Wednesday, September 9, 2009

The Last Summer Fling

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Okay we all know summer is nearly over. The BIG YELLOW school bus wheels are going around and around. The sun is setting before the dinner dishes are dried. The air, at least in my part of the country, has that cool it-will-be-good-sleeping feel. And we have a twinge of angst coursing through our veins. Why? Because we know there is one more great summer adventure to be had before the sweatshirts and sweaters take up the hangers in the closet.

I feel the angst and I’m so ready for my escape. I’m thinking Arizona this year. I want to feel the sun on my body, lounge in warm water, read for endless hours and enjoy the excitement of a summer night watching a ball game, after my DH takes me out for dinner of course. No dishes, no laundry, no alarm clock unless it’s for an early golf tee time.

Vacations from everyday chores and responsibilities are so freeing. Your mind and thus your body recharges itself with renewed energy. Escaping the everyday routine is important to your health. Seeing new things, sparks creativity. Smiling and greeting a stranger feels so good. Laughter is healing. Give yourself permission to get out there and act like a kid for a day or two.

So, will it be the shore or a camping trip up into the mountains? Or the amusement and water park? Or tailgating at your team’s game? What are your thoughts and/or plans? I’d love to hear them.

AJ

32 comments:

  1. It will be a fall trip to NC to see the leaves. And get some peace and quiet.

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  2. I've never been to NC in the fall. Hmmmm. What makes NC special for you?

    You know I love Vermont.

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  3. Hey there,
    You didn't take into consideration your faithful readers whose spring is just beginning. Woo hoo! Yep, down here in South America we are revving up for the summer and are putting our last fires in the wood stove for the season. Just got back, so now I am thinking about work and wanting to dive into it. Whole different feeling. But I know what you mean about a last fling. Ah.....
    Always great to read your posts. Write on!

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  4. Ummm...no big getaways for me. I spent four of the ten summer weeks on vacations across the land.

    And it's hard to get away with two kids playing football. But, I will be heading down to Baton Rouge for two weekends in October to watch the LSU Tigers play. Not restful, but with lots of gumbo, boudin, beer and crazy fans, it's a blast!

    Amy Talley

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  5. Ah, Colleen, That was so nice of you to say. (((HUGS back))) And thank you for throwing something at me. I'm not used to international yet, but I will remember in the future.

    It's interesting to hear how different everyone's world is. Learning new things also helps jump start my creativity. How about anyone else?

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  6. I personally embrace this change. I don't like hot weather. I tend to be a slug so no last adventure because I see so much potential when the weather turns.

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  7. Hey, sister Amy, I love tailgating. Do mine at PENN STATE. GO LIONS. Spending the day out at State College is awesome. Watching, talking to friends who you meet up with once a year. Meeting new people. Food. Music. Fresh air. All good stuff. Enjoy! And a great character watching spot.

    Thanks for stopping by, sweetie.

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  8. I've been so busy this summer that a few days of nothing would be wecome. I just had a 48-hour flu, and I think that's all the break I'm going to get! Got caught up on reading, though.

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  9. Hi, Chris. Fall and winter are my favorite months. But there is something about the last fling of summer that is so exciting.

    I remember as a young teenager going with my grandsparents to Daytona, Florida. One particular night stands out. The last one. I can still feel the salty spray of the ocean, the cool sand between my toes, the laughter share with friends we made, who were from Canada. And the yank of my sleeve as I was walking away and the quick peck from the guy with the die-for blue-teal eyes. SIGH.

    I should romance. Someone told me that.

    singing: Memories of the way we were.

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  10. Glad to hear you're feeling better, Barbara. Summer colds SUCK the big time. But now you're rested, read out and ready for the last summer fling, right? Go for it. Make memories.

    (((Hugs))) AJ

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  11. I just thought of something. Chris has to enjoy watching hunky fireman wash those trucks during the heat of summer. Right, Chris? I would.

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  12. No flings here, unless I fling myself from a bridge somewhere. I've done next to no writing in the last few weeks and want to have this $@$% book in some kind of shape before going to NJRW in October. There weren't enough hours when the sun set at 9 p.m. Now? Ah well, gotta keep on keepin' on.

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  13. Lovely post, Autumn. We take Sunday afternoon drives into the mountains to see the fall color. The men are busy chopping corn for silo filling as we're farmers and this is a very busy time of year.

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  14. Ah, Gwen, I know you've been going through a lot lately. (((HUGS))) Grab that DH by the hand, take a stroll by a lake, build a campfire or just sit out under the stars. Relax, enjoy and the muse will find you in no time. And remember good times happen after sunset too.

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  15. I'm with you on that one, Beth. We'll start cutting wood soon. And I'm already up to my elbows in canning from the garden. The last summer fling we've planned is so needed. I'll need to recharge for all the fun fall activites.

    Thanks for stopping by and sharing.

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  16. Hey in Texas it's still summer weather and probably will be until October we've dropped from the hundred degree days to the mid nineties-woohoo. The weather man said unseasonably warm, I snickered and wondered for where. To me this is typical Texas, I prefered our 4 years in Hawaii over anywhere else. I'm very tropical climate orientated, since we have humidity here in Texas to go with the heat then I vote for the ocean above all else. I have a lake down the road they can keep it.

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  17. Hi, Kathy. You're heading to the shore for you summer fling. That's great! I love the beach too. Gosh, I seem to enjoy everywhere. Spices of life type of girl. LOL. I haven't been to Hawaii, but I'd love to go. What's up with the lake?

    So what special activites do you have planned?

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  18. I had my last Summer fling at DragonCon last weekend. It's a fan convention for people who love anything Science Fiction, Fantasy, Paranormal, or horror in books, movies, TV, or on the net. There were tons of costumes for folks who wanted to "be" their favorite characters. Had to come home to rest!

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  19. You're the third person I had contact with today who attended Dragoncon. It sounds so cool. I'd love to attend once just as a fan. What a great way to charge your muse. After you physically rest, you'll be hitting the keyboard, I bet. Good deal.

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  20. Hi!
    I just wanted to say hi and check out your blog. Very nice. Thanks for visitng Pets & Their Authors and for that comment. :-)

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  21. You're welcome. I enjoyed the blog very much. I have a big red Irish thing, named Mac and a litte toto named Harry. Plus Blue the cat, daughter of Sia the slut. LOL. SIA is gone now. I miss her.

    Thank you for checking my piece of blogspace out too. I hope you stop by again.

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  22. Hoping to get a family weekend at a dude ranch in NC--stretching out the summer by heading south.

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  23. OMG, I love your signame. Reminded me instantly of Three Dog Night. Loved the band. And Dude ranch means horses. I miss mine. Sounds like an excellent get-away. Now I wish I was heading south. Enjoy! And stop by again, please.

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  24. I'll be heading to Ohio : - ) but I remember as a kid my parents would take us on trips and 'see what we see'. I put that into practice with my kids and we call it a 'safari' into an unknown city or town. We've seen some amazing sights. We just get in the car and go. No destination in mind. Brings to mind those just right summer days when fall is trying to take hold and summer won't quite let go. I love the fall though. It's one of my favorite times of the year. It means Christmas is coming followed by the New Year and 365 more days of hope. ; - )

    Sonya

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  25. 365 more days of hope. Sonya that is a wonderful attitude. I know exactly what you mean. I remember going with my grandparents so a Sunday ride. We'd stop for ice cream cones at this place that seemed to sit in no where land, nothing around it for miles, but everyone seemed to find it just fine DH wants to go for a ride this weekend. Hmmmm.

    Thanks for the memory. Good luck in Ohio. My prayers are with you.

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  26. Autumn thank you for saying we can give ourselves permission for a day of fun. I so badly need a day for myself. A day to walk on the beach, swim, lazy on the sand with a book in hand...the impossible dream.

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  27. Not impossible, Mona. Just need to plan. If you live near the beach, go. A few hours. The world will wait. If you don't live near the beach, grab a blanket find a quiet spot outside in the sun or shade (your perference, read and relax. Again the world will wait.

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  28. Someday I'd like to see the fall color in the NE, but not this year. We will take a week in OK to see relatives, but then I can always go sit on the beach for a day - even an hour. I'm blessed to live close by! :)

    Lovely post, AJ!

    Light,
    Nancy Haddock

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  29. Definately go to Arizona. I love it there. My son lived in Prescott adn now is in Phoenix, but I really love Sedona. It's a very mystical place. The red rock mou ntains of Arizona are incredible.

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  30. Ah, I agree. Sedona is beautiful. I'd love to visit there again. The Boneyard is on our list for this year. My DH and I love history. Tombstone is great too.

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  31. My last-of-summer fling has been the past few days when we finally got four inches of rain after a hot, hot, hot summer here in Central Texas. Am really looking forward to our month of autumn (no pun intended) in December or January. Maybe I'll even get to wear a sweater outdoors!

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  32. I'm glad you got some relief, Ann. Our summer here in the NE was rainy and very cool. I'm looking forward to some heat. I'll see what I can do to send you some snow this December. LOL.

    Hugs, AJ

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