Summer 2013 To-Do List

If you've visited Lost & Found over the last three months, you likely know that I've been suffering from a back injury. It's prevented me from doing a lot of things (like going out, having a life...y'know, minor things *pffft*) so I'm determined to make up for it by having a really great summer. In the past, I've let things stop me from going out and having fun...the fact that all my friends are too busy for me (god, that sounds so high school, but it's true), the fact I have to take the bus everywhere, the fact I don't have a lot of money. Well, no more. As soon as my back is better (please god let that be soon!) I'm not going to let anything stop me from having fun, getting out, and LIVING. 

So I've made this list...I'll be keeping track of things as I do them, blogging about them, posting pictures (proof!), and gladly accepting any kind words and encouragement you guys are willing to give.

The List  

*Go swimming at least 5 times

*Go to the beach

*Visit the rose garden at least 3 times

*Visit Glanmore House

*Go for as many walks as possible

*Walk around the grounds of Sir James Whitney School at least 3 times

*Read the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books

*Go on at least 2 road trips

*Sit out on the balcony as much as possible

*Watch the sun set as many times as possible

*Watch all 7 seasons of Gilmore Girls with Molli, Jess, and whoever else wants to join us (we're starting in June, and doing an informal watch-along - I'll be blogging about my thoughts every week - if you'd like to watch along with us and discuss it on our/your blogs or Twitter, we'd love to have you join!)

*Have at least 2 barbeques

*Lose at least 10 pounds

*Make as many things as possible with tomatoes from Jamie’s garden

*Go to the movies at least 3 times

*Go out on my own at least 4 times (this one may seem a bit odd, but I have social anxiety issues and it’s very rare that I go out on my own. I’m determined to conquer that this summer)

*Try at least 2 new restaurants in town

I'll likely be adding to this list as I think of more things I want to do. What are some of your plans for the summer?

    

 

September Nostalgia

I always get a funny feeling around this time of year. 

The fair was in town this past weekend, and school started today. The fair used to be a huge deal for me when I was a teenager. I don't think I ever went when I was little; at least I don't remember ever going. High school was a different story though. I live just around the corner from the fairgrounds, and my best friend Suleena and I would go every year. It was a huge deal for us. We took pains with our appearances, as if we were going somewhere fancy rather than just the fair. It was the late 90s, so there was a lot of glitter involved, as you can imagine. Temporary tattoos, too, if I remember correctly. 

We would head over as soon as the fair opened at noon, buy our wristbands, and ride the rides all day...but we only liked a handful of rides, so it was the same thing for hours on end. Neither of us minded. I can remember the smell of French fries, cotton candy, candy apples, and various other artery-clogging, sugary confections. Music blasted from huge stereo speakers, and mixed with excited screams to form the soundtrack of the end of summer. Nighttime was always my favourite time to be at the fair - all the little kids had gone home, and I loved seeing all those neon lights flashing like a glow in the dark kaleidoscope. From the top of the ferris wheel, you could see the bay glinting in the distance, and the entire city sprawled below. We would stay until closing and then go back to my place for a sleepover. We were the two musketeers in those days. It was always the two of us, no one else.

I have some really amazing memories of those days. I can't remember the last time I went to the fair. I think Suleena and I went once in college, but I honestly can't remember. After that, she had a daughter of her own, and we didn't go together anymore. There was no one else I wanted to go with, and the price of admission was a deterrent from going and simply wandering around. 

Every year now I feel nostalgic when the fair comes to town on Labour Day weekend. It feels like a lifetime ago that I was inside those gates laughing and carefree, trying to forget that school would be starting in a few days. I always had this major anxiety about the first week of school. Now it's been ten years since I graduated from high school - I can't believe it.

Time sure does fly. I'm tired of feeling like it's flying away from me, beyond my control. It's time for change...

Update

Eeep, I can't believe July 3rd was my last update!

Things have been crazy this month, so Lost and Fall has sort of fallen by the wayside. I'm planning to participate in Susannah Conway's August Break to get back in the swing of things, though. I've hardly touched my camera all month (*gasp*), so I'm looking forward to looking at life through the lens of my old Canon again in August. I've really missed photography and graphic design.

So, what's been keeping me so busy? Well, on July 4th I started writing my third novel, and I wrote like hell every single day, and ended up finishing the first draft in exactly three weeks. I'm still kind of shocked and speechless over that fact. That's obviously taken up a huge chunk of time for me. I've also been hosting a Canadian Reading Challenge and Canadian Spotlight Month on my book blog, and I've had a post every single day which has also taken a lot of time in planning, organizing, trying to make my posts look nice, plus promoting the event. I have nine giveaways up right now for anyone who's interested - eight of them end July 31st, and the ninth ends August 4th. Go on over and enter and maybe you'll win a new book to add to your summer reading list!

That's basically been my entire month - writing, reading, and blogging. I haven't been anywhere, I've hardly seen anyone, and I haven't done much of anything except two trips to the movies to see Magic Mike (yes, I went twice!). Kind of a lame summer, but I keep trying to tell myself it's worth it because I'm getting ahead in my career, and once my next book is published I can take a bit of a break. Maybe. *laughs* I'd give anything for a road trip right now, though!

How has your summer been so far?