Friday, August 26, 2011

Summer Seven: An Off-The-Top-Of-My-Head List of Summer Happenings


I blinked and summer is nearly over! Oh sure, I had grandiose plans for all the things I wanted to do and accomplish, but here I sit scratching my head wondering what the heck happened.

Considering how little I've been around Blogland lately, the blame can't be placed there by any stretch of the imagination. And speaking of imagination, one of the reasons I haven't blogged much is because my imagination and creativity has been missing in action.

So to jump-start my brain and wrap-up my activities, below are my Summer Seven: An Off-The-Top-Of-My-Head List of Summer Happenings...

1) I had a whopping 897 text messages on my cell phone bill in June! That's what happens when you send your first text message announcing to your very large family that you've truly entered the technology age and finally learned how to use your iPhone. It was great fun but I had to put myself on a "Texting Time-Out" after I received an additional $68 in charges on my cell phone bill. Oophs.

2) A "Cannonball" jump into the deep end of the swimming pool has a very different impact on a 53 year old's body than it does when this 53 year old was, oh, say, 40 years younger. It also gets a very different reaction from the younger generation, who apparently found my old self hysterically funny.


3) My good intentions of reading War and Peace were for not. It never left my nightstand, nor was it even opened. But, I did read Margaret of Nanny Goats In Panties' new book Sticky Readers: How to Attract a Loyal Blog Audience by Writing More Better. It's a fabulous and very informative read for all bloggers-- Not to mention way funnier than War and Peace. It's available on Amazon. Please check it out.

4) I learned to "never say never" and for the first time in my life I took a spin on a Ferris Wheel. I do not like heights so all I can say is-- Once was enough.

5) On five different days I happened to be in five different places that had record-breaking high temperatures-- all over 100 degrees with hideous levels of humidity. Unfortunately, I was not near the above mentioned pool on any of those days.

6) Blogger kindness never ceases to amaze me. I published a picture I took of a blue butterfly-- with an out of focus right wing. A blue butterfly was a first for me and I was thrilled to actually capture even a shaky image of it to share.


About a week after posting, I received this gorgeous Photoshopped picture from the very sweet Cathy of Yooper Yarns. Her photography blows me away on a regular basis (go check it out!) so when she sent me this perfectly edited photo, I squealed like a school girl. What a nice and unexpected thing for her to do. I have a framed copy in my office and think of Cathy's thoughtfulness every time I look at it. Thank you Cathy!

7) We have a thick and very tall wall of ficus trees separating our house from our crazy as a loon neighbor. Over the years, humming birds have made their nests in the trees and we've enjoyed numerous humming bird sightings. But this year I happened to be sitting on the patio when all the baby hummers were getting their first flying lessons! I watched all afternoon as at least 50 babes flew from the ficus to the opposite side of the yard, land on a camellia bush, rest, then fly back. It was amazing.

How about your summer? Wanna play along? Feel free to grab the above Summer Seven photo (Sorry, I have no idea how to make a button.) and join in. If you do, link up below so we can all see YOUR Summer Seven: Off-The-Top-Of-My-Head Summer Happenings.

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins
Photo Credit: © Maya Mishina - Fotolia.com and Margaret Andrews


40 comments:

  1. Your summer sounds like it has been busy and a list of trying new things. Enjoy the rest of your week. :) xo

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  2. whassup jj! welcome back...well you have had a summer havent you...ours was just hot...a lot of pool time to stay cool...

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  3. Sounds like a fun-filled summer...except for the heat and humidity!

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  4. Hey - $10 bucks will get you 1000 text messages at AT&T...don't cut off your peeps! : )

    Great post - as always!

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  5. I hope you have unlimited texting now!

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  6. Ok....I loved that! The hummers are amazing huh??!! Whoot to new technology!! Sounds like a packed summer hon!! I love this post..gonna have to find that book too!
    K off to do my summer 7..be right back..I so need a break from school work..thank ya hon!!
    Hugs, Sarah

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  7. Good to see you again and yes summer flew by! I'd love to have a tree full of hummers!

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  8. I think it's wonderful that you were busy in real life... and I might have paid to see that cannonball but not nearly as much as I would to see those hummers. What a treat that must have been.

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  9. I'm jealous of you watching those little baby hummers and their early shenanigans! I'm not however jealous of your cannonball, although I admit I would have laughed with the best of them had I watched. Your summer was fun!

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  10. So nice to see you posting again and I´m going to join you in this Summer (for me winter) post. Just have to think of 7 things... :)
    I hope you weren´t hurt when you canon-balled into the pool. Funny!
    The humming birds sound so cute. I bet that´s a once in a lifetime thing to see.

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  11. Butterflies and hummingbirds... what more could you ask from summer, even one that, I agree, has flown by.
    I got a little dizzy thinking about you riding the Ferris Wheel.
    I will have to see if I can come up with a Summer Seven.

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  12. So glad you enjoyed the hummers! I have purchased more sugar this summer (to make go-go juice for the hummers) than I probably purchase for Christmas baking and candy! They are busy!
    As always your thoughts always evoke memories for me and I enjoy the challenges you some times give us.

    And I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the wonderful mention and expression of how much you enjoyed the photo painting of the butterfly. I'm so glad you enjoy it!

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  13. I have resisted texting for the exact reason you cite here: time and money... plus it seems I spend way too much time as it is with my eyes glued to a screen. Like now. Great Summer Seven!!

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  14. funny how summer just flies by.....and winter seems to drag on forever :)

    i'd love to play, but oh, the "last days of summer busyness" bug has bitten us and we're running around like crazy !

    i love that you did a cannon ball into the pool !!

    xo

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  15. I may have posted twice..oh well its nighttime. I did do your summer seven deal. Loved your post - gave me a good laugh. I didn't make 7 but my brain is fried this summer. Like you I have been lax in reading my blogger friends posts lately. Promise to do better.

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  16. Hi! Okay, first, two words... Unlimited Texting. Then there's the cannonball thing? Screw 'em. It's fun. Just don't jump as high next time. And nobody read War and Peace this summer. It's not all it's cracked up to be. Read the Winds of War. It's better.

    I'm not going to do the 7 thing. I've got too much writing to do right now. But... this summer I - 1) First time tent camping w/wife and kids. They've gone several times. Me? Cabin only, until this summer. 2) Started my next novel... as you know! :) 3) Went to Ashland w/ my lady and saw Measure for Measure. Brilliant! 4) Had more car trouble than the Indy 500. 5) Did not clean out the garage. 6) Did not finish the floorboards. 7) Did not fix the dishwasher. Yep, I rock.

    Cheers,

    Casey

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  17. What an action-packed summer! Glad to see you back in action in blogland too.

    That butterfly shot is gorgeous! Congrats.

    Summer rushed by here - it was great!

    Oh, and have you thought that you might have been taking the hot humid weather with you? ;-)

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  18. You certainly made the best of summer! I am amazed that you took the plunge and did a cannonball!
    I'm with you on ferris wheels--too scary for me, too.

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  19. Yikes on the text messaging bill. I guess the unlimited testing plan would do you well.

    And thank you so much for mentioning Sticky Readers!

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  20. Sounds like a fun Summer - well except for the cannon ball - ouch!! Oh how I envy you the hummers and babies and flight lessons, Would love to have seen that. We're to hot and dry to get many and our yard doesn't seem to attract them at all even when I plant the right flowers.

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  21. It DOES seem like just yesterday, I was in California tooling around on the beach! I think of that day EVERY DAY and I love it so much!
    War and Peace? My mother kept a bottle of Vodka hidden behind that book! Just in case, I guess!

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  22. I enjoyed hearing about Cathy sending you the perfectly edited photo. I am continually delighted by the kindness of the blogging community.

    You know I'm headed over to buy that book right this minute. xo

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  23. Joanna, you can make even a crappy humid day sound interesting.
    I'm so happy that someone framed that photo for you, it's really beautiful.
    That's some story about the hummingbirds, wow.
    I think we might be the same age, I turn 53 this month. Kudos to you for attempting a cannonball.
    I was catching up on some of your posts: I'm sorry that Dave passed away, he looks like such a sweet guy.
    I'm not happy about winter's approach, summer just wasn't long enough this year. Maybe I should check out that "blogger book".
    Jeez, that's a long-winded comment.
    kiss, kiss, xo d

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  24. Forget War & Peace; you had your own version on your text msgs!!

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  25. Sounds like you had a very nice summer, and I look forward to reading/reviewing the book you mentioned. Our summer has taken us on a tour of the circle of life: My mother with dementia continues to get worse and has presented me with more challenges than I can list here. On the other hand, we were thrilled to get the news that our son and his longtime girlfriend are engaged. Meanwhile, I've eased back into the fall blogging schedule too; have also written a few newspaper columns. I try to take things one day at a time and sniff the last of the roses in the garden before fall arrives.

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  26. Hello Joanna, I enjoyed all that was on your list especially the picture of butterfly and the baby birds that leave nest. We don't have Summer, if not I would really love to play along. But I must say I spent my Summer here on the blog.

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  27. I stopped what I was doing and wrote a post to link to your Seven thingy and I think I forgot to even comment on your post!

    I can picture doing a cannonball and having a blast in the pool.

    The butterfly is absolutely beautiful. No wonder you were thrilled to capture a picture of a blue butterfly. What a nice blogger friend. Your gift is so special.

    I am so glad you had the opportunity to witness the new hummingbirds learning to fly. I hope one day I can see something like that too. They must feel safe around you.

    I enjoyed your post very much. I know you had other things happen in your family this summer and I know you have been busy. Hugs to you from me and James.

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  28. Thanks for a reason not to get a smartphone. Your texting extra charge is higher that my total cellphone bill. I don't want a smartphone because they come with dumb bills.
    You are right some people just don't like heights and they know it. I'm guessing you might not like spinning much either.

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  29. I wish we had humming birds here and I can imagine that seeing the babies was a real treat.

    Gosh 7 things this summer... I'll have to think about that because it all seems a bit of a blur. Actually we're still kind of hoping that summer will begin any day now - it's been *so* wishy washy this year!

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  30. Sadly, summer didn't make an appearance in Scotland this year...Hope all is well.

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  31. I've just been busy. I lost a job, had the worst birthday of my life and I got a new job.

    I've missed having time to read blogs....

    I've missed you and I appreciate your comments.

    Hugs and love!!

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  32. I have teens and therefore got unlimited texting on our plans. But I'm a bit of a texting addict myself. Sure love my iPhone.

    I also love ferris wheels.

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  33. I have teens and therefore got unlimited texting on our plans. But I'm a bit of a texting addict myself. Sure love my iPhone.

    I also love ferris wheels.

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  34. We've always had unlimited texting but I really hate it. With artritic fingers, it's no fun.

    My brain won't work well but I sure like your cute "7" logo.

    I am so busy trying to get rid of my belongings on Craig's List, sort through things and pack up for storage...my six month trip to India starts with boarding that Air France flight on Oct 23rd. I will never be ready. I am going i-n-s-a-n-e!!!

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  35. Thanks for the chuckles! I am thinking to have a blogging audience, one would have to write on said blog, visit other blogs and respond responsibly...which may be why I have three readers LOL! May have to check out that book! I have missed reading your posts...glad we are both back :)

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  36. Joanna great to "see" you back. Sounds like a fantastic summer (well, except those over 100 days - I completely wilt).

    Your blue butterfly photo is superb - congrats on capturing it. Maggie

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  37. oooh humming birds, dive bombing, ferris wheels, good books...sounds like a perfect summer. We've just finished winter over this side of the world and I'm enjoying the warmth of spring and feeling well enough to play in the garden...hope my summer is as good as yours!

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  38. Very nice!

    And I know I would text more if I had a more up-to-date phone. Maybe it's good that I don't...

    Pearl

    p.s. You commented, a couple days back, re: the community band I'm playing in, about the music. :-)
    There's a Fiddler on the Roof medley, a sweeping "western" style piece I can't recall the name of right now (think "Fanfare for the Common Man"), Pavonne, some rag-time piece that's trying to kill me, and a Glenn Miller medley, amongst others. :-) As you might've guessed, we pretty much rock. :-)

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  39. I miss summer!!! I want it back!!!

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  40. Those were wonderful snippets from your Summer. Ours is yet to come and its Spring here so cannot wait. And your photo looks amazing, just stunning!!

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