SUMMER SOLSTICE (60 REASONS WHY SUMMER IS MY FAVORITE)

In honor of this longest day of the year, and the official start of summer, i decided to make a list of the things I love about the best season. And no, summer being the best season is not up for debate. :-) Feel free to tell me why you love summer too!

Without further delay:


1. The heat.
Call me a weirdo (but just call me) but... i kinda like waking up to 70 degree mornings, and going to sleep to 75 degree nights. Ok, maybe not *like* (sweating immediately after you shower is NOT the business) but i find it reassuring. Its the environment's way of saying "summer is HERE." You're gonna be hot, you're gonna be uncomfortable, and by golly, youre gonna be sweaty!" But I dont mind. What i can't stand are those weak summers where the temperature doesn't get past 85 degrees. I like my summers hot, sunny and long. :-)

2. That wonderful breeze that comes out of nowhere during a still, hot day.

3. Riding with the windows down... and the AC blasting.

4. The beach.
The beach rocks all year, but the summer just makes for optimal enjoyment. I can never pick which i enjoy better, the beach sunset or sunrise - but suffice it to say, both are awesome. Biking on the beach is the ultimate. Then theres the salty air that smells divine, the soothing sound of the ocean... the feel of the sand underneath your feet. What's not to love? Oh.. ok, i don't love the gull footprints. Creepy!

5. Cute bikinis and swimsuits you worked all winter to fit in.

6. Sunny days = Sunny Moods.

7. Sunglasses that double as headbands.

8. Sangria.

9. Vacations, staycations, plain old relaxation.

10. BBQ
What is it about barbeque/grilling that makes everything taste better? And why do i lose all sense of space and time as soon as i smell the charcoal percolating? During the summer i can grill every day and not get tired of it. Everything is subject to open flame... veggies, meats... fruit even! (i grilled some peaches the other day. BOMB) Grilling is wonderful year round (and props to those who do it!), but the grill was made for the summer. Or is it that the summer was made for the grill? Hm...

11. Fireworks.

12. Long walks.

13. Bike rides.

14. Sundresses.
During my preteen years i was a a bit of a tomboy and you couldn't pay me to wear a dress. You had to order me to do it. No, seriously. (Which, btw, my dad did. lol. but thats another story for another time.) And this is why it is more than a little incongruous how much i love wearing dresses now. And sundresses? Shucks. What's easier than throwing on a dress on a hot summer day? They're cool. They're feminine, and simple. No searching for tops and bottoms. Effortless and expedient. Bonus: my dad feels a whole lot better. lol

15. Sandals.

16. Blowing bubbles.

17. Getting Tan.
Don't believe the hype, black people tan. How do i know? Im one of em. When summer is over i like to be brown and glowing. Oh yes, im a sun worshiper. lol :-)

18. Free outdoor concerts.

19. Big floppy hats.

20. Dining al fresco.

21. Road trips.

22. The summer blockbuster.
Get thee into the movie theater and pay exorbitant prices for popcorn, drinks and other concessions while watching the film that everybody is talking about which may or may not suck!

23. Trashy novels with no redeeming literary value.

24. Going to the mall simply because its free air conditioning.

25. Birds singing all times of day... and night.

26. Long days.
Today was the longest day of the year ( I still saw remnants of daylight at around 9:15) but even though the days will be gradually getting shorter (sadface.gif) we still have a good bit of time to enjoy the long lazy hours of daylight. What's better than getting off of work at 5 and still having a good 3-4 hours of daylight?

27. Yoga outside!

28. The sound of crickets.

29. Doing nothing all day because its too hot to do anything. And not feeling guilty about it.

30. Lemonade.
Made from scratch. With real lemons. lol.

31. (Extra) Sweet Tea.
Like diabetic strength. None of that weak tea, all bitter on my palate. Gimme sweet, gimme sugar rush, gimme the tummy ache that follows after reckless indulgence. Gimme gimme gimme!

32. Drinking either of these out of mason jars!

33. The sound of lawnmowers.

34. Fresh fruit (in season!)

35. Watermelon.
I know i just said fresh fruit, but watermelon deserves a mention on its own. :-)

36. The night sky.
Summertime is just better for stargazing. Why? Well mainly because you're not freezing your bum off! Its kinda hard to enjoy galactic beauty when youre worried about frostbite. But in the summer? Enjoy to your hearts delight. Or until you've had enough of the mosquitos. lol.

37. Big sexy humidified hair. :)

38. Fireflies!

39. Vintage metal fans.
Remind me of my grandmom. LOVE them.

40 Mr. Softee
This may be a city thing, but where im from, mr softee is an earmark of summer. I may not have patronized one in years, but i still get excited when i hear the familiar mr softee jingle in the neighborhood. Shoot... im kinda jonesin for a cone now. lol

41. Water ice.

42. Cool cotton sheets.

43. Ripe red juicy tomatoes.

44. Summer Storms.
Not to be part of the culture that labels things without sex "sexy" but... i'll be durned if thunderstorms arent like extra sexy. lol. I love a brief summer storm. The feel of the electrically charged air against your skin, rumblings of thunder... the sound of rain against the window... ooh wee! Nature is a beast. A sexy beast!

45. Car rides on the countryside.

46. Spotting random flea Markets during those rides and pulling over quickly, extra excited to look at someone else's crap. :-)

47. Baseball Games.
Baseball is more fun in person.

48. Block parties.

49. Open Fire Hydrants.
Ok so youre not supposed to do this (without city permission) but i wont tell!

50. Summertime naps.

51. Summertime sex.
Its hot, sticky and kinda dirty... but in a good way of course.

52. A fresh pedicure.

53. Tiki torches
I have some of these in my back yard. They are a wonderful accompaniment to those long summer nights.

54. Swings
Few things are as pure a joy as swinging on a swing. Beat it kid!

55. Halter tops

56. Going Braless

57. Pellegrino with lemon/lime

58. No snow.

59. The sound of the sprinkler on lawns.

60. The smell.
Summer smells like freedom. and long weekends. and dreams. and endless possibilities. :-)

Dj Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince - Summertime