THE GIRLS OF SUMMER
Though you wouldn’t have guessed by the weather in Vancouver this past Saturday, it’s technically springtime and not long before summer hits. Summertime is something I have come to have hugely mixed feelings about. Many of my childhood memories of July and August are fond and quintessential, filled with slip n’ slides, ice cream trucks, cherry trees, beach days, neon swimsuits, racing bikes up and down the street, lemonade stands, camping and building forts on the patio using blankets and lawn chairs.
The days of summer are no longer what they used to be, with my taste for the time of sunshine soured by living in the city. (Tangent: I am convinced my blog causes me to come off as massively cynical at times). Summertime in Vancouver for “grown-ups” is a completely different game. Now it’s about martinis on patios, frivolous boat cruises, scantily clad men and women cavorting on both beaches and sidewalks and line-ups on hot nights at even hotter nightclubs. Don’t even get me started on the fireworks at English Bay either. It’s as though a certain hedonism emerges when the days heat up; it’s seemingly inexplicable.
Yes, that’s Casey sunning himself on his back at Jericho Beach.
It’s because of this that I almost dare to say that I dread summer. Or perhaps it’s simply because I’ve long been a bigger fan of winter; probably because I prefer jeans and Uggs to shorts and flip flops. Whatever my reasoning, summer is inevitable so here is an attempt at creating a laundry list of things to look forward to in summer 2008 – simple pleasures and exciting endeavours.
Okay, your turn: what are you most looking forward to this summer?
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I’m looking forward to beautifying my boyfriends backyard, numerous BBQs, cold beer on the deck, sunning myself by the beach, taking Noah to the lake for the first time, Matt Good’s show in June, going on a roadtrip to Winnipeg with my boyfriend, maybe going to BC or the east coast for a second roadtrip, taking nightly cruises on the R6, camping with my 2 favourite boys, and summer festivals!
p.s. I love pie.
K, now I want a hot dog for lunch! Here’s what I’d add to the list (cause I’d have to agree with many of the things above:
-Slurpees (or Squishees)
-Cool breezes that are refreshing instead of bone-chilling
-Not wearing pants (I go completely pantless in the summer… well, I exchange them for skirts)
-Skirt shopping
-Vancouver Canadians baseball games - warm sun, gorgeous view of QE park and the city, men in tight uniforms, sunshine, hot dogs, beer, the crack of the bat - the roar of the crowd.
Sunny days!!!
Wreck Beach
Camping
Hiking
Bike Riding
Rollerskating with my new skates!
Ice cream (I allow myself 1 waffle cone + 2 scoops a year, and it’s in the summer)
BBQ’s
Trips to Salt Spring Island for the summer market
longer daylight hours
I’m sure there is more, but I am heading out for a run right now
I love the summer…
BBQ’s
Beach walks with Charley
Hornby, Coombs and this year Salt Spring for the first time
Day at the Filberg
Photography
Outdoor painting/sketching
Backyard read and snooze
Endless Salads
and so much more…
Relaxing up at Cultus Lake.
In addition to many of the great things mentioned above, I’m looking forward to:
-having a sunny glow on my face, and not looking as much like Casper as I do through the winter months
-a new collection of Roxy summer dresses and bikinis to choose from
-my sales meeting in San Diego
-cruiser bike rides
-surf camp
Ok, so in addition to all the awesome comments above, I’m looking forward to:
- Pride 2008 with my friends (and new blospheric friends)
- Blogathon 2008 (who’s Blogathoning with me this year?)
- My Mom coming to visit maybe for a full month.
- Going on a road trip to the Okanagan.
Totally doing Blogathon again this year and last year wouldn’t have been possible without Keira’s guest posts, her company on my couch, and her gracious supply of 80’s movies.
I would like to participate in Blogathon this year - when is it? Um, and also, I agree with J-Sto…cruiser bikes for sure. I’d also like to add Playland (finally!) to the list because I haven’t been in years.
I loved Pride the one year I went, but unfortunately it falls on the August long weekend each year, which is also when the Filberg Festival takes place, and a girl’s gotta have her priorities. The Filberg Festival is always the highlight of my summer!
Summer Blogathon Vancouver 2008! You know like the 30 Hour Famine in school? We could all participate then meetup for a few hours to continue the bloggage.. or all sit there in a room with cold leftover pizza blogging non-stop
I’m down for the Blogathon this year…and I have an ol’ skool cruiser bike…let’s ride, ladies!
Being skinny! Okay well, I’ve been struggling with my weight for years now and I finally got my butt in gear. So to speak. My Summers have been filled with jeans and hoodies and definitely no bathing suits, but by time the hot weather rolls around this year, I should be at my goal weight. I am so stoked. Maybe I’ll even get a bikini…but uh, I don’t want to jinx it.
This was lame.
Ok, so it’s decided, we’re all doing Blogathon
If memory serves me right, it was at the end of July.
We could definitely get everyone together and blog non-stop
Oh and for the record, I could have not done Blogathon 2007 if it hadn’t been for Rebecca’s encouragement throughout the 24 hour relay, and a gentle nudge that pushed me over the edge when I was sitting on the fence wondering if I should blogathon or not.
I TURN 50 THIS SUMMER!!!
Yay cruiser bike club!
What am I looking forward to in summer ‘08?
Sunshine!
Camping!
Skirts & tanks instead of jeans & turtlenecks!
BBQ’s & Mojitos!
Bronzed skin!
There’s more than that to list for sure, but those are definitely the top 5.
Give me summer!
Climbing trips to Squamish, Chek, Penticton, and maybe down south!
Scrambling up peaks
Ultimate games
BBQs
Kayaking
And hopefully (have my finger crossed)
Radiohead concert!!!
Skiing during Canada Day weekend somewhere high up! Yes you heard me right, skiing!!!
So I haven’t had a Summer in the City ever! But my fondest memories include homemade pizza on someone very cool’s balcony… i think one of those times may also included “interesting” conversations
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[...] week’s post about the impending summer season got the ball rolling in my head, and I’m actually finding myself looking forward to sunny [...]
Hey there, I’m from Western Australia.. I just applied for my work visa so I can come up to Vancouver to live for 12 months!
Great blog - I can get a bit an insight into what this city is like!