Monday, August 20, 2012

What I Didn't Do On My Summer Vacation


In all honesty, Summer is no different in my world than any other season of the year, it's just hotter.  I don't have kids so my daily routine is pretty much the same.  But still, as the big yellow school buses start rolling again it's a reminder of the (almost) passing of another season and all the things that didn't happen, despite my best intentions...

This summer I did not...

...Sleep in.  Not at all.

...Find a contractor to paint the exterior of our house.  Or an electrician or a handyman for a long list of "to-dos" around here.  To say I chased my tail trying to find contractors that actually showed up is an understatement.  Grrr!

...Buy hot weather summer clothes.  It's 100 degrees and I'm sitting here in blue jeans.  Not cool on any level.

...Read a book-- any book, not even "Fifty Shades of Gray".  Heck, I barely read the newspaper.

...Exercise.  Nuff said.

...Entertain...  Not a single BBQ or pool party, although I'm not sure that's a bad thing.

...Go to my 35th high school reunion.  Rumor was the mean girls would be attending.

But this summer I did manage to...

...Swim two or three times a week with my godson.

...Shock of all shocks, I got my husband to take Fridays off work this summer in an effort to get him to cut back his usual nearly 70 hour a week work schedule.  And, for the first time last Friday, I think he actually relaxed and "unplugged" from the office for at least 5 whole hours.

...Kill ants!  Millions and millions of them.  It's so hot and dry here that they made their annual pilgramige to my kitchen in search of water.  Completely surrounding my big window frame, they marched, jammed packed in circles while I sprayed and sprayed for an entire month.  And they are still circling.  Grrrr.

...Made another quilt.


...Realized my reading glasses are no longer strong enough so instead of spending the money to change my 6 month old presecription I practiced squinting without wrinkling the skin around my eyes and forehead.  No small feat, if I do say so myself, although it's a losing battle.

...After 25 years and about 15 moves to 6 different states between us, I found a long lost childhood friend.  She's back living in Ohio and we reconnected through my step-brother.  What a treat!

...I ate calamari and still don't like it.

As September nears, I'm looking forward to....

...Going to Ohio this week to visit my family and to see my sweet sister-in-law who just had very successful heart surgery at the Cleveland Clinic.  She's my hero.

...NYC is in my future for a family wedding too.... which means clothes shopping for a dress to wear.

...A new baby in the family.  One has not been announced yet, but I have a feeling.....

...Hopefully finding a painter, electrician and handyman who actually shows up and do some work on our house.  What is it with these guys?  They schlepp to my house,  take measurements and chat me up for an hour like they'd LOVE to work with me, and then they vanish into thin air!

...A vacation with my husband, even for a weekend, with just the two of us.  I can't tell you how long it's been since that happened.

...Getting back into the swing of blogging again.  (I promise I'll catch up with you soon!)

...Laughing, lots and lots of laughing.  This past year has been kind of a downer around here lately and it's time for a change.  Things are looking up.

How's your Summer been?

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com  -  Joanna Jenkins
Photo Credit: © Studio Barcelona - Fotolia.com

40 comments:

  1. Hi Joanna! I love the quilt! Well, it's winter here but I mustn't grumble as I spent July in France. :-) So I can't really report on my summer 'doings', but I can say that I'm sick of the rain and am looking forward to spring!

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  2. have fun in ohio...sounds like what you did was fun...swimming with the gson....killing ants, ack...me too...smiles...and nice on the hubs unplugging as well...smiles...

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  3. How nice to read you again JJ. I missed you, but then again I´m not posting much either. I hope you have an awesome time with your family and your newfound/old friend. I recently found some cousins on fb who live in Canada and it was nice re-connecting with them too.

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  4. Ha! Loved this. You forgot about starting your best seller. Nope, i'm not going to let you off the hook so easily. ;)
    Missed you! :)
    X

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  5. It's been a wonderful summer with the best weather. Yours sounds as if it was/is pretty good too!

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  6. My summer has been... short. It doesn't seem possible that Labor Day is coming right around the corner. I've been hiking and biking and playing in the sunshine, limited as it's been here in the Pacific Northwest.

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  7. My summer has been the same ho hum....I think your fall is shaping up and so is mine....Cheers to more laughter and fun!

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  8. Completing such a beautiful quilt would make it a successful summer for me and it looks like you did lots more on top of that.
    It is good to see you here. I am not ready for summer to end, but I guess I'll just have to roll with that flow. Enjoy all that you have planned for fall.

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  9. It sounds like you had a relaxing summer and that is good. It also sounds like you're ready to get back into the swing of things, and that is great! Looking forward to hearing more from you.

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  10. Yay for more time with the hubby! I always have such big plans for the summer, and never get around to any of them.

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  11. This post is great!! Love your outlook on Summer and the rest of the year...As a matter of fact, I related well to several of these things.
    BTW...love that quilt...this is on my bucket list...to make a quilt someday..
    Blessings,
    shug

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  12. My summer has been grueling. The heat, endless. Ants too. Not enough swimming. Loved your post, Lois from Ontario.

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  13. So nice to read your post! My summer saw a few changes which have been good. I love your quilt! Quilting is on my list, too!

    You seem like you some great events on the horizon. Enjoy! Kudos for getting the Hubs to cut back a little on work!

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  14. I was happy to see a post from you!
    I can't believe you didn't sleep in. That's almost a sin. :)
    I'll let you off the hook though because that quilt is awesome!

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  15. This has not been the best of summers - but you know what? Life is ups downs rights lefts and often a circus without funny clowns. So I'm just going to lighten up and forget about the crappy stuff. Right after I stop banging my head on the wall.

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  16. I love your quilt. Thanks for the updates! I've been busy all summer, working, and hope to get back to blogging myself!

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  17. Summer in Scotland has been - wet! Rain, rain and more rain! Hope you are well, JJ.

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  18. Summer has been hot here in Maine as well. I have spent time at my son's house at the lake; have sold about 50 of my Kindle books so far; have managed to get to the gym a couple of times per week; eaten out much more than we should (too hot to cook).

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  19. Busy, busy, busy. Love the quilt---just gorgeous!

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  20. YOU MADE THAT GORGEOUS QUILT???WOW!!

    This summer, I've been feeding lots of hummingbirds. We haven't had this many in years. And we are both enjoying it beyond belief (but I did have to float a loan to keep buying 10 pound bags of sugar every week).

    Hope you enjoy your September!!!

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  21. That's a fabulous quilt.

    Summer has been great - and all too short.

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  22. Awesome quilt! It has completely taken me by surprise that it is nearing the end of August! I am seeing Halloween and CHRISTMAS stuff in stores. Scary! I always enjoy visiting here and have been MIA in the blogging world since May! Happy Soon to be Autumn :)

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  23. I loved your post. Love the quilt.
    Summer... well as you must know we are still in winter! My plans for summer? Swim lots. Eat less.

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  24. What a nice summary of your summer.;) I envy you your warm weather, our summer has been cold and rainy.;))
    But, we also had tons of ants this year, particularly our bathroom was under attack.;))
    Enjoy the summer conclusions.;))
    xoxo

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  25. My summer has once again been full of fast-pitch softball. I don't have many games left in me - maybe none, but we'll see next spring. Otherwise, I haven't had to kill any ants, so that's a good thing, I guess.

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  26. I share your pain of the handy dudes. We are dealing with this 10 hrs away with our cabin. I'm looking forward to my fav season coming up and then some nesting.
    Hope your trip to Ohio is nice! Cheers to the season ahead!! xo

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  27. Another wonderful quilt - really beautiful and a big accomplishment in my book. And your swimming is the perfect exercise. Great news you got your husband to spend less time at the office - I hope you have some exciting Fridays planned or long weekends away somewhere.

    We are just coming out of winter here but the days are warming up and I am looking forward to the Summer. However, none of us achieves everything we set out to do - life and routine somehow gets in the way hey?

    Sound like you have enough to do to keep you busy for some time to come. Retirement? there is really no such thing is there, lol.

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  28. The quilt is beautiful. The women in my little town quilt, in groups, working together. I hear about it and see what they do. I am fascinated with the designs and the beautiful work. This is my first time to be around quilting.

    I do so hope you have more relaxing time with your husband.

    Enjoy your week in Ohio loving up family and friends, and come back refreshed but not tired and drained.

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  29. You GO Jo! I laughed at what all you didn't do and what you did.

    Sounds like a fun Sept!


    Aloha from Honolulu
    Comfort Spiral
    =^..^=
    > < } } ( ° >

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  30. I love the colors in your quilt.
    Sounds like a great summer.

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  31. Love the quilt and love the list of all the things you accomplished -- and you accomplished a lot. I know you promised to get back to blogging, and we miss you when you take time off ... But honestly, I am more impressed when I encounter people who have real lives, full lives, beyond the computer screen. The quilt alone is something to be proud of... and ditto getting your husband to spend quality time with you, too! Bravo!

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  32. Sounds to me like you had a full and busy summer. What's up with those contractor, that sucks big time!! Glad you got the hubby to decompress a bit, everyone needs that. Sounds like fall will be busy as well. Safe travels my friend and oh - love the quilt!! Hugs!!

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  33. I love the quilt. Wishing you uppers and no more downers.

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  34. That squinting with the eyes thing...baby that's obviously a read gift...teach us how to do it please!!!!
    ps I think you managed to do all the important things this summer....over on this side of the world spring has just started...it's beautiful...and I have no idea what I did in winter....

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  35. My summer was amazing. I did not...
    worry, stress, travel, or work. How can you beat that? Of course, back to school is on and that brings a whole new list of to dos. Still, I love my job and wouldn't change it for anything. Happy end of summer to you, my friend.

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  36. My summer??? Overwhelmingly busy as it continues to be through harvest. I'm hopin' it'll slow down a bit 'round here so I can get back to the blog world once again.

    I miss all my beautiful blogsis's and bros.

    Have a great visit with your fam sweetie.

    The quilt is beautiful!!!

    God bless and enjoy what is left of summertime! :o)

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  37. Hi Joanna, I had not been blogging much but I am taking in my blog into private to go for a blog break. Hope to see you again soon.

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  38. I think it sounds like your summer was wonderful. I've been sweltering away here in Jaipur where the monsoon rains have been very scanty. I nearly had a heat stroke the day it reached 109 in my 3rd floor, non airconditioned room. I had to be revived with towels soaked in ice water. I was nearly comatose. That very week, I found a new place...ground level, air conditioned, large room with king sized bed, lovely private bath - $279/month.

    I will be home Nov 18th...hope to return to India, though, after the arrival of my first grandchild.

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  39. You see, this is why I rarely set goals. I like listing things I DID do instead. And it sounds like you had a good summer to me. Except for the ants. And the blue jeans - maybe you should buy a few summer things of the end of season clearance rack for next summer?

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  40. Joanna, that quilt is stunning. I've made a few in the past and now, I am totally inspired to make one after seeing yours. Just thinking of planning it is making me happy! :-)

    You've got such a lovely blog!

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