I don't know about you, but summertime livin' is easy...and it isn't.
For one thing, I live on the Gulf Coast, and while the oil spill hasn't yet made its way to the Texas coast, (the current goes the other way--have seen nary a tarball so far) it's still a typical Texas coastal summer. Meaning Hot and Humid. To be honest, the weather's better during the rest of the year. But the water is warm enough to suit me for swimming. Yeah, I like it bathwater warm to swim. (That picture is of the beach, two blocks from my house.) (I didn't take that one.)
And summertime is when RWA has its conference, and local groups have their Science Fiction and Fantasy cons--I write steampunk fantasy romance, so I go to those meetings too. I also go with the fella I'm married to, to at least one of his summer conferences. And then the Dallas grandboys come down to visit--they're doing the local Sea Camp daycamp this year for the first time. And the daughter usually comes down from the "frozen northland" (aka Pittsburgh) to thaw out, and brings her son and spouse (if he can get off work), which means we need to go get the other boys from Dallas so the cousins can play... I'm exhausted already--and I've decided not to go to RWA this year.Don't get me wrong. I LOVE having them visit. The more the merrier. Honest. We'll have a shrimp boil and a barbecue, go swimming, hit the historic downtown and just have a blast. Last year, my siblings rented a beach house down the island from us, and brought our parents down and as many of our kids as we could assemble--it's harder now that a bunch of them are grown with their own kids--and we played for a week. When I was trying to finish a book on deadline.
That's the not-so-easy part of summertime. Because the deadlines don't move. They're still there, like giant brick walls, waiting for us to run into them.
I've found that it's almost impossible to write anything when I have company, especially grandkids. So I'm going to have to work really, really hard to get the writing done in between visits and trips out of town. Wish me luck.
What about y'all? What do you love about summertime? What don't you like so much?
10 comments:
Darn it, Gail! I was hoping to see you at RT this year!
I love the summertime because here in western NY it is the shortest season of the year. Although, this year, so far at least, we've had great weather. Let's hope it keeps it up!
Summertime is wonderful in South Florida. Honestly, the breeze is perfect on the beach and the ocean water warm. It's a real pleasure to swim around five o'clock when the sun is not too high.
It's really, really hot here in AZ during the summer months, so everyone hops in their cars and takes off for cooler weather. Either that, or you wait until five o'clock and swim.
Have a great summer with the family.
I enjoy summer but it is hard getting anything but the bare minimum of writing done when there are so many other things to do. Fortunately we don't get too many hot summer days in Northern California.
Too bad you won't be at RWA this year but I understand with your schedule why that would be so.
We haven't really seen summer yet here in Moses Lake, Washington. The weather has been more like early spring, and the fruit trees in the backyard are nearly barren. No plum jam this year!
I won't be at RWA National this year, but for those of you who are going, I hope you have a wonderful time. Don't forget to take pictures to share with those of us who are staying home.
Gail, here on the southern California coast we have June gloom, a high marine layer which blankets the sun most of the day, keeping the temps around 70 degrees. And, yes, the term matches the local’s feelings about this annual weather condition. It is difficult to find enthusiasm without a bright sunny morning to start your day.
Yet, our coastal town is jam-packed with beach-lovers lying on the sand with a gray sky overhead. Sounds weird? Well, it's a blessing to those from inland CA where it's typically blistering hot.
I don't appreciate the summer heat. We live in the Sierra Mountains so don't have extreme heat, but without air conditioning when the heat comes, it is unbearable. I am Nordic by ancestory and maybe that is why I get so grumpy when it is hot.
The flowers are pretty though, and the BBQ suppers are great, too.
Hope you have fun with your family.
Sounds to me Mona, like you are going to have a fantastic and fun summer. Ain't that great! Enjoy yourself!
I don't like the cold that's why I love summer. I love the beach and sitting on a porch swing with a glass of wine and a good book, waiting for that cool breeze. I love everything about summer. It reminds me of those long lazy days of childhood when we were out of school from the first week of June until labor day.
Gail,
I love everything about summer--the food, the weather, the longer days. Sounds like you have a wonderful time with your family. And, the picture is gorgeous.
Post a Comment