WHAT??? It’s August! I’ve realized that any month that involves travel seems to have days subtracted from it, so that’s partially why July felt so short for me. Anyway- here we are, and it’s the first Friday of the month, so I’m linking up with Coco and Deborah for their Ultimate Coffee Date! I’ll be having green tea (sigh). But let’s not dwell on that- here’s what I would share over coffee/tea.
School starts in a little over a week! August 11 is the first day. I… think?… I’m looking forward to it? There’s a part of me that’s dreading the earlier wake ups, lunch packing, and overall stressful mornings. In spite of all that, there’s something exciting about the start of a new school year. The beginning of school through Christmas is my absolute favorite time of year. Everything seems fun and exciting- new classes, football games, homecoming- and there’s always a holiday to look forward to.
I’m also looking forward to a some alone time. Since my husband is a teacher, it feels like everyone is always home during the summer. Especially now, when my son is home (which I LOVE, don’t get me wrong) the house feels a little crowded. One thing I’ve noticed especially is that reading a book doesn’t seem to be regarded as a “serious” activity. Every time I try to read, someone, or multiple someones, decides it’s a great time to ask me questions or start a conversation. I’m trying to read, people! Leave me alone! Except I feel guilty saying that, so I instead put up with the interruptions, knowing it’s temporary.
While I’m definitely looking forward to fall, I’m also assessing how the summer went, and it’s a little disappointing. Once again I started off with lofty goals- the “summer of speed!” “summer of strength!”- and feel like nothing was accomplished. Maybe I need to adjust my expectations.
If “summer” is the time between school ending and then starting again, it’s only ten weeks. Those weeks can be turbulent, with travel thrown in, people coming and going, weeks of camp, weeks of no camp… add to that the fact that I was sick for two weeks, and I really never had a chance to get into a solid routine. Or, maybe I’m just making excuses. However you look at it, summer does not seem to be the season of big fitness goals for me.
You know what it WAS a season for? READING! I read seven books in June (and one of them was 1000 pages, Gone With the Wind) and another seven in July. I know there are people who read a lot more than that, but that’s a great number for me. It turned out to be the “summer of reading,” and I’m happy about that.
Are you looking forward to fall, or wishing the summer would never end?
Has your summer played out as you hoped?
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35 Responses
This has not been a summer of reading for me, but in my world summer lasts through August so I have another month.
Yes, I guess in most worlds summer lasts through August- unless you have kids in the public school system. Sigh!
Your school starts so early! *clings onto summer* My summer has been lovely and there is still a lot left! But I do think August snuck up on all of us, who can believe it! I love summer!
My husband and son are currently in Scotland! So the house is VERY quiet. I’m trying to get a bunch of photo projects done this week and I’m making progress, but I always THINK things are going to take less time than they do. But Birchie will be here TODAY and so that is going to be so much fun.
GAH!!! How fun, you and Birchie. I’m very envious- she can hug Rex in person!!! And you, of course. : ) Have fun.
In the district I work for, school starts on Monday so summer is almost over here too. Except the actual summer weather won’t be done for awhile, and we are having temps in the 110s again (sigh). So I’m looking forward to fall when it will only be in the 80s and 90s haha, but that won’t be consistently happening until October or even November!
I really just want it to cool down a bit because my next race is in 8 weeks and getting in the long runs is tough when it’s already 80 by 6 am.
Yes, it won’t cool down here till November as well. Maaaybe October- we’ll see.
That’s one of the reasons I didn’t do a fall race this year- training for it is so brutal. And, your school starts even earlier than ours!!! Eek.
No kids and my hubby works. Fall is just cooler with shorter days.
My summer of speed and endurance never happened due to the heat and my foot.
Foot is fine but it’s already August.
I used to read a book every Sunday because I was on the lake. Unfortunately 2 lake days mean only 2 books. Otherwise I just read before bed.
School doesn’t start here until after Labor Day.
Enjoy your favorite season.
Yes, that’s what it was like when I was growing up- school always started right after Labor Day. You still have a lot of summer left!
Part of the reason my speed never happened this summer is because of my hamstring- it’s better but I feel like I need to be careful with it.
I’m glad your foot is okay!
I’ve been able to do more reading than I usually do, thanks to some very long flights. I totally agree with you that now until the end of the year is the very best part of the year. We’ve got plans to visit both of our kids for college football games in Sept and Oct and I am so here for it! I think as long as you keep on keeping on with your fitness over the summer, I’d call it a win!
YES! College football- I can’t wait. I won’t be going to any games in person but I’ll be watching at home.
Friend, you left something of our your summer goals and accomplishments list: YOUR DIET!!! You’re taking care of the health stuff so that you can get the future summers of strength/speed and your 60 for 60 races done.
I love my family, and I love them a little more when they’re not loafing around the house all day. Don’t get me wrong, I did plenty of summer “rotting” when I was their age, and it is a legit phase of life, but I’ll be glad when this phase is over. The start of the school year is in sight!
I like the lucky 7 reading streak!
Hmm. Thanks! That is true- this diet was a big part of my summer and I should count it as an accomplishment.
We’ll see if I can read 7 books in August- I bet I can.
I also love my family around but have come to love my alone time as well. As you know fall is my favorite so I’m all here for it! We were traveling most of July so it flew by for sure!
Yes- fall is right around the corner! And that’s a good way to make a hot, humid month speed by- get out of town for most of it.
It was the summer of speed… reading!
You look remarkably fit in all your photos (love that first one!), and I’m glad you’re truly over your illness so you can focus on goals.
Onward, Jenny!
Thank you Maya! Yes… it was the summer of speed… reading. Nice way to save that one.
You definitely need to cut yourself some slack about how you feel summer went. Being sick for 2 out of 10 weeks IS A LOT!! Plus you had the road trip w/ Paul! Maybe you need to reassess whether you really care about getting faster? I know it can be done but is it fun for you? (It would not be fun for me as it would involve treadmill workouts and sprinting and those are things I do NOT enjoy). And reading so much is excellent!
I feel pretty good about our summer. I barely traveled which is nice but I will pay for it this fall as I have 12 trips from mid-August through mid-December. Gulp. The we’ll be down to 1 drop off so things will be more manageable I think/hope.
Egads!!! 12 trips in four months is a LOT. It will be a whirlwind, for sure.
It’s not really about whether I like or dislike speedwork (although I do think it can be fun) but more that I’m tired of running so frickin slow. And I feel like I keep getting slower and slower… I have to do SOMETHING. I agree, it sounds like I don’t really care because I keep talking about it and then not doing it. Or, I do it but in a half-hearted way. I’ll have to think more about this!
Boy school starts early for you all! I do agree with you that the time between school starting and the end of the year is my favorite time. I just love everything about the Fall and given the weather this year, I’m more than ready for some cooler days. I’m also ready for the house to quiet down a little 😉
Yes! Cooler days, quieter house… what’s not to love?
I’m always wishing for summer to never end, now and when the kids were still around. I love the heat (surprise?), the long daylight, the flowers, the (somewhat) laid-back feeling of everything and the (almost) daily sunrise runs or walks. Well done on all that reading!
I know, Kim. I do love the longer days and more laid back feel. If I still lived up north I would be begging the summer to never end.
That’s a loaded question. I love summer, but Kay is a challenge. She does best with structure and she doesn’t have a lot of friends to invite her over – so I put her in a couple of classes and camps to keep her busy. So, I am ready for school start in that regard – but aside from that, I’d like summer to last forever. I don’t work in the summer. It’ll be fine. I have a small crowd this year. Still, I like my freedom. My goal was to get a lot of writing done over the summer. I’ve definitely accomplished more there as compared to last summer, but I’m still hoping to do more.
Yes- my daughter was like that when she was younger. She really needed structure, and things didn’t usually go well during vacations from school. She’s still a little like that. I mean she’s fine, she can entertain herself, but she would rather be in school or she just gets bored.
You’re on a teacher’s schedule! I think we’ll be dragging my husband kicking and screaming back into the school year.
Our summer wasn’t the greatest either. We did have some fun but I am ready to move on to the next stage of this year. Oh well.
We start next Monday, AND our school starts 15 minutes later! Now they go from 9:35AM to 4:05PM. I hate it. It’s sooooo late.
WOW- we are still on the hellishly early school schedule, where we start at 7:30. I wish we could switch!!!
Great job on getting in so much reading, but I do remember the constant interruptions when the kids were home for the summer. Still, I loved that more chill time of the year.
I do love fall, I just don’t like the cold dreary months that follow (I used to LOVE winter)… So to answer your question, I guess I’m wishing summer would never end.
Our summer has played out exactly as hoped. We had the most epic road trip and it was everything and more than I expected. 🙂
You did have an epic road trip! I think you win the award for Best Summer Ever.
I try not to wish summer away because I really hate Canadian winters, but fall is my favourite time of the year. Really up until December 26th is my fav, and then I mostly hate where we live until spring because the snow and cold gets fast VERY FAST for me.
This has been a great summer so far. I’m a bit daunted because August doesn’t have as many structured activities as July, so I anticipate some kid angst (Indy has suddenly hit the tween stage and it’s breaking my heart a bit. My usually very happy, compliant boy is grumpy and pushing buttons….NOOOOOOOOO; on the flip side, Belle is getting easier, so I suppose they each get their time!)
I’ve read a lot this summer and it’s been great!
Oh REALLY! Indy in the tween stage- I guess it had to happen at some point. Funny how the universe always seem to even things out- my experience has also been that the kids switch off being difficult (although in my case it’s almost always my daughter, lol).
Wow, that is an impressive number of books to read. I guess if I cut down on watching TV, I would also read more too. I like Summer because I am on break. But, I love Fall mainly because of the cooler weather.
Is it wrong to comment on your gym photo? Your arms are #goals.
I hope you can get back to your Earl Grey soon! Another month, right?
With no school in my household, summer just feels like a hot season, and we’ve had a mild summer thus far. I need to go to the Farmers’ Market so at least it can be tomato season or something.
I remember realizing I NEVER had time alone at home. Then I started working from home in 2006, and I get SO MUCH time alone, I love it. <3
Summer of Reading sounds wonderful.
I have been in a reading slum somehow. I wanted to read longer novels but… meh.
I think I have too many things going on and my brain is too busy to stick to a book these days.
The summer of reading! That sounds like a lovely way to pass a summer. My summer was not what I expected, filled with way too many doctor’s appointments and procedures. I’m just glad that football is almost back and soon PSLs will be available at Starbucks and all will be right with the world again. <3
Every summer, even as the boys are older now, I find it chaotic and challenging to fit my workouts in. This summer has been hard because Asher has needed rides so often- mostly to work. Running him here and there during my work day means I don’t have enough time to ALSO then take a gym break, too. Every year this happens, and every year I fail to plan around this and accommodate it! (ie plan for earlier workouts, or just accept it’s going to be hard and do home workouts in the summer, etc.)