Dear Summer,
Hey! Where’d ya go?

I just went into my bedroom to change for the big Fourth of July parade only to come downstairs and have it be the end of August. What happened?
Camp is over, back to school clothes have been purchased and I’m registering Ben for fourth grade on Thursday! Not to mention all my library books are now due in September.

I guess all good things have to come to an end but before you go I wanted to thank you for a really great, well, YOU!
Some may have thought you were sort of on the cool side this year but I love the new you. Keep it up! That high in the 90’s with 100% humidity is so 2000 and late.

I know you aren’t over quite yet. In fact I still have this weekend where I’m going to Minneapolis to pretend it’s 1994 and party with a lamp shade on my head. (Yes I really did that, can we move on now?) and then there is NEXT weekend where Ben and I are going to the Cubs game at Wrigley Field.  But you already know all that since you are the all knowing, sunny, warm and powerful SUMMER!

So thanks again, Summer. 

Oh and one more thing, on your way out. Could you please remind Fall to man up and try to last longer than three weeks?  And if you wouldn’t mind putting Old Man Winter in a good mood however you crazy seasons do your thang… I’d appreciate that too. Maybe spike his hot chocolate.

You’re the best, Summer.
I miss you already.

Love
Me

Today I went back to work after being off for what seemed like a month. I rarely take week long vacations and this one was even longer than that! I left work in July and came back almost in the middle of August.

Dudes, work is hard.

My alarm went off this morning at a time that should only be reserved for roosters and the Dunkin’ Doughnut Man. Who gets up this early? Ben and I were both staggering and puffy eyed.

My car was on autopilot going to the office.  Which is good because I’m pretty sure I was still asleep.
When I got to work I realized that I actually HAD WORK to do! LOTS of it!  What? You mean I can’t come in to a clean desk and a Inbox that says (0)? How rude.

Don’t even get me started on a lunch HOUR. Only an hour?  And then back to that office thing that looks like a prison cell cozy room with computers and a fax machine? Why isn’t my lunch at the pool? Why aren’t there lots of kids around me? Where is the concession stand? WHERE IS MY POOL!?

And then there’s the “Having To Wear Pants All Day” rule. Totally lame. And the “Can’t Play Facebook Games All Day” rule. Harsh.

At 1:30pm I yawned and declared “NAP TIME!”  I went to turn off the lights and find my blanket but Josh gave me a weird look, a shake of his head and led me gently back to my desk.

At 2:37pm I looked again at this co-worker guy and said, “So how long does this “Work Day” thing last?”

Somehow I made it. Barely but I did.  However I heard an evil rumor I have to do the exact same thing tomorrow. And the day after that, and the day after that…

Dear Vacation,

I miss you.

Love,

Me

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

It’s finally that time of the year. My favorite season. When the air is sticky but sweet, the days seem eternal and my hands constantly smell of sunscreen.

Last night while hanging out with friends in our backyard, that some call Wingra Park, the barefoot kids were busy chasing fire flies through the thick grass. I looked at my friend and just smiled. “Is there a better sound on earth that that?” I asked as the kids screamed and laughed while the lightening bug escaped it’s captor.

This morning I took Ben to the bus stop for camp. The first day of camp. Granted I work all summer but through Ben I get to live vicariously. Reason 2,342 I love being a mom. A part of me is on that school bus with him, headed off to good ol Camp Shalom.
This morning the sidewalk was filled with wiggly, excited campers and their parents struggling to get them to hold still long enough for their morning sunscreen and bug spray applications.
An elderly man walked by all the chaos, looked at me and asked, “What is this all about?” I replied “Oh, we are waiting for the bus to take them all to camp.”
“To the Heart camp?” he asked? I looked at him confused so he continued, “To the Sacred Heart camp…” I chucked as I always find the irony funny that our bus stop for Camp Shalom is in front of Blessed Sacrament church and school.  I finally replied, “Nope. This is for Camp Shalom!” The look on his face was priceless.

After work I greeted my very tired, very hot, mildly cranky camper with open arms. And then proceeded to nuzzle my nose into his neck. He is the smell of summer. Chlorine, Coppertone and Off. A heavenly combination.

Sigh… summer.