I love the feeling that new adventures are just around the corner.
a pretty sky the other evening.
The school year is winding down, which means I’m finding fewer & fewer things between me & my wonderful summer each day. My to do list is getting smaller with each day, and I find myself day dreaming about the things I want to do during my first summer with no classes in years.
For the first year ever, I am not in a rush for the school year to be over. While I am glad that summer is right around the corner, I don’t feel the end of the year burnout that often weighs teachers down as June drags on. Instead, I feel more calm each time I file more music away, post more grades, clean off a bulletin board, or prepare a handout for the beginning of school next year. Perhaps it’s because I know that the days ahead will be filled with leisure and new adventures, followed by the return to work at the end of August–which I’m sure I will welcome with open arms when the time comes. Really!
I’m in the midst of creating a “Summer Bucket List.” It’s not complete by any means yet, but I thought I’d share some of my goals.
1. Hit the beach at least once every two weeks. | For the majority of my life, I lived 15 minutes from the beach. Now, living in the center of Connecticut has meant that getting to the ocean was a hassle–and I didn’t enjoy any of the beaches I visited. But last summer, my friend Kathleen & I discovered Silver Sands State Park in Milford, CT. It is absolutely beautiful, has free parking, and port-o-potties! Not to mention an ice cream truck that makes the rounds, too. :)
2. Go to the gym at least 3 times a week. Preferably 4. Maybe more. | On my blogging “to do” list, I have “share my weight loss story.” Someday I will. Long story short is that I lost a lot of weight over a few years, and the past two years I have been hanging out around the same weight–initially to give my body a break after losing so much weight, but now…the scale has crept up since my trip to Sicily back in February. It’s time to get back to work, and I’m excited to do so.
3. Attend the Hartford Jazz Festival. | From July 20th through July 22nd, jazz musicians and jazz lovers will gather in Bushnell park to hear great tunes, soak up the sun, and eat great food & drinks. Some of my family members are planning on coming down for this, too. I’m really looking forward to spending time with family & some of my favorite things!
4. Attend the Connecticut Wine Festival. | On July 28th & 29th, winos from across the state (and beyond!) will gather in Goshen, CT to taste some of the best that Connecticut wineries have to offer, as well as some local foods. Being the wino that I am, I absolutely must be there!
5. Sew five new things. | I picked up sewing just after the October snowstorm, and I have fallen in love. It is rewarding, but can be time consuming. During the summer I have decided to set a numeric goal so that I can stick to it!
6. Take a cooking class. | I have already found a few places that offer them once in a while, including Stonewall Kitchen. I think it would be a fun way to learn something new. If I could go back in time and follow one of my 28347903 different interests and dream careers, one of them would have involved time in culinary school…followed by opening a cute little café. Preferably one where local teens could feel comfortable hanging out!
…there is more to come. I have a huge list of restaurants to try, too…but for now I’ll spend the last seven days of work daydreaming about jazz, wine, sewing, cooking, and hitting the beach with my slammin’ body (hah! …maybe it’ll be slammin’ after a few months back at the gym…!)
walk in love. 