"Summer Half Drunk"

Cheap, I know, a catchy title, meant to peak your interest. And don't worry, I have not spent my summer half drunk. Wholly drunk a time or two, happily buzzed frequently, but half drunk seems a waste to me. Go big or go home!

Just kidding.

There is a half drunk phenomenon happening this summer at my house, though. The phenomenon of half drunk beverages ALL OVER my HOUSE! Tim and I have always prescribed to the saying (our own...) "There's always a glass in the living room." It applies to that moment, when you have just finished cleaning up the kitchen and happily head to the living room to sit down and relax. It is that moment that either the phone rings, or you find that one lingering glass, or plate or bowl that has eluded you on its way to the dishwasher. Well, when we are all hanging at home in the summer there is pretty much ALWAYS a glass in the living room, and, this summer it seems, the glasses, or bottles, or cans, are constantly half drunk.

Sprite in particular.
Does anyone REALLY like Sprite, or is it just one of those beverages you have at parties for that..."Eh, I'll have a Sprite," person?
In my opinion, it isn't really that good of a mixer, even.

Each year, for our Fourth of July party, we buy a few twelve packs of soda, figuring that then lots will be available, depending on who shows up, and then whatever is leftover can just start out our summer time at home. Each year we buy some Sprite. Each year, by the midpoint of summer, the beverages we bought in overload are gone, but each year, Sprite remains.

Two nights ago, Gwynn's friend Emma stayed over night. Cleaning up the next day, I found her half drunk can of Sprite in the kitchen. It's not just our kids, it's not just our family.
Seriously, does anyone, REALLY like Sprite?

Next year, 7Up.

Phew! It has been as hot as an oven here, literally, for the last two days. And even the next two will prove to be warm. I am finding myself sweating in some odd places, and cursing my aversion to an air conditioner, but I am feeling a certain peace too. Summer is fully HERE, mentally, and the heat kind of confirms it, physically, making my mind so zen I can hardly stand it.

Even though I face the same thing each year, it always is frustrating to me how long it takes to let work go, and fully feel the summer vacation vibe. I wonder, sometimes, if people who work in the "real world" have the same problem, or if they fall into their shorter times off more flawlessly, knowing they need to make the most of it because it won't last. My inner planner kind of panics at 10 weeks off, and, to that end, it takes some time to relax into summer. We spend the first week making the house/porch/yard "summer ready," fueled in part by our annual 4th of July get together, but I think, even if we didn't host fireworks, we'd do the same. Then, it is usually a week at the beach, and that is where it all comes together. Finally, we return home, the house is ready for relaxin', my mind has floated off to sea, and my summer truly begins.

The last couple of days, while crazy hot, have also been wonderful. Yesterday, Tim had to work, but the kids and I just lazed around the house. I read the second half of my beach book in its entirety. I also did all the trip laundry, and went through the scads of mail and bills, but really, it was just a day down. Today, Tim got some house work done, Gwynn had a friend over, and I got out for a replenishing grocery stop, but along with those things came diving into yet another book for me, and a fishing trip with a friend for Devin and Tim.

Sitting, and sweating, on the porch right now, sipping some wine, and eating some spinach salad, I felt such a full sense of calm, mixed with such a feeling of promise. Yes, as always, it took a while, but now, summer stretches ahead of me. The ingredients are set...family, friends, food, wine, trips, books, swimming, boating. Some mixing and stirring has happened, and I guess all it needed was some time in the oven to come out delicious!

Funny...wrote this on Tuesday night, but am feeling oh so much more in my summer zen now. Was so out of sorts the last couple of days I couldn't even finish a blog entry! Funny! Oh well, so be the cycles of life. Putting it out there anyways.

Several thoughts are rolling around in my head tonight....summer is so odd that way...summer randomness. I suddenly have time upon time upon time upon time, but with that comes a breakdown of structure, and I find myself feeling lost, like I can't use my time well; like I have a million things I want to do but none really fit the moment.

I am full of contradiction too.

And most of all, none of this is really anything to whine about, I know that, but still, it's the honest truth.

Usually, this week, we are in Ocean City, but this year we put the trip off for a week due to a family wedding. We had our usual 4th of July party, and didn't have to clean up, exhausted, AND pack the next day...which was HEAVEN...but now, I am feeling like I'd kinda like to be at the beach.

Vacation started with a little US time, with the kids down at grandma and grandpa's. Then, they came home last Sunday, and last week was kind of a little "love affair with my family" week, full, in particular, of mother daughter bonding. We fixed up Gwynn's room, shopped, got sucked into old episodes of "Fame," and danced to a new teeny bopper CD she was loving. Still, now, I am feeling kinda over the family love, craving some time alone, and time alone with Tim.

I want to get new cell phones, but can't decide which.
I want to buy an laptop, or maybe an iPad.
I want to rip out/re-do the patio, but not right now, as we're headed away for a week.

Sigh. See. Contradictions. They'll work themselves out, they always do, but early summer ambivalence is here, full force.