though, seriously. 

So that's it! If you are a Harry Potter fan and you ever get the chance to visit, go for it! You might want to wait a bit, though, as Universal is adding a Harry Potter world in their other park, Universal Studios. The Hogwarts Express will connect them. How rad is that??

Who Wants to See Vacation Slides?

I could definitely write 100 blog posts about my Disney World vacation.

The best food (Nutella waffle sandwich, Dole Whip, Norwegian school bread).

The best rides (Expedition Everest, Toy Story Mania, Star Tours, Tower of Terror).

The best experiences (Beast's castle and all of New Fantasyland, countries in Epcot, Jedi Training Academy).

And on and on and on.

Instead, I will just show you a few pictures. And soon, you'll get a more descriptive post all about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (!).

Then I'll move on for real, away from vacation and back into the grand adventure that is my life.

Enjoy!

Flags outside of Expedition Everest rollercoaster in Animal Kingdom

Up close and personal with all kinds of animal on Kilimanjaro Safaris in Animal Kingdom

Breathtaking performance in France, Epcot

Cloudy, rainy, wonderful day in Epcot

Couldn't help letting out a scream as Darth Vader appeared during the Jedi Training Academy, Hollywood Studios

Leaving Hollywood Studios on another perfect Disney day

Gaston's Tavern and fountain in New Fantasyland, Magic Kingdom

Tangled rest area, complete with tower and lanterns (and poster of Flynn Rider) in Magic Kingdom

Small Minnie statue after a typical Orlando rainshower outside Cinderella Castle, Magic Kingdom

Gargoyle outside of the Beast's Castle in New Fantasyland, Magic Kingdom

Gate entering Be Our Guest restaurant in the Beast's Castle, Magic Kingdom

Vacation: Strategy is Everything

Let me just start out by saying that my family takes vacations very seriously.

What? This is oxymoronic, you say? Vacations are not serious?

Well, you have never been on a vacation with my family.

Some people enjoy sunbathing on a beach for a week, occasionally strolling on a boardwalk or getting an ice cream cone.

Not my family (well, we do get ice cream).

It is not a vacation to us if at some point we are not planning, making lists, and powerwalking.

And let me tell you, Disney World is perfect for those OCD planner types. Yes, I got the Unofficial Guide. Yes, I came up with a plan of attack for each day in the parks. Yes, I researched the best foods, the best rides, the best tips and tricks to get the MOST out of our time in Orlando.

So worth it! We don't exactly live next door to Mickey Mouse, you see. We had to travel many miles to get there. I didn't want to leave without experiencing the best of everything. Also, waiting in line for 2 hours is for the weak!

Strategy is everything!

As you may be able to tell, I loved it. I loved poring over the book and researching Disney World food blogs. I loved planning out exactly what we would do as soon as we got into each park to maximize those key morning hours. I loved barking orders at gently leading my family.

Best. vacation. ever.

Happy 4th of July everyone! Stay safe and enjoy your family and friends.

Source

I am proud to say that no one in my family wore a fanny pack. I cannot say that about the last time we were in Disney World. 

Cheap? No. Magical? Ooohhhh, Yes.

Okay, I promised a couple vacation-related posts. Here we go!

If you've been to Disney World, you get what I mean when I say it truly is the Happiest Place on Earth. Seriously. Not an exaggeration.

Besides the occasional crying child/screaming parent combo, it was simply divine.

I mean, I could've done without the long lines. And the extreme heat and humidity. And the $4 ice cream cups.

But those minor issues did not stop me from practically tearing up our last day. I know, right? Like I'm a five-year-old having a tantrum leaving the toy store. That's how awesome it was.

Disney World is an experience. The people that run it want you to be happy. They want the environment to be family-friendly. They want you to leave with a smile on your face.

I have never been in a place where so many employees were so in love with their jobs. Sure, we got the occasional worker having an off-day. For Disney World, this means maybe only a half-smile. But the vast majority of "cast members" looked like they were having the time of their lives.

Right down to the guy poking pieces of trash with a stick or the girl wiping down tables. Everyone was happy, helpful, and looking for ways to make our time at Disney World magical.

In light of this, I have decided to quit graduate school and my job and move to Orlando and become a Disney princess.

Just kidding.

But if I did, I would totes be Belle.

Source

A Summer Escape

Well hey!

I've taken a longer break from blogging than I like...but I have a good excuse.

It involves sunshine, Orlando, and Mickey Mouse.

Oh, yes! Vacation!

The plan was to continue blogging while I was away using posts written in advance, but that just did not happen. (I'd like to insert a shout-out to my grad school professors here.)

I'm currently catching up on homework, organizing my life, preparing to go back to work today, and editing hundreds of pictures.

Speaking of which, a special thanks to all the strangers that took pictures of my family. I'm speaking primarily of the kind, competent-looking people we asked to take group shots. Although, to those of you who accidentally got me in your picture (PHOTOBOMB!), you're welcome.

Disney World is an excellent place to start random conversations with people. Standing in line for 45 minutes to meet Winnie the Pooh sort of loosens your tongue. It was also fun offering to take pictures of other people. I'm sure that those moms wanted to have some kind of proof they was actually at Epcot with their families.

So, look forward to a few vacation-related posts coming up. Here's a hint for you:

Summer + School - Books = Does Not Compute

I have a sad addiction to new books.

I mean, I work at a library. I see all that new stuff coming in, and my fingers itch to turn pages. Celebrity memoirs, health fads, picture books, the newest YA dystopian novel...I'm not super discerning when it comes to books.

Cruising the online library catalog is something I just can't keep myself from doing. I place holds like nobody's business! I have been known to have up to 70 items on hold at the library. Mostly new things.

So I just had to suspend my holds (about 50 now) since I'm too busy. Busy at work, busy at home, busy with school.

Too busy for new stuff.

Too busy for the latest in the series. Too busy for the blockbuster that was just released on dvd. Too busy for the latest paleo cookbook (I have dabbled).

When I am too busy for new library stuff, my life is topsy-turvy!

Everything is suspended for a month. Let me get myself together!

I remember my first summer working full-time. I was like, what is this "work" when the sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the ice cream cones are dripping on the hot pavement?

Now this is my first summer working full-time and taking classes.

My head says GET TO WORK YOU BUM while my heart says the hammock in the backyard would like to speak with you. right now.

I will push through. I will! But I've got to make tough decisions to stay focused. I must place my addiction aside.

And I say to myself, good luck with that.

10 Things.

Here are 10 things to catch you up on my recent life:

1. Discovered that I could use a bit of weight training in my life. Enjoy pretending I have big muscles. Until some big guy shows me I really don't.

2. Went on a family vacation during the first week of the Olympics. Walked around tourist sites all day and tried to stay up late each night watching swimming and gymnastics. Pretended to be Michael Phelps in the hotel pool and discovered I need to spend more time on my arms (See #1).

3. Moved back in with my parents. Both because I enjoy their company AND....

4. Will be starting my master's degree next Monday. Online at the University of Pittsburgh. For Library and Information Science. (more on this later)

5. Preparing to start school again. Trying to resist buying too many new school supplies. Getting excited about studying at a different library near my house (NOT at the one I work at; that's weird).

6. Just finished rereading (rerererererereading?) the Harry Potter series. Read Deathly Hallows as slowly as I possibly could but it still ended. And now I'm not sure what to do with myself.

7. Tried running again. Got sore. Might just run a smidge so my knees don't hate me. Already lusting after new running shoes.

8. Ate a Mediterranean Veggie sandwich at Panera's. Going to attempt to duplicate it. Contemplating becoming a vegetarian....haha yeah RIGHT!

9. Went on an epic 4-hour-long shopping trip with my sister. Only fought once. Maybe twice. Mostly spent the time advising each other on outfits and finishing each other's sentences.

10. Paid about 17 bills all at the same time, including new tires (full story coming soon) and insurance and school and more car things...at least now all is squared away.

So yeah. Things have been crazy.

Hope you all had a nice summer; now it's winding down....booo.



Yeah, probably won't hear any of these things from your doctor. But then, I don't know your doctor. So who can be sure?

It's the New Small Talk

I talk to many people every day at the library.

"Hi, how are you?"

"Fine, thanks."

"May I help you?"

"Let me get that for you."

In addition to the library talk, there's the basic small talk.

Especially when the computers are slow. You can only pretend to type something so long, that's all I'm sayin'.

And guess what we talk about the most? You get three guesses and the first two don't count.

That's right, the weather. It's hot, it's cold. It's snowy, it's rainy. It's going to clear up. It's going to get cloudy. I forgot my umbrella, I don't need this jacket. Etc.

I basically get all my weather information from library patrons, as I always forget to keep track of what the weather is going to be.

I do get a bit annoyed with people, though, when they can't discuss the weather without complaining. All week it's blistering hot, right? People start complaining. I don't mind because I love summer. And I refuse to complain when I think of how cold I was a few months ago. (And the library has air conditioning...)

And then all of a sudden it rains and cools off and people complain about that, too! What do you want, people?

There are few days when everyone can agree that it's perfect outside. For some it's too hot, for some it's not hot enough.

Eh, just try to enjoy it. Put on a jacket or find some air conditioning.

Dark-Eyed Junco Pie, Anyone?

I get confused every morning.



Around 4, 5, 6 o'clock. I wake up, light streaming in the window and birds calling like it's the middle of the afternoon. I grab my cell phone, worried that my alarm didn't go off. But it's an hour or TWO earlier than I'm set to get up. I leave my window open for the breeze, but get all sorts of light and noise as my reward too early in the morning.

I love summer and everything, but days start a little too soon for me. And the weird thing is, I don't even feel tired, like I could spring right out of bed, fling the curtains open, and sing right back out at those stupid lovely birds.

And there is this one bird. This one bird that seems to live right outside of my window. He calls out all morning. Possibly all day. All night? I have vivid fantasies of shooting him down. His song never to be heard again 'round these parts.

I even scoured the internet this morning, listening to random common birdcalls to find his.

It appears to be the dark-eyed junco. Take a listen.



So that's my little guy. Or at least a little guy that sounds just like him.

My own personal alarm clock. I just wish that I could SET him to a decent time.

Bang. You're Dead.

I have an irrational fear of fireworks.

Maybe not completely irrational. I mean, people have been hurt from fireworks before. I know that if you're in a crowd of people watching fireworks from a safe distance, your chances of surviving are pretty good. But I tend to think I will not.

Survive, I mean.

I don't particularly care for loud, unexpected noises. When will the next BANG happen? How loud will this one be? Especially when there's that sound delay. A huge burst of light, a second of uncomfortable anticipation, and then kerPOW!

Not my cup of tea. In fact, that's what I'd rather be doing. Sitting in a garden and sipping a cup of tea. Not watching light explode and fearing for my life.

I know, I know. I'm a wimp. And I will go and see fireworks with friends and pretend I don't care that there are sparks flying and loud bangs making me jump.

*cringe*

I can totally understand how dogs feel. Most dogs I know don't really care for fireworks. They don't understand what's happening and why everyone else is just laughing it up. Loud noises mean DANGER! They mean FEAR! They mean whimpering and hiding and eyes filled with betrayal.



I get you, dogs. Let's all go hide together, I say.

Leave those crazy humans and their fire alone.



I am also afraid fireworks will swoop down on me like dragons. Thank you, LOTR.

Back Behind the Library

I'm tan.

Seriously, look - well, you can't look. But imagine. Someone who is usually pale and is now tan! Wow! I am impressed with myself.

I burned my way into quite a lovely tan this summer. This was partially due to Shakespeare in the Park. Also walking in the Memorial Day parade. Several long hot days of sunshine that toasted me right up.

To give credit where credit is due, let me also take a moment and thank my lunch hour. Couldn't have done it without ya!

Every day at the library I get an hour for lunch. On days when I work the evening shift this is actually dinner. But we still call it lunch. I just go with it.

And now finally that it's beautiful outside, I love to go and sit in the back of the library. It's secluded. There's no patron parking back there. No one bothers me. It's very important to me to have some alone time in the middle of my work day to get my introverted self recharged.

And how lovely it is to sit in the sun on a chair behind the library! There is also a hillside that I have practically fallen asleep on. Sitting in the grass can be fun as long as you don't think about how many ants are crawling all around you. I listen to podcasts, read magazines or books, and generally rest. Oh yeah, and eat my lunch.

My lunch hour is perfect; I go back into the library ready to handle the summer rush again (Sometimes randomly picking grass out of my hair). And I've been getting more and more tan. Score!

Rock On, Fellow Drivers!

I'm pretty sure that one of the most wonderful simple pleasures is driving in the car on a beautiful summer day.

(Was that sentence too long and awkward? Pretty sure it was. Don't feel like changing it, though.)

If I had unlimited money for gas, I would want to just drive for hours in the countryside, windows down, breeze blowing my hair into an unrecognizable puff, music blasting.

And I can sing out as LOUD as I want, experimenting with all kinds of harmonies and rapping unrecognizable words because I'm not exactly sure what I'm singing!

And I can dance as much as I can while buckled down into a seat, which means wiggling around awkwardly and pumping a fist in the air or waving it out the window!

I feel free, I feel young! I feel like I can just drive away from all responsibilities, like I'm driving towards adventure and awesomeness.

Friends in the car? Sure, bring 'em in! We can all party together, as long as I the driver don't get too distracted. Because I have seen WAY too many movies that have a frightening montage of a carful of youngsters goofing off and not noticing the semi until it's too late. ANYway...

I love driving in the car in the summertime. Especially when I'm not going anywhere in a hurry. I can just hop in and go...to the park, to the store, to find ice cream...

And it's sunny and easy and perfect. For a few moments, it's all good.

Easy, Breezy, Beautiful. Or Crazy, Hectic, Fantastic.

So, the library has been busy lately.

Like computer-slowing, kid-swarming, library card-applying, crazy-number-of-book-borrowing busy.

• Dozens and dozens of kids registering for the summer reading program. Like, a herd every hour. And please don't stick me behind the desk at the children's library, because I get crazy. There are so many things to do, and I just end up throwing stickers at children's heads and forgetting half the things to tell the parents.

• Strangers. No, not the dangerous kind. The kind who are suddenly interested in the library now that it's summer time. Oh, can I use the computers? Check out eBooks? Get onto the wi-fi? Random people every day; taking over the regulars. New people all over the place.

• College students. Back from school! Ready for something to do other than be put to work at home or skype with their college friends. And I am extremely impressed with people around my age coming to the library and getting books "just for fun," by the way. Honestly, it's so rare I get guys my age just coming to check out a novel that I practically want to propose marriage when it happens.

I love, love, love a busy summer at the library. So much so that I'm already dreading the slow torture of winter. But I love seeing new people, and sun-kissed kids in flip-flops, and entire families all flocking to the library. I love running around and doing fifteen things at once. It does wear me down, though.

The other day I got home extremely wound up, still processing all the conversations I'd had and things that had happened. I had to go right to the gym and move my legs like a crazy person to get my brain to slow down.

Hooray for summer at the library! If you haven't been to your local library in a while, well, you really should. Find out what's happening. You might be surprised.



Hm...not enough fine young men at my library. Like these guys, for instance.

In Which I Share My Perfect Weekend

Ugh. I feel like summer camp is over.

You know the feeling? When you're sun-kissed, bug-bitten, tired, and so happy? You've had some good times, but now you have to go back to the real world.

Well, I had a marvelous weekend, and now it sort of feels like summer is over.

I got to see my closest friends over the weekend, I got a couple days off work, and I volunteered for a local production of Shakespeare in the Park. Lots of fun places to go, and in between were hot drives with the radio blasting and the windows rolled down.

Here's a taste of the perfection:

-picking strawberries in the hot sun, getting yelled at by a possessive bird.
-dipping said strawberries in chocolate. eating them.
-helping my friend's family pack and paint around their house in preparation to move.
-giggling at old, hideous pictures of me and my friends.
-going to three performances of Romeo and Juliet, laughing at the same parts every time. I KNOW it's not a comedy, but there's still humor...
-getting burned at the park.
-seeing pictures of people graduating and remembering how that felt.
-going out for ice cream.
-first bonfire of the summer.
-eating lots of apples.
-walking barefoot in the grass. and on hot pavement. and in a river.
-laughing really hard. making other people laugh.

And now, I'll be back to work in a couple hours. I thank God for these moments, hours, days, of pure happiness. Guess I'll take my tanned self back to the library and enjoy the summer crowd!

76 Trombones Led It. Not Really.

Happy Late Memorial Day!

Did you picnic? Swim? Frolic? Barbeque? Sunburn? *Gasp* - all of the above?

I hope whatever you did, it was awesome and with awesome people. I love Memorial Day - it's the kickoff to summer! Not to mention a great day to honor the men and women who have served and currently serve our country in the military. THANK YOU!

I had a fabulous time walking in our local Memorial Day parade with a theater group, passing out flyers advertising free Shakespeare in the Park performances. I have loved volunteering with this local group for the last few years, and I was excited to spread the word. Passing out flyers to hundreds of people quickly is quite a whirlwind: "Support the arts!" "Free performances!" "Shakespeare in the Park!" "Free!" "Date night!" "Free!"

And did I mention it's free?

Of course, walking in the parade always makes me feel a bit like a celebrity. That's right, I think to myself. They're all here to see me. Struttin' down the street with my shades on, passing out literature. The children love me! No big deal, though.

I've walked in past years with my church or with the library and it's always such a good time. It would have been BETTER if all those riding LAWNmowers hadn't cut us off and we got so far behind the marching band I couldn't hear the festive parade music...but whatever. We were in the parade!

And it was super hot. Seriously, I was saturated. I'd like to apologize to all the old people in lawn chairs I may have dripped on, hovering over their socks and sandals with my sweaty self. And that hike through the streets is not leisurely, let me tell you! You look up and suddenly the truck with the rest of the candy and flyers is aaaalll the way up the hill and you have got to pick up your feet, slowpoke!

It felt completely lovely to enjoy a fabulous barbeque afterwards, not moving and sucking down fluids. What a great way to spend Memorial Day!

What did YOU do?

Oh, now watch this, just for fun.

It's What We've Been Waiting For, People!

I know it seems like years ago, but remember winter?

Remember those long months of misery? Days too cold for snow? Temperatures dropping lower and the wind chill picking up? My pathetic blog posts crying out for relief? Spring? Warmth?

Well, try and hang onto how you felt back then. Seriously.

I'm talking to myself here too, but how awful is it to complain about the intense heat headed our way when we would have practically sacrificed a limb to be warm not that long ago?

The cold made us angry! Irritable! Fat, because all we wanted to do was lay around under blankets and eat!

Now, it's getting super hot, and once again, we're not satisfied.

I know it can be tough, but in a few more months we will be crying for summer again. Get outside and soak up the sun. It's good for you.

Oh, and drink lots of water! But then again, you should already be doing that.

Lazy Summer Days of Being a Kid

There's something about summer that makes me miss being a kid again.

Remember those carefree days of, well, nothing? When the most difficult choice of your day was the flavor popsicle you picked? When you had time to just stare at an anthill for 45 minutes?

Well, no more. Gone are those days.

Don't get me wrong. I enjoy being a "grown-up," and wouldn't ever go back in time to relive those younger years (mostly because of junior high. *cringe*). But in these days of work and decisions (tougher than popsicle flavors), it's a nice escape to think of past summer days.

When I think of summers as a kid, a few things come to mind:

-going to the library! and pulling out piles and piles of books to lug home.

-me and my sister getting kicked out of the house to play.

-playing imaginary games outside involving sticks, rocks, and dirt under my fingernails.

-tough feet from going barefoot.

-long, long days of nothing. absolutely nothing.

Summers are different now. This is my first summer with a full-time job. Which I LOVE! But, it's different. Like a lot of other things these days.

Well, I am bound and determined to enjoy this summer with everything I've got. I don't want to see snow again for a long, long time!

Summer?

Well, we seem to have completely skipped spring and went straight into summer. Okaaaaay...

Last night I got to listen to a beautiful thunderstorm. Beautiful because I wasn't trying to sleep during that time. Also beautiful because it's warm outside. We had windows and doors open all through the house.

There's nothing like feeling like you're outside when you're really inside. You can hear your neighbors talking, their phones ringing, their tvs playing. It's a cozy feeling.

Listening to the light rain is soothing. Hearing and feeling the cool wind blow is refreshing. This is a summer storm, a storm that brings the kind of rain that doesn't make me feel like crying. (You know, the icy cold kind that makes me think we're back in March.)

If the thunder gets too loud, I can get a little anxious. If there's a really BRIGHT flash of lightning, I have to duck and cover my ears for a few seconds in case the thunder is going to BLARE all of a sudden. I don't like loud noises out of nowhere, thank you very much.

So last night was nice. Enjoying the storm, listening to Jennifer Hudson (wow she's skinny now, right?), and reading a Nook.

That's right, baby. More to come on this later. After I play around on it a little more (it's the library's, I just have a few days to mess around so I can learn about it), I'm sure I'll have a post about it.

So, summer. Not sure how I'm going to do posts. Probably won't be Monday through Friday like I have been doing. That's just too much when there are so many places to go! Do you have a preference of when I should post? Should I try weekends? Three days a week? Hmmm...

I Sense Summer

So, this week it's gonna be in the low 60s and rainy.

Some summer THIS is shaping up to be.

*Sigh* Anyway, I thought I'd move things right along and brainstorm about some of the great sounds/smells/tastes of summer.

TaStEs:
1. watermelon. nothing says summer like cold fruit juice dripping down your chin!
2. strawberries. they just taste like summer!
3. corn on the cob. hmm. messy food seems to be the theme.
4. ice cream cones. now, ice cream is year-round for me. but cones are summer food.
5. grilled things. just throw it on the grill!

SoUnDs:
1. grass being mowed.
2. really LOUD birds outside my open window at 6am.
3. the sound of a bat hitting a ball. time for church softball!
4. sprinklers.
5. talking and laughing outside! as opposed to the quiet shuffle through snow and wind.

SmElLs:
1. grass being mowed!
2. lilac bushes. and other flowers.
3. laundry that's been hung outside to dry.
4. things being grilled!
5. my dog after he's been laying out in the sun. he smells like sunshine.

Now, if I can only get through this cold, rainy week...there's light at the end of the tunnel!