Summer List



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 It is only April, but I am already trying to decide what my summer is going to look like.

Since I just started a new job (YIPPEE!) and I know I need to find my own apartment, the options are going to have to be inexpensive and short day trip ideas.

This blog post is going to be a list of staycation ideas as well as day-trip ideas for me (and YOU)!

Let's begin:

Staycation
1. Since we know I have an ever eager 5 year old ready to run along on an adventure with me, most of these ideas will be just an excuse to be a kid again. I think the best #1 idea I could do is invest in outdoor toys. For example - a badminton net, a big beach ball, water guns, water balloons, etc. You can buy these items fairly cheap at most discount stores, so this might be right up our alley. It gets so hot down here, what a better way to cool off and enjoy my niece.

2. Movies - I realize that it is sort of cliche, but it is a lot cheaper than running off to the beach. Not to mention, it is always nice and cool inside. Plus - many of the block busters hit for summer.

3. Summer reading. I think I mentioned it before that I STILL buy stacks of books for summer. Sort of a habit from childhood, but it becomes something I like to do. Grab the lawn chair, grab a nice big glass of iced tea, and just sit by the gardenia bush, inhaling that sweet scent while diving into the next story.

4. Zumba. Yes, now I will be able to afford to start back at the gym. I will select a Zumba class, and go to one a couple of days a week. It's a lot cheaper and a lot less smokier than dancing it up at a club! LOL

5. Ballroom Dancing. I want to get back into this, and what a great idea for summer. I did find two different instructors in Macon, so I think this might be a nice treat and distraction from not being able to take off overseas for the summer. ;-)

6. Shopping Farmer's Markets - I LOVE spring and summer for visiting local farms and farmer's markets. The selection is incredible. Also, since I love to take pictures, the colors of the fruits and veggies are so vibrant.

7. Swimming. Just visiting a friend who has a pool is a wonderful way to chillax.

8. Lake Tobo - there is a lake nearby, in Macon, and there is a marina where you can rent a boat for the day. Would be fun to get a group together and do this.

9. Home spa day - why not break out the foot bath, the back massager, the face mask, and give myself a manicure from time to time?

10. Finally - Visit the local museums. Yes, I will be working at one, and that thrills me to no end, but really get out there and take in the history of my hometown. Also, attend theater productions, etc. If Macon is known for one thing - it's the Arts.

Day Trip Ideas

1. I am SOOO thankful to only be 2 1/2 hours from Savannah. Do I need to say more? I guess I will.. I love taking the Dolphin Cruise, I love ghost tours, I love the moonlight cruise, I love going to the beach, I love the Telfair Museum, I love taking pictures of all of the amazing homes, I love the food.... etc... etc..

2. Atlanta is 1 1/2 hours away. Maybe even an hour. Depends on the traffic. There are SO many things to do there - The Georgia Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the world, The CNN Center, Underground Atlanta, the Atlanta Zoo, Fox Theater, dining, shopping.. I could go on and on. Many MANY choices.

3. Stone Mountain, out side of Atlanta, has a TON of activities in the summer.

4. Jekyll Island, this is about 3 hours, maybe 4 from Macon. My family used to vacation here when we were kid. They have a wonderful outdoor theater, a great summer water park, the island is small, so you can rent bikes. It's awesome.

5. Shoot the Hooch - I love heading to Helen, GA (about 2 1/2 hour north to the mountains,) and renting an inner tube, taking a bus to the top of the mountain, and tubing down the Chattahoochee River. You can do it all day! It's awesome.

6. The Georgia Renaissance Festival takes place from late April to I want to say early June. There is nothing more fun than a Renn Fest.

7. Jacksonville is only 4 hours from here. Tampa, about 5 1/2. St. Augustine- 5 hours. There are options!

8. I can always day trip it back to Birmingham to visit friends.

9. Chattanooga is about 4 hours from here.

10. Finally Charleston. Can you believe I have YET to see Charleston. I think this summer may be the one.

What about you? What DESTINATIONS do you plan to visit, or what are some fun ideas for home?

Do Not Be Afraid

"The man who doesn't relax and hoot a few hoots voluntarily, now and then, is in great danger of hooting hoots and standing on his head for the edification of the pathologist and trained nurse, a little later on. "~Elbert Hubbard

Amen to that Mr. Hubbard.

Week two of unemployment commences. Hootie Hoo!

I have decided to embrace summer (finally) - since technically everyone told me to do just that last week. I think I was still in such a state of shock, I had to go into "fix mode." Here's the thing, it's been one week. Sure, time is just a ticking into the future, but I have sent out over 20 resumes to some seriously - quality jobs. I actually got a call back for one - but after much debate with the egyptian, I am going to pass on this "possible" opportunity. With his Praxis coming up in a month, and school about to start back (his job,) the cost of relocating is just not worth it.

The sucky part - it was in Savannah. Yep... the city I have wanted to move to.

BUT - I think we have a plan we can both be satisfied with.. and that's what I am going with.

Instead of worrying about jobs this week (though I will spend 1 - 2 hours a day searching) - I plan to have a little fun this week. For instance, the pool. I live in a great apartment community. We have a racquet ball court, tennis courts, basketball courts, 2 pool, a gym, jacuzzi, a 1 -mile wooded trail and a movie theater (seriously.) There is no reason I don't take advantage of all of this crap I have been paying for.

So... beginning tomorrow - Vacation: Nicole will commence. There is food in the frig, gas in the car, and outside of one errand for a friend (picking her up from the train station) and one coffee "date" with another friend - I am a free agent.

You better believe I am going to embrace it.

I have to give all props to the big guy upstairs. I was feeling sort of.. well.. lonely, and a little worthless (one week with nothing to officially do other than clean house and drive the egyptian to work is a little disheartening.) I decided to go to mass. Except I tried another church -and guys - I LOVED IT. Everyone was so friendly (that's saying a lot for catholic churches... we tend to mind our own business..) and the priest was very nice, and it doesn't hurt that the message was dead on what I needed to hear.

The overall theme - "Do Not Be Afraid."  Remember when Pope John Paul II came out with his overall message to the world? It was those very words. Do Not Be Afraid. God is with you.

The gospel today was the story that involved Jesus walking on water. Don't remember that one? Well it goes a little something like this:

After feeding the 5000, Jesus sends his disciples ahead of him in a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee. Several hours later in the night, the disciples encounter a storm. Jesus comes to them, walking on the water. This terrifies the disciples and they think they are seeing a ghost. Jesus tells them in verse 27, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

Peter replies, "Lord, if it's you, tell me to come to you on the water." So Jesus invites Peter to come. Peter gets out of the boat and begins walking on the water toward Jesus. But when Peter takes his eyes off Jesus and sees the wind and waves, he begins to sink. Peter cries out to the Lord and Jesus immediately reaches out his hand and catches Peter. As they climb into the boat together, the storm ceases. Then the disciples worship Jesus, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

For me, the story says - concentrate on what's important, and "He's" got this. So I kneeled in the pew at mass and just asked Jesus to hold my hand through this. I mean, seriously... if Jesus were to come to Earth, and we all saw him.. and he walked around with me, holding my hand... I mean.. come on.. I would not be afraid of anything. So, I decided that would be my little thought process.

During the Homily, the priest was talking about how God will is what we need to focus on. I sort of smiled, thinking of how arabs, before they even speak of the future, they always say, "Inshallah." Which translates to God Willing. Soo... I will be okay, Inshallah.

As I was going to take the Eucharist (Communion for my Protestant friends..) the choir sang, "Do Not Be Afraid" and all I could think was - THAT'S IT. That's God's message to me this week.

So, my friends.. I will NOT be afraid. This too shall pass. I will concentrate on Jesus and God and not look at the choppy waters around me, and you better believe, I feel like I am in the eye of the Hurricane... it seems calm.. but I know I am surrounded on all sides. Maybe with trusting God to be on my side, I can weather this storm.

Inshallah.

I will leave you with a YouTube version of the song. The lyrics speak volumes.

Southern Summers

"Summer is the time when one sheds one's tensions with one's clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit. A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all's right with the world." ~Ada Louise Huxtable

Okay, I am finally starting to truly get into the summer spirit. Please excuse the previous posts - it was post argument, and the only way I can purge is by writing. The only difference with my journaling experience, is that maybe a couple hundred (or more - take a look at that ticker to the left - WOW!) may be reading this dribble.

Truth is - the pressure is up up up - and vacation is JUST around the corner. I am taking a week off, and I am thrilled to spend 1/2 with my niece and the other 1/2 with the rest of my family and friends. Perfect little break for someone who does not get enough time with the people she loves.

Summertime in the south is really quite a treat. For one, it's humid as a sauna. How is that fun? Well.. makes coming inside to the cool a/c and a nice big glass of iced tea even better. The weather is typically SUPER sunny, outside of a few powerful thunder storms. Fresh cut grass, GREEN every where, crickets at night as well as all of the lightening bugs (or fire flies as some like to call them.) How about the heat - lightening? I don't know if it's the scientific term, but down here there is always tons of lightening in the sky at night.. nothing to worry about. It only happens on those super hot nights.

There are also so many songs that remind me of the good times down here. You know I love music, and I certainly love that I can share sooo many of the songs that I love so quickly by typing in a random word on You Tube.

I have a playlist on my Ipod called Southern Summers. I used to play it while at the beach, or if I am at the pool, it is what I listen to. I picked out a few songs that 1. Epitomize Southern Summers 2. Make me think back to a special time...

Listen to the lyrics.. get past the music (if it is not your style) - it's just cultural.. a southern culture thing. ;-)


This song reminds me of summer vacations to the beach. My favorite "southern" beachside bars are AJ's in Destin and the FloraBama in Orange Beach, Alabama.


This next song reminds me of growing up in the south - as a teenager. Just something about it.. the lyrics.. etc.


I know he is singing (technically) about Michigan.. but it could easily be anywhere around here.. the song makes me laugh, because I was around the same age in 89. LOL Instead of lakes.. we actually have ocean. :-)


Summer Nights.. and young love.. :-)


A little southern beach song..


Isn't this the truth? Come down here.. things are just a little different..


This song just reminds me of the beach.. and vacation time.. warm summer breezes..


Another good one.. Very southern summer..


Another great one!




Finally - how perfect is this? LOL