Sweating and Crowds…Two of My Least Favorite Things
Oh summer. I have a love-hate relationship with it. On one hand, it’s relaxed and the daily swim parties we have are so wonderful. On the other hand I sweat so much that I walk around looking like I’ve been digging ditches in 100° temps wearing a leather suit. That’s the hate part. Oh, and the fact that every time you open your car door it feels like you’re being pushed into a kiln. Otherwise summer is great.
Right now, however, our issue is rain. Rain and rain and more rain. It’s a good thing I bought so many ponchos and umbrellas at Disney because they came in handy this past weekend. It’s funny though, how normal a rain poncho looks on you at Disney World and how unusual it look around town. I was the only person rockin’ one at Walmart. People should get with it. With a poncho my purse was protected from the rain, I stayed totally dry and my hands were free. Umbrellas are nice, but ponchos are th’BOMB! At one point I was using BOTH! MmHmm. I am a trend setter.
We are winding down a little bit with our school work. We will have light lessons all summer, but the pool beckons us and we have no choice but to go out there every morning after breakfast and play silly games and splash around. Every year the kids make up a game or two that keeps them challenged all through swim season. There will be a complicated point system and bragging rights and usually a grand prize of some sort. I never really understand these games, so I spend my time on the other side of the pool on my float pretending I’m alone.
This week I need to get the swimsuits out and checked. We always think we have what we need left from last year, then a boy goes to get dressed for the first swim and has nothing but too small shorts with stretched out elastic. And all of us girls always need at least one new thing, which requires creativity and perseverance. Since we don’t wear typical swim clothes and don’t have $120/person to spend, it takes time. But we always find something. I’m generally surprised where I find things, like for the past couple of years Costco had swim skirts that we could use!
Another changes for summer is how often I go to the big city. During the rest of the year I will go to the city about every 2 weeks. I like to poke around and maybe see a movie, hit Costco, Whole Foods and a few other places. But in the summer with the crowds and school kids out in ganglike groups, I go less than once a month. I do not enjoy a crowd therefore I avoid them at all costs. Unless it’s at Disney World, then I just go knowing there will be 10,000 other people to deal with and I try to take crowd breaks as much as possible.
Speaking of crowds, I am gearing up for a super-exciting road trip to the Young Living International Grand Convention in June. I love, love Salt Lake City! I have been there several times and it’s so beautiful I can’t stand it. But since I am going with 10,000 of my closest friends, it will be crowded, so I have to get mentally ready for it. I use a LOT of White Angelica when I have to be in a crowded situation. It’s what I like to call, “My Introvert Oil.” It helps me feel a sense of safety and, oh I don’t know how else to say it except that it helps me deal with the negative energy of other people. I love that stuff.
This coming week we are cleaning up the yard from the storms and emptying the boys’ lockers to get the prepped for a lighter school load. I’ll be checking swimsuit needs and doing a Coscto run for June. Oh! And making sure I have a poncho in every vehicle….because I enjoy being different. And dry.
Have a good one!