Summer Vacation

What a great tradition we have of taking time off in the summer for a vacation. Time away from work, school, and other normal routine existence becomes something to anticipate. Whether it is a trip to the beach, to the mountains, to historic sites, to amusement parks, or out of the state or the country.

I am always amazed that Europeans and others take off an entire month of "holiday". That sounds like a good plan to me. However it won't catch on here. I guess we Americans are too productive or at least too afraid that we will be forgotten if we leave work for that long.

Still, a vacation is something to look forward to. We used to take two weeks off in the summer and go to the beach. It always took me a day to unwind and de-stress, and with two weeks I did not feel like everything had to be scheduled before we got to the beach. And by the time two weeks was up I was more than ready to come back to work.

Hope you have plans for a good vacation this summer!

Beating this Heat

This has got to be the hottest summer ever, and it is only a few days old! I don't ever remember a June in Virginia with temps over 90 and 100 degrees like this. What in the world did we ever do without air conditioning? And I know you did not have it when you were growing up, 'cause neither did I.

We had fans and opened windows to get the air moving. I'm not sure I could live like that again, and I don't necessarily want to try. What I really dislike is going in and out of heat and air conditioning. I'd rather have one or the other for a period of time than to move in and out.

Still there are times when you have to go out into this heat, and some of you have to work in it. It is amazing what relief some shade and a little breeze can bring. A cold washcloth around the neck helps tremendously. Jumping in a pool or swimming hole is a great way to beat the heat. It is really important to keep hydrated if you are in the heat. We lose water through our skin and don't even realize it.

Stay cool, and out of the heat as much as you can this summer!

Smelling roses

One of the articles in this month's eZine is about stopping to smell the roses. My grandfather had a great rose garden in his back yard when I was growing up. I don't know what kind of roses he grew, but I remember that they were prolific in blooms and aroma. And Japanese beetles. And aphids. Seems I was not the only one attracted to the rose garden. He was constantly battling the bugs with one of those pull and push metal sprayers.

I admire anyone who can grow roses and who tends them with great care. I tried my hand at it quite a few years ago with limited success. My yard does not get enough sun to grow roses. I appreciate a well-kept rose garden. Brings back memories.

Crying Over Spilled Oil

I can't stand to watch all that oil spilling out of the well a mile below the surface of the ocean. Now it is coming on-shore and affecting wildlife and soon will impact tourism. This will have a negative outcome for years to come. I lost sight of the fact that quite a few people lost their lives in the initial explosion on the rig. I wish there were something that I could do to reverse or stop all bad things from happening. This one just seems so senseless.

Maybe I could help influence everyone I know who drives a gas-guzzler to trade it in for a hybrid car. I'm sure that would go over well with Americans who are used to all their freedoms. Push for more accountability from oil companies?

There is no cure for this spill. No use crying over spilled oil. Let's learn from this one and not let it happen again.