10 Things I Remember About Summer as a Kid

Music from the Heart: What A Wonderful World by Kenny G & Louis Armstrong

As the lazy hazy days of summer are making their rounds once again, I admittedly find myself at work some days wishing I was anywhere else. After pondering this a little more deeply, I have decided that my daydreaming has less to do with my job (I love where I work and what I do) and more to do with a nostalgic longing for a simpler time.

With that in mind, here is another edition of my "10 Things" lists:

Ten Things I Remember About Summer as a Kid

1. The thrill of having unstructured time to do whatever we wanted.

2. Riding my bike to the library and spending half the afternoon there, reading, dreaming, and enjoying the smell.

3. Swimming lessons, culminated at the end of the second year by jumping off the high-dive in order to pass the class.

4. Spending time at my grandmother's house, without Mom and Dad, and how special & grown-up that made me feel.

5. The unforgettable sound of night critters like crickets & katydids, which seemed to be everywhere.

6. Kool-aid and bologna sandwiches.

7. Slip n' Slide and whatever other ways we could get wet with the garden hose.

8. Drinking from the garden hose without even a thought about getting sick - but letting the water cool off first, of course.

9. Playing outside from morning until dark and coming in at night wearing the smell of summer.

10. The absolute freedom of not having a care in the world.

Meteorites, Medications & Jello

It's Friday evening, and I've been a little under the weather the last couple of days, courtesy of a freak sinus infection that slammed into my world yesterday like a flaming meteorite. Okay, so maybe it wasn't quite as dramatic as all that, but it has certainly made an impact on how I've spent my time the last couple of days, nonetheless.

Namely, much of it has been spent semi-prone in a recliner trying to find the right position so I could breathe and hence, sleep. Today, part of my afternoon was spent in the doctor's office, one of my least favorite places on the planet. Not that I have anything against doctors, of course. It just isn't my favorite place to hang out for several hours, which is inevitable, regardless of whether you have a scheduled appointment or not.

Anyway, enough complaining about that. I'm starting to feel a little better, thanks to a carefully selected cocktail of prescription medications. For this, I am truly thankful. A little rest over the weekend, and I'll be good as new.

Now, on to more significant matters. What flavor jello shall I make - strawberry/banana or black cherry?