Wednesday, August 04, 2010

The Waning Days of Summer


I don't want to depress you, but am I'm the only one who has commenced whining about summer winding down? School starts for me on August 16. Gulp. That's less than two weeks, folks. As a matter of fact, it's *ten days*. The real sobbing will start in earnest any day now :)
It's not that I mind going
back to school. I enjoy my job. It's just...I enjoy summer more ≤g> The lazy days of doing what I please, when I please. The mornings of waking up naturally, when I feel like it. Because I'll let you in on a little secret--I despise alarm clocks. Especially the ones that wake me up at six AM. Ten o'clock is a much more civilized hour for morning to begin!


I actually start to get a little panicked on June 21 because I know the days are going to start getting shorter already. And then it's the fourth of July and everyone knows that after the fourth the rest of the summer flies by. So far we've had something on every weekend this summer. We're free next weekend so we're--yep, you guessed it--planning a trip. It's hard to sit home and relax when each day feels like a ticking clock marking off the minutes of my freedom.

There seems to be too much left to do. Convertible rides to take on warm breezy days. Picnics to be had by the side of a lake. Boating on hot afternoons. Dips in a pool with a cool icy drink on a nearby table. Romps with the kids in the backyard.



Okay, somehow this isn't making me feel any better about it being August already! How about you? Do you still have big plans waiting for the remaining days or summer? Or--are you counting the days until the kids are back in school and your free time starts again?


27 comments:

MJFredrick said...

I feel EXACTLY the same. I go back the same day, and I love my job and my teachers, but...I love my summer routine and having all this writing time. You're so right about the rest of summer flying after July 4! August is my least favorite month :(

Unknown said...

I still have some vacationing to look forward to-- the grands are coming toward the end of August and I'm so pleased. Got to do some house cleaning and re-arranging, but I'm delighted to have them come.

And as for summer-- pffffffttttt-- it's been a bust all around down here in sunshine land. Searingly hot and with humidity that would choke a frog! It literally takes your breath when you go outside and my glasses fog every time I step outside! It's even too miserable to enjoy swimming! I can't wait for Fall!

KylieBrant said...

Oh MJ, we're on the same page here! August is my crying month, LOL!

Betina, having just returned from FL I can sympathize. Iowa has heat and humidity but I willingly embraced the 'balmy' 87 degrees yesterday after days of 99 in Orlando! Enjoy the grands!

krisgils33 said...

The thing that kills me is having the back-to-school stuff out in July. We don't go back to school until after Labor Day, so it really kills my summer to have to start thinking about prepping for the next school year when my daughter has only been out for a few weeks.

Keri Ford said...

so ready! kid is going into his first year of preschool!! *woot-woot*

Leanne said...

Our summer temps have been miserable too -- usually high 90s up to 105, but I'm still holding out hope for a little moderation.:) On the flip side, we have a tax-free shopping weekend coming up and clothing is include, so time to score some deals!:)

KylieBrant said...

Kris, yes, they bring it out earlier every year, don't they? Ugh. I used to shield my eyes and scurry past those aisles, LOL!

Keri--you young lil' thing, you :) Hope he has a great time in preschool and it will give you a few precious hours every week to yourself!

Leanne--silver lining time! Tax free weekends are the best!

Michele Hauf said...

It will be weird for me this year. Last summer The Boy stayed with us after college. This summer he stayed with us...but he's done with college now, so he'll just keep...staying.

Hmm... He's not leaving now until he finds a place to live (looking for a house). So I think I almost prefer the school schedule to the not-school schedule. :-)

Helen Brenna said...

Keri, I so remember that bit of excitement when my kids were little when school was about to start. Yes! Time alone!

Now, it's a love/hate thing. The summer is slipping by way to fast for me. I'm vowing NOW to not have crunch time on a book contract next summer.

Debra Dixon said...

I am feeling huge pressure over how fast September is barreling toward me!

Hate. It.

Debra Dixon said...

Oh, and I forgot to mention my big plan to go to Australia next week. That's barreling down on me too fast too!

KylieBrant said...

Michele, that would be weird. But when my son was at home I'd call him to do errands for me, leave him a list of things to do...it was great! And perhaps the reason he left, LOL!

Helen, I used to write a book during the summer. But the last three have been so packed full I'm finding little writing time. It's scary!

Drats, Deb, if not for that 50 lb. limit I'd hide away in your suitcase and join you in Australia. Sounds like a fabulous trip!

Unknown said...

Noooooooo, don't let summer go. I am earnestly trying to soak up every last moment of it. Still have the State Fair where I'll be showing a horse and a few other things, but I feel it slipping away. Can't stand the thought of winter even when it's 90 degrees.

Christie Ridgway said...

I'm on deadline, so--what summer? I'm just glad it's been a cool one in SoCal. Floridians, how do you do it?

Kylie, the elementary schools here are going back August 12! The dh, who teaches high school, starts for good after Labor Day, but there's those prep days before. But he's in Montana right now doing guy-stuff while I toil away.

Kathleen Eagle said...

Kylie, you hit so many of life's nails on the head with this one. My older son's birthday is June 21, and he's always felt special about that--the longest day--but I've had that "beginning of the end" thought, too. The flip side is that Mother Earth gives us the lengthening days just when we need them mentally--after Dec 21.

When I was teaching, I used to start having crazy dreams about school starting around mid July. I'd get there and there would be no books, or they said they were running out of space and I'd be having class in the boiler room, or I'd be standing in front of a class in my underwear. Yikes!

I still dream about my teaching days. It was an important time in my life, and I remember the people I worked with--kids and adults--with a full heart. I learned so much more than I could ever have taught.

My heroes have always been teachers!

Kathleen Eagle said...

Okay, my heroes have always been cowboys, too. I have a lot of heroes.

KylieBrant said...

Lois, have fun at fair! Hope your horse wins. Be sure and send us a pic of the one you're showing, OK?

Christie, since I make it a point to NOT listen in May about the start of the next year, I'm just guessing here :) but the infamous school packet hasn't shown up in the mail yet so I think I'm right about the 16th. The 12th???? Shudder. Madness!

Kathleen, I do exactly the same thing. On Dec. 21 I'm prancing around telling everyone that the days are going to start getting longer. People think I'm nuts but it actually helps me make it through winter!

Paula R said...

Kylie, you are not alone. I love my summers too. I don't have many big plans, but I love the longer days. I hate waking up knowing that work starts very soon. I notice that I try to cram as much in during August as I can too. the kids get here in a few weeks, and then work takes over my life. I will miss the waking up at whatever time I want, and I have to start retraining my body to go back into work mode.

Peace and love,
Paula R.

Cindy Gerard said...

It always goes by too fast. We still have one (maybe 2) trips to the lake and I have a fun girl's outing planned with my oldest granddaughter. We started a 'back to school' shopping day when she started k-garden. It's just Kayla and Gramma and we get pedicures, go to a movie and of course - shop! That day, however, marks the true end of summer for me and it makes me sad

EllenToo said...

I really shouldn't say this but..... after teaching school for 35 years and now being retired I no longer dread the coming the beginning of school. In fact I enjoy it because the loud noisy trouble making kids in the neighborhood are gone all day!!!

gigi said...

Both my girls are in college now. But I still do early mornings just to get everything done. I am looking forward to a little cooler weather. I live in the deep south almost on the Florida-Georgia line and the humidity has been awful.
The heat index this week has been torture. The kids around here started school Monday. It is nice that the stores are empty in the morning and the traffic cools down right after 8am
My only BIG plan left for the end of summer is to do a little exterior painting before winter arrives.

MJFredrick said...

Kathleen, I've already had the crazy school dreams, including starting late and having to teach 1st grade! :::shudder:::

Ellen, my mom retired this summer. She thinks she's going to be bored. I'm pretty sure she'll just be happy.

Kathleen Eagle said...

By the way, oh ye who like to give Minnesota a bad time about our climate, we've had mostly beautiful weather this summer.

Betina, are you sure you wouldn't like to re-relocate?

Now I'd better run outside and knock on a tree.

KylieBrant said...

Paula, I'm with you. And getting up when it's still dark outside...ugh!

Cindy, the summer would seem to last longer if I could count the entire month of August in it!

Ellen, I think if I weren't teaching fall would replace summer as my favorite time of year.

Gigi--having just returned from FL, I understand about the heat index there!

Unknown said...

Kathy, there are days-- whole months even-- that I'd LOVE to be in Minnesota again!

Now if I could just win the lottery. . .

Moni said...

I prefer fall to summer, especially this year. Heat, humidity and rain have been a constant since July (continuum of bad hair days). Of course, here in Chicago the filming of Transformers 3 has caused me a bit of anguish. One weekend, I had no idea the filming was happening a few blocks from home and I desperately needed to get to bookstore and every block was surrounding the bookstore was closed to traffic. I was not a happy camper. Vacation time is around the corner (yay).

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