Here's to Summer: Part Twenty-Two

I am low on ideas for this series, but I have one or two good ideas left. I guess when this Summer series is over I'll begin work on my baseball series. But if you, dear reader, have any suggestions for more Summer installments, please let me know!

Reason Twenty-Two: Mowing the Lawn.

David, Mowing the Lawn is work. You have to work outside in the heat during the Summer. You can't possibly expect me to believe that Mowing the Lawn is a good reason to celebrate Summer. I'm not that dumb.

But Mowing the Lawn is so rewarding! You can see what needs to be done before you begin the task and you can look back at what you accomplished when you are done!

David, be reasonable. You have to haul the heavy mower out of storage and make sure it's clean enough to even run. You have to spend money to put gas in it. You have to check the oil and the air filter. And then you have to throw your entire shoulder out in the process of starting it. Mowing the Lawn is not a reason to celebrate Summer. 

But think of all the benefits! 1) Cardio. Everybody can use a good cardio workout now and then. And Mowing the Lawn combines arms, legs, and back muscles in a workout that is productive and profitable. 2) The result. Your lawn looks nice and cared for, unlike neighbor Steve next door who own three lawn mowers that all seem to have a critical engine piece missing. 3) The avenue to teach. Once your kids get old enough you can teach them to mow the lawn and they will learn good work ethics and excellent habits.

David, all these reasons seem good but I'm still not convinced. 

Have you ever stepped outside after that grass is cut? You smell the life of Summer in the air. The air smells almost alive in a way. The bright shades of green make pretty patterns on the front lawn and you can almost see the market value on your home increasing.

Plus, after you get done, you can go to Sonic and get an ice cold Cherry Limeade and then sit in a lawn chair and look at your beautiful lawn.

*sip*

Here's to Summer. 

Here's to Summer: Part Twenty-One

Twenty-one reasons to celebrate Summer! This series is legally an adult!

Reason Twenty-one: The Fourth of July.

The Fourth of July comes right in the middle of Summer. By this time you are used to the Warm Nights and the Sunshine and The Fourth of July comes as a welcome reason to celebrate both of those reasons.

The Fourth of July marks the birth of our great nation. A day to celebrate what makes the United States such a wonderful nation to live in. Hot Dogs, Ice Cream, Grilling, fireworks, food, friends, and patriotism all combine to make The Fourth of July one of the best holidays of the Summer.

The day will be pretty hot and everyone will worry because the warm weather means there will be hazardous conditions when setting off fireworks later in the day. Then the evening comes and everyone will stuff themselves full of good food and cold lemonade and set off their own fireworks.

Once they exhaust their own stash of explodables, they will pile into the car and drive down to the river or downtown or the amusement park to watch more fireworks.

There will be accidents and hazardous dead grass fires and people with burn marks on their hands and faces the next day. But that's because it's America! We do stupid things and pay for it later.

Happy Twenty-one little blog series. Don't blow yourself up this year during The Fourth of July.

Here's to Summer.

Here's to Summer: Part Twenty

Wow! Twenty reasons to celebrate Summer! That's pretty great! Well, here goes!

Reason Twenty: Bike Riding.

Bike Riding is such a Summer activity. I can remember riding my bike all over creation. We lived across the street from a small park until I was ten years old, and my siblings and I would ride our bikes all over that park.

Then one day my parents took me to the store and bought me a full-size 21 speed bicycle. I can remember putting it together in my parents living room and then rolling it out the front door. It was fire engine red with white racing stripes and studded tires, "suitable for both pavement and off-road terrain." It was bigger than my old bike and didn't need training wheels. I was ready for the big time.

I opened up those 21 speeds and started flying down the street. Paused for the stop sign, then tore off again. The wind in my face, bugs in my mouth, I had reached the breakneck speed of approximately 8mph when my front wheel started wobbling. No big deal. I decided simply to slowly grasp the brake and slow down to regain control.

Only I grasped with my left hand, not my right. And because my bike was brand new, the brakes were very touchy. So the front wheel brake worked very well and stopped the momentum of the bicycle completely.

My momentum continued, however, and I flew over the handlebars and descended gracefully to the pavement. (I feel like I've told this story on my blog once before? If that is the case I apologize to the three people who have already read this story)

My face suffered a nasty scrape and my bike suffered a few dents and my pride suffered a little as well. But I learned my lesson! Squeeze the right brake slowly, instead of the left brake.

To Summer, Bike Riding, and all the wonderful joys that come with it.

Here's to Summer. 

Here's to Summer: Part Nineteen

Today's reason is very special to me.

Reason Nineteen: Camp.

Summer is the time when people go to Camp. Teenagers pile into buses and vans and ride for hours to expansive campsites. They divide up into smaller groups and spend five days living in a cabin in the woods and enjoying the great outdoors.

For parents, Camp is a great way to get some extra rest during a week of the Summer. Send the kids to camp and enjoy some quiet for about 120 hours. The kids will be fine, and the camp will call if there's a dire emergency, but the odds of that happening are highly unlikely.

For kids, Camp is great way to spend a week of the Summer. Who doesn't love 14 hours bus rides? And when you get to the campsite there are a bunch of new friends to possibly make in the next five days.

For girls, Camp is a good time to share quality time with that bestbest friend, or to discover that you hate spiders and snakes, or to spend all your money on T-shirts and food.

For guys, Camp is a good time to get some exercise, or to meet girls and get their numbers, or go swimming, or meet girls, or talk to girls, or meet girls.

Camp is what you make of it. You can have fun or you can hate it, but whatever your experience is, it will be a direct result of the choices you make throughout the week.

One more thing: Camp is a great place to meet people. I met some one there once when I worked as a counselor. I didn't think much of it, only that she was nice and sweet and godly. But later in my life I realized that she was all of that, and a whole lot more. And I've known her for two years as of yesterday.

Camp is a very, very good thing.

Here's to Summer. 

Here's to Summer: Part Eighteen

Tonight's post is dedicated to somebody special: My sister.

Reason Eighteen: Amy's Birthday.

On July 20th, 1995, I met my sister. She wasn't very old at the time. But I knew when I first introduced myself that she and I were going to be friends.

She and I always pick on each other. She hasn't found out how to get me to crack but she's come close several times. We like to discuss the Kansas City Royals and McDonalds and favorite Summer activities and memories of growing up together.

Her birthday falls on July 20th but she always has to remind me because for the life of me, I can't seem to remember that it falls only four days after my brother's birthday, which happens on the 16th every year.

And let's be honest, it just wouldn't be Summer without Amy's Birthday. Without Amy's Birthday, we wouldn't have Amy, and without Amy, we wouldn't have...well, Amy.

She's the coolest high schooler I know and possesses the smallest vertical leap I have ever seen and can keep track of 5,000,000 + events/times/places/things/people at one time without getting them confused. That is one talent I shall never conquer. Never.

Here's to Amy.

Here's to Summer.

Here's to Summer: Part Seventeen

I'm 2 1/2 weeks into this celebration of Summer and I have enjoyed it more than I ever thought I would. Writing something every single day is a challenge. I know every post hasn't been the most beautiful writing in the world, but it has been good for me to practice. Thanks for reading my random scratches of thought.

Reason Seventeen: The Beach.

Summer is a great season because of those two words. The Beach. Now my personal experiences with the beach have always been adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico. But from what I hear, the Pacific Ocean is pretty great too. Or if all else fails, the beach at a local lake will do just as well.

But here's what you do: you find a beach. Preferably a beach that isn't dirty, but if the only available beach is dirty, then you use that one. You will also need the following items:

1. Flip-flops
2. A towel or blanket, but preferably a towel. Actually, bring both.
3. A guitar
4. A frisbee
6. Sunglasses (for those so inclined)
7. An umbrella
8. Swim suit.

You take these items and you go to the beach and you sit on the towel or blanket in the warm Sunshine. You let the sun warm you all over and you get a great head-start on your Summer tan. Then when you are warm enough you flip over and let the Sunshine warm the back of you. Then when you are very hot you go stick your whole body in the water for a while.

Then you get the frisbee and throw it back and forth with your friends. This is really fun. You can throw it far and run in the sand and dive and not get hurt too much. After throwing frisbee you're probably hot and sweaty again so go back to the water to cool off.

By this time it's getting dark, so pull out the guitar and strum it while the tide rolls in. You can listen to the seagulls and watch the sunset and smell the salt water as you play peaceful songs.

Once it gets dark, look for stars. You can lie on the blanket and look up at the night sky until you've counted all the stars you can see.

It's time to go home now, but don't worry! The Beach will still be there when you come back tomorrow.

Here's to Summer. 

Here's to Summer: Part Sixteen

Its been a warm day here in Greenville and the weather reminded me of a good Summer activity. So I decided to write about it for Reason Sixteen.

Reason Sixteen: Grilling.

Grilling out on the porch or patio is just such a great part of Summer. You get to cook your food outside over an open flame, the way they used to way back whenever they cooked food over an open flame. You get to enjoy the wonderful nature right in your own backyard while you are waiting for your food to be ready.

You get to put your hands and elbows on your paper plates and napkins so the wind doesn't blow them away. You get to drink warm lemonade since the ice cubes have melted long before the burgers were ready.

You get to flick ants off of the chairs, table, plates, napkins, cups, ketchup bottle, burger plate, hamburger bun bag and your own self. You also get to swat flies, gnats and mosquitos that like to buzz around your eyes, nose, ears and mouth.

You get to sit in the grass or sit on the porch or sit in lawn chairs or at the old picnic table. You get to eat behind your house or in the front yard or at the park or the block party or at church. You get to hang out with your family and friends and new acquaintances. You get to enjoy the outdoors with good food and good friends.

Summer is a time for grilling out. Out where man used to cook his meat. Out where man can comune with nature.

Here's to Summer. 

Here's to Summer: Part Fifteen

After a one-day sabbatical, I have returned to continue the Here's to Summer series. Many thanks go to Mareena for her contributions on Wednesday. Part Fifteen, coming right up!

Reason Fifteen: Vacations.

We have briefly discussed the fact that during the Summer most people do not have to go to school. This means there is time for families to go on vacations. Some of my best memories are from family vacations.

We would pack up and drive twenty hours to see my Dad's parents who lived on a dairy farm in Gettysburg, PA. We would romp in the haymow and "help" Grandpa drive the tractor and shoot BB guns in the woods and play with the barn kittens that let us come close to them.

Or one year we went down to Florida to spend six weeks helping my Mom's mother move to her new house. We laid out by the pool, rode our bikes all over the retirement community, swam in the pool, visited Disney World, went to the beach, pealed wallpaper, went barefoot, and just had fun.

Last year I was able to spend ten days in Florida after school ended for the Summer. My best friend came down, my sister came after her school let out for the Summer, and my cousin came too. We stayed with my Grandma and went to the beach, played guitars, slept in the car, watched movies, went swimming, threw frisbee, and adventured around the middle of Florida.

One Summer my Dad, brother, and I went to the East Coast. We spent a day at the Gettysburg battlefield, another day visiting Manasses, the Wilderness and Chancellorsville, and Fredricksburg battlefields. We spent a day in Washington, DC, a day in Philidelphia, and a quick stop in Baltimore to visit Fort McHenry.

And one Summer my family up and went to Colorado. Colorado is one of my favorite vacation spots. The weather is nice, the scenery is gorgeous, and the activities are myriad.

So take a Vacation this Summer to relax. Get away from the hustle and the bustle. Slow down for a week and spend some time with the people that matter the most to you.

Here's to Summer.

Here's to Summer: Part Fourteen

Today's post is brought to you by Mareena, a very good friend of mine and fellow Summer enthusiast. Reason Fourteen! Enjoy! 

Hello there! My good friend has asked me to contribute a post to his “Here’s To Summer” series, and while some would assume that he is running out of good ideas, I will assume that he is simply eager to hear from my vast store of Summer experiences. So, I will now raise my glass (of lemonade) to Summer and

Superhero Movies

Now, as evidenced by his posts, David appreciates the great outdoors in the Summer. Water and sun are all good in their appropriate places, but more often than not, I am trying to escape the blistering heat of summer by finding the nearest building with A/C. Heinous? Maybe to some. Comfortable? Definitely. I think of it as self-preservation.

No matter what your view on the outdoors, we all know that some days are just too hot for being out all day, so thankfully, the movie industry has made our inside activity choice easy. Enter, the Summer blockbuster. Every Summer, we are bombarded with 3-5 good ol’ Superhero Movies. Batman, Superman, Spiderman, Metroman, Ironman, and every other ‘man’ you can think of bursts onto the screen over the Summer months, “watching us with their super-vision, saving us with their super-strength, and caring for us with their super-heart[s].”

My little brother and I love superhero movies. We look them up before Summer starts, watch all the trailers, and get hyped about every single one of them. Summer starts for me the minute we get together to see that first big movie. It’s fun, it’s indoors, it’s casual, and it gives me an excuse to wear a good Superhero t-shirt for the day. Sounds like a winner to me.

I will always love the cool combination of Summer and Superhero Movies. Why do they put them out in the Summer? I don’t know. But I do know that a group of friends and family chilling around a movie where good conquers evil is one of my favorite ways to spend a hot Summer evening.

Superhero Movies. They’re great, y’all.

If you enjoyed Mareena's writing click here to read more of her witty, funny, and useful writing. 

Here's to Summer.

Here's to Summer: Part Thirteen

I was born on the thirteenth day, I'm graduating from college in the thirteenth year, and there are thirteen letters in the word "orchesography." So here's the thirteenth reason to celebrate Summer. 

Reason Thirteen: Ice Cream. 

Ice Cream is a creamy delight that was developed by the Persian Empire in 400 BC, if you can believe what you read on the internet. 

In reality, I am lactose intolerante. And can't eat Ice Cream. 

But this is the internet, so I am allowed to eat whatever I please. In this case I would go down to the local Baskin Robbins and ask for a double scoop of chocolate chip ice cream in a regular cone. After I finished every last bit of that delicious treat I would head over to Cold Stone Creamery and order the one called "OREO Overload." Once I finished demolishing that mountain of delectable delight, I'd waddle over to Arby's and order a Jamoca shake. 

In this perfect world I would gorge myself at Maggie Moo's, double dip a waffle cone down at the county fair, and then go home and eat an entire tub of Blue Bunny Vanilla Ice Cream. 

To those of you who have normal digestive systems, I envy you. Grab that Ice Cream scooper and dive into a wonderful bowl of creamy goodness at the next chance possible. Raise your spoons with me now: 

Here's to Summer! 

Here's to Summer: Part Twelve

I think the fact that I am writing a twelfth reason to be glad that Summer is coming makes a pretty strong case for the stupendous nature of Summer. Here we go!

Reason Twelve: Summer Reading Lists.

Now, you might be confused because I already listed NO SCHOOL as a good reason to be happy about Summer. And reading and school seem to go hand-in-hand. So, why list Summer Reading Lists as a reason to celebrate Summer?

Because Summer Reading Lists are responsible for about 45% of my childhood. My mom would take my sisters and me to the library and we would check out as many books as the library would let us. We would fill a plastic tub with books and take them home. They were ours for an entire month.

Mysteries, biographies, fiction stories, comic strip treasuries, novels, encyclopedias, we read them all. I would read during breakfast, during lunch, in the car, while waiting for my sisters' music lesson to get done, and late into the night. I would read a book four or five times before we took it back to the library.

Then thirty days would come and we would load up the plastic tub and haul all those books back where they came from. We'd exchange the previous tub-full for another maximum load and climb back in the van, already devouring the new books we had just checked out.

Besides the obvious benefits to reading so much during the Summer, a small side benefit was that if you filled out one of the official Summer Reading Lists from your teacher at school, you won a free pizza for your family. And you could basically win like, one pizza per list.

We ate a lot of pizza growing up.

So grab your favorite book and dig in. Summertime means you have a little more spare time on your hands than you normally would have. Why not take advantage of it and better yourself with a good book or thirty?

Here's to Summer. 

Here's to Summer: Part Eleven

Two numbers ones put together make 11 and here we are for another reason to celebrate Summer!

Reason Eleven: Warm Nights.

Summertime brings evenings and nights that are warm. The air is light and the breeze blows hard enough to cool you off but soft enough to be comfortable. The sun stays out later because of Daylight Savings Time and the moon seems to shine brighter when its summertime.

Warm Nights are perfect for spontaneity. Ultimate frisbee competitions, Taco Bell drive-through adventures, trampoline jumping, beach adventures, or random trips to Walmart. You grab the car keys, roll the windows down, and head off to find out what the night has in store.

I can remember many a night spent on the tailgate of my bestfriend's car as we talked until the wee hours of the morning. The world's problems were solved many times during the course of our discussions, but you know how the world is, it always manages to get itself back into trouble.

Sometimes when I step outside on a Warm Night, I can smell that familiar adventure in the air. I'll always have fond memories of driving around Kansas City after dark, making sure to stay out of trouble, yet having as much fun as possible with my siblings and friends.

To Warm Nights, good friends, trampolines, and everything else those warm evenings held:

Here's to Summer. 

Here's to Summer: Part Ten

Double digits! Never did I imagine I would have ten reasons to celebrate Summer, but here we are! You'll have to start using your toes to count all of these posts from now on out. Summer is nearly upon us! Let's dig in.

Reason Ten: Hot Dogs.

The tenth reason that I like Summer is because of Hot Dogs. These round tubes of meat snuggled safely between bread makes Summer such an enjoyable season. Just think of all the occasions you could partake of a Hot Dog:

1) At a Baseball game
2) At the drive through
3) At a backyard cookout
4) Reheated for a quick lunch
5) 2 for $2 at QuikTrip
6) At the county fair
7) At the state fair
8) During your Fourth of July Celebration
9) On a camping trip

Look at that list! The Hot Dog is quite the versatile food stuff. It can be used for informal occasions and for celebrations and everything in-between!

And I've always heard that you should have color on your plate whenever you are eating. When you put that Hot Dog in front of you and look at all the different shades of red and yellow, you basically have the equivalent of an artists' paint pallet on your plate.

Raise that Hot Dog with me and say it all together now:

Here's to Summer. 

Here's to Summer: Part Nine

Here we are again for another rambling post about another reason that makes Summer the best season of the year. OK that argument could be made for every season so I'll stay away from calling it the absolute best. But its the season I'm looking forward to the most right now. Here we go!

Reason Nine: Windows Rolled Down.

In the Summer the weather turns warmer and the Sunshine starts to heat the air. The Sunshine also starts to heat the objects it shines upon, from houses to workplaces to cars to people. Specifically, cars heat up like giant microwave ovens when the sun shines on them for hours at a time. The air becomes suffocating when a person gets inside to drive somewhere.

That's where Reason Nine comes into play. When you get inside your car and the air is attacking your face like a bee attacks a flower, your first source of relief must be immediate and it must be swift. So what do you do in this time of crisis?

Roll those car Windows Down. When you have your Windows Rolled Down, breathing is so much easier. Fresh air flows in and out of your vehicle like time flows in and out of each week. You smell all of Summer's smells and you breathe deeply as the different scents tickle your olfactory senses. When you Roll your Windows Down, it's as if you are flying.

The world is at your feet and the wind is in your face. I imagine this feeling is the same feeling that overcame Christopher Columbus, Davy Crockett, Lewis & Clark, Sir Edmund Hillary, and the guy who invented ice cream cones. It's a sensation that takes the effort out of driving to work and turns it into an enjoyable adventure.

So crank that radio up, Roll those Windows Down, and take a big breathe of Summer. You know how it goes. Sing it with me.

Here's to Summer. 

Here's to Summer: Part Eight

Eight reasons to celebrate Summer! If you are interested in reading the earlier posts in this series I have included links to them at the bottom of this post. Today's reason will appeal more to my friends of the female persuasion. That's because today's reason is about footwear. *deep breath* here we go!

Part Eight: Flip-flops.

I believe the correct way to type this term is with the dash located between "flip" and "flops" but the term can also be used without the dash. I personally like the dash. He's a nice guy and just wants to help out.

I own a pair of Flip-flops and I often wear them during the Summer when I am running errands or at the pool. They protect the soles of your feet from the blistering heat of the concrete sidewalks and asphalt roads, while offering freedom for the top of your foot to experience the fresh air and cool breezes.

The girls in my life all seem to enjoy wearing Flip-flops and surprisingly own more than one pair of this Summer footwear item. As soon as the weather starts to turns warmer they gather in groups with their friends to excitedly discuss the possible calendar date for the first official day of Flip-flop season, or brag about how they've "already went to Walmart last week while wearing Flip-flops" and how it greatly enhanced their shopping experience.

Flip-flops can be worn to the beach, the pool, out shopping, or even to church if they are "dressy enough." People all around the world wear Flip-flops. Sandals were a popular footwear item during Bible times, so one could argue that Flip-flops are merely a descendent of the shoes worn by Esther, Naomi, Mary, Lydia, and the Proverbs 31 Woman.

So slip those Flip-flops onto your feet and stand in them proudly as we salute the three warmest months of the year.

Here's to Summer!




Previous posts:

Part One: T-shirts
Part Two: Cherry Limeade
Part Three: Water
Part Four: NO SCHOL
Part Five: Baseball
Part Six: Sunshine
Part Seven: Grass

Here's to Summer: Part Seven

Hello fans of Summer! Today marks the completion of Week One of our Here's to Summer series. Let's get to it right away.

Reason Seven: Grass.

Grass. Green grass. Long grass. Short grass. Pristine frontyard grass. Ragged and patchy backyard grass. Kentucky bluegrass. Bermuda. Fescue. Ryegrass. Switchgrass. Green grass.

Grass that gets in between your toes when you go barefoot in the afternoon. Grass that covers your frontyard from the driveway to the front steps to the street and back again. Grass that grows on the soccer field in a pattern that makes it difficult to play soccer. Grass that won't grow at all in the backyard because the kids keep riding their bikes in a particular pattern around the tree.

Grass that grows on the rolling mountains as they stretch away from your vantage point until they disappear into the haze that rests upon their rounded crowns. Grass that lays in quiet solitude around that tiny hole in the fourteenth green.

Cool grass that soothes the bottoms of your bare feet. Warm grass that pricks your feet when you step off the edge of the sidewalk. Tall grass that tickles your ankles and legs as you wade through it. Short grass that feels like the carpet in your Grandma's living room.

Grass that grows so fast you have to mow it twice a week to keep it looking nice. Grass that doesn't grow at all because it won't rain and so the yard looks like it was sprayed with three gallons of bleach.

Grass. Grass is an integral part of Summer. Without it, Summer wouldn't be the same.

Here's to Summer. 

Here's to Summer: Part Six

I hope you have enjoyed reading these posts as much as I have enjoyed writing them. It's hard to believe that we're already on Reason Six. In related news, this is my 50th post on my blog. That being said, here's the next part in our Summer series.

Reason Six: Sunshine.

Sunshine. Sunshine is a key ingredient to having a wonderful Summer day. I won't insult your intelligence by describing what the sun is. We're all human beings here. But please allow me to take a few minutes to tell you abou the wonders of Sunshine.

Sunshine is warm on your neck and bright in your eyes and blinding when reflecting off the car in front of you. It helps flowers grow and it warms the asphalt under your bare feet and the air around the swimming pool. It helps you tell day from night as it moves across the sky to the left from right.

Sunshine is not as easy to write about as I thought it would be when I started this post.

The nice thing about Sunshine is that it seems like it is more prevalent during the Summer months. Daylight Savings Time occurs in mid-March and then suddenly there's more light in the evenings and it's brighter during the afternoons and the mornings take on a renewed vigor.

The funny thing about Sunshine is that after about a week of experiencing bright Sunshine and warm days, everyone gravitates towards the shade. But the shade would not be possible without the Sunshine. They work hand-in-hand.

This post is short because Sunshine is pretty self-explanatory. Next time there aren't any clouds in the sky between the hours of 6 am and 9 pm,  go outside. You'll see it for yourself.

Here's to Summer.  

Here's to Summer: Part Five

Here's Part Five of our Summer celebration. It's a a balmy 72 degrees F here in Greenville, SC, perfect Summer weather. It's days like today that make Summer such a great season. And it's days like today that make Summer the perfect season for Baseball. This is a fitting day to discuss Reason Five because my home town team is playing their first game of the season in their home stadium.

Reason Five: Baseball.

Baseball is the most American sport. I have heard all the arguments for soccer being the "world's game" and basketball being the "best sport" and football being the "most exciting" and hockey being, oh, wait, never mind. But nobody can argue with the fact that Baseball is America's Sport. It's been around since the Civil War, an era that redefined America and shaped it into the country that we know and love today.

Yes, I know that it is just a remake of the sport known as "cricket" and I know that it has evolved from the 1840s and is a completely different game than what the Rebs and Yanks played back then. But that's what American's do. We take something good and make it better. Like Summer. We took something very good, added Baseball, and made it even better.

I think that Baseball is the sport that is most like life. Consider the following facts.

1) Baseball has a 162 game regular season before the playoffs begin. And the playoffs are decided by best-of series. This number also does not include the 30+ games played in the spring.

2) Baseball analogies are used in everyday vernacular. "Take a rain check," "They became friends right off the bat," "You are way off base with that," "You've got two strikes against you,"and "I dropped the ball on this one" are just a few examples of common phrases used to describe both actions in Baseball, and in real life.

3) Baseball has about a million different rules.

4) Baseball is accessible to people of all ages. Everyone plays some form of baseball, from t-ball leagues to little league to college baseball to girls fast-pitch softball leagues (and half of those girls can throw as fast or faster than players in the major leagues).

I will now compare the above statements about Baseball to life.

1) Life is long. Now, compared to eternity, life is short. But considering the average person lives about 70 years, that's a long time. In Baseball players have hot streaks and cold streaks. There are flashes of brilliance and long slumps. There are consistent players and angry managers and rich owners and thousands of scenarios that could play out depending on the way the ball bounces. In life you have ups and you have downs, you have rich people and poor people and hardworking people and designated hitters who are fat and only work once in a while.

2) You use baseball analogies when you speak whether you realize it or not. Just face it. You do.

3) Life has about a million different rules.

4) Life is full of people of all ages. You interact with these people on a daily basis and you are one of these people.

At this point in my post I have realized that Baseball is such a great Reason to celebrate Summer that I will have to do a spin-off series devoted entirely to Baseball. I will let you know when I begin that series. But for now I will leave you to consider the fifth reason to celebrate Summer. Say it with me, I'm sure you know it by now:

Here's to Summer. 

Here's to Summer: Part Four

Hello there reader! Today is the day for the forth installment of our series on the upcoming season commonly known as Summer. If you are just joining us you are welcome to read Parts One, Two, and Three if you have time.

Reason Four: NO SCHOOL.

In the Summer there is NO SCHOOL because the Summer was made for purposes other than going to school. Part of what makes Summer so great is that NO SCHOOL means you have so much more time on your hands to use for other activities besides school.

A job is a great thing to get during the Summer because there's NO SCHOOL so you have plenty of time to go through training and learn to adjust to the workplace environment. Some ambitious people might even have two jobs, and that is due largely to the fact that there is NO SCHOOL so they need something else to do with their time. And with all the money you make, you can celebrate by purchasing a new T-shirt.

Improving your ability to play sports is another way to spend the short Summer months. You have all kinds of time and nice weather to spend refining your jump shot, strengthening your golf swing, trimming your 5k time, or raising your personal record of soccer ball juggles (mine is 13 in a row. I know, please, no autographs). Plus, you have NO SCHOOL to go to during the day when you could be sharpening your athleticism.

Reading is another great way to spend the Summertime, but I'm saving this for another post. I know, you might say "David, isn't listing Reading as a benefit of NO SCHOOL a contradictory statement?" It probably is. But like I said, I'll explain why Reading is such an important part of Summer in Part Eleven of my Here's to Summer series.

Teachers don't have to work as much when there is NO SCHOOL. Can you imagine if your teacher worked twelve months of the year? They would be completely exhausted. Teachers need those three months of NO SCHOOL to rest, invest in their personal hobbies, watch a movie or two, or just spend at least a tiny amount of time not preparing lesson plans. When there is NO SCHOOL teachers also get a break. A well-deserved break ifyouaskme.

So there you have it. The fourth reason that Summer is so great is that there is NO SCHOOL. Throw those books into the air and jump around like you don't care, there's NO SCHOOL.

Here's to Summer. 

Here's to Summer: Part Three

Today we are gathered to talk about our third reason for celebrating the arrival of Summer. I already told you about T-shirts and Cherry Limeade in my previous two posts. Today I would like to move on to Reason Three. 

Reason Three: Water. 

Water is an excellent Reason to celebrate Summer. Just to bring you up to speed on where we stand currently, Water covers about 70% of the earth's surface. Also, about 57% of the human body is comprised of water (scientists disagree on this number so I just took the average of the numbers I found pleasedon'tkillme). So it makes sense that Water would be one of the main reasons Summer is such a great season. 

Let's start with a Glass of Water. When you are outside in the hot sun your mouth gets dry and your tongue starts to look like the Arizona desert and it's not until you take that long, cool drink of Water that you begin to feel better. Your whistle returns and you start realizing how nice it really is outside and how much better it is than being inside. 

Next, let's examine Hose Water. Hose Water is a wonderful thing. If you have never experienced Hose Water I want you to wait until about July 13th and then go outside and pick up every single stick that is lying in your yard and then mow your entire yard without stopping, then grab the trimmer and trim all the edges, then take care of all the grass clippings in the best manner you see fit, and then on top of all that, push a 40 lb wheelbarrow around your house three or four times. Once you have done all this, go up to next to the garage (or wherever the nearest Hose is located). I want you to turn that spigot on full blast and take a long drink from that Hose Water. Only then will you fully understand the mysteries of Hose Water. 

This commodity is also a great way to spend a hot afternoon in the backyard, provided you don't run the Hose too long in one place and wear a muddy rut in the grass that negates four years of sod and grass seed that your father has been working tirelessly to get to look like the rest of the yard. 

Third, I'd like to talk about Swimming Pools. Swimming Pools provide hours of fun on hot summer days. You can enjoy just lying beside them soaking up the sun. You can enjoy dangling your toes in the Water so that you stay cool as the warm sun beats down on you. You can swim back and forth and back and forth, or around and around, whichever way your pool is shaped. You can use them for serious exercise or rehabilitation from injury. You can yell and run and jump into them in a fashion similar to a banshee. You can practice holding your breath underWater in order to become a member of the Navy Seals. Swimming Pools offer a wide variety of options that appeal to all ages and shapes and sizes. 

Fourthly, and I know this is getting long, but bear with me as I wade through this last major category of Water, but I'd like to conclude by talking about the Ocean.

The Ocean is a body of water that enhances Summer in a truly remarkable way. The first time one sees the Ocean stretching out before them towards the horizon is a significant memory. You can't really describe the Ocean until you've seen it for yourself. And once you've seen the Ocean for yourself it is nearly impossible to forget it. The Ocean displays every range of emotion imaginable, from peaceful to angry, from happy to sad, from calm to upset, and all the degrees in-between. 

While I've only talked about the Glass of Water, Hose Water, Swimming Pools, and the Ocean, there are so many other aspects of Water we could discuss that make it an important reason to celebrate Summer. So just like I raised my styrofoam cup of Cherry Limeade yesterday, today I raise my Glass of cool, clear, refreshing Water. 

Here's to Summer. 

Here's to Summer: Part Two

Welcome back to this short series on the joys of the season called Summer. Yesterday we explored the phenomena known as "T-shirts," and discussed the myriad options one has when wearing a t-shirt. Today we logically move to Reason Two.

Reason Two: Cherry Limeade.

Cherry Limeade is the only drink that was made for summer. But we must clarify before going any further. We are not talking about just any Cherry Limeade that you can find in a grocery store or down at your local county fair. We are talking about a Route 44 Cherry Limeade from Sonic. The perfect blend of limeade and cherry flavoring, with real limes and real cherrys added to the ice and carbonated liquid that inhabits your styrofoam cup. This, my friends, is true happiness.

I can't even begin to count the number of times my Dad and I would finish mowing a lawn and be tired and sticky and hot and sweaty and thirsty, oh so thirsty. We would load the mowers into the back of our mini-van and then look at one another. We were both thinking it in our minds and then one of us would voice the question, "Sonic?" That was all it took for us to hop in the van and drive ten minutes up the road to our local Sonic Drive-In.

The sweetness of the cherry mixes with the tang of the lime and soothes the thirsty tongue. The kick of the carbonation and the cold of the ice make it tasty yet refreshing at the same time. We would lounge in the van for over ten minutes before getting out to mow the next yard, just sipping Cherry Limeade through red plastic straws and watching life go by. To us tired workers, Cherry Limeade was like an oasis in the desert, a swimming pool in July, a cup of "now get back out there" in the middle of our workday.

Cherry Limeade can also be enjoyed on those cool Summer evenings when there is just a slight breeze and the temperature is right at 70 degrees F. Me and my friends would pile into the car and drive down to Sonic. We ordered Cherry Limeades and tater tots and sit on the hood and laugh and talk and sing until it was time to head home.

One time Sonic came out with a Cherry Limeade Cream Slush. This is a milkshake that tastes like Cherry Limeade with whipped cream added on top. This was basically the best thing any fast food restaurant has ever created. And until you have ever tried one, please sit down. This drink was like a root beer float made by angels who used Cherry Limeade instead of root beer and made ice cream the dominant ingredient. Oh goodness.

So there you have it. The second reason to celebrate Summer. I raise my Sonic Cherry Limeade to you oh warmest of the four seasons.

Here's to Summer.  

Here's to Summer: Part One

I have decided to do a short series in honor of the approaching warmer months. Summer is a much celebrated season. Many people declare that they were made to live only in warm weather. Others get excited about Summer right as Winter reaches the point that makes everyone wonder "will this freezing cold weather ever go away." Still others enjoy the break from school and the vacation time that comes when Summer finally arrives. There are many reasons to celebrate the warmer temperatures and longer days. So, in no particular order of importance, here's to Summer! (Part One)

Reason One: T-shirts.

T-shirts are the quintessential summer clothing. Summer is the reason t-shirts were invented.

They come in every single color imaginable. You can buy purple t-shirts with the names of the state or city in which they were purchased printed on the front. You can find green t-shirts with a joke on the front and the punchline on the back. You can even buy t-shirts that are one solid color.

Blue t-shirts with names of professional or collegiate sports teams are a popular item. You can buy brown "ironic t-shirts" which is pretty ironic, because you don't iron t-shirts. You can get a gray t-shirt to go under your button-down shirt so that after church you can take off the top shirt and transition smoothly into the next activity.

You can pay $20 for a brand name t-shirt or you can pay $2 for a t-shirt from Hobby Lobby.

You can find red t-shirts that have quotes or famous phrases printed on them. You can get orange t-shirts that look like they were made in the 1970s. You can even customize your black t-shirt to say whatever you want it to.

But the best thing about summer is wearing free t-shirts. Free t-shirts are the reason summer was invented.

These are the real reason everyone wears t-shirts during the summer. Because a free t-shirt is way better than a regular t-shirt. Wearing a free t-shirt means you didn't pay for it. Somebody gave you this t-shirt, that's right, gave it to you, and you are wearing it proudly. Everybody else be jealous, because this t-shirt? I didn't pay for it. Nope, it was given to me. That's right. It was free.

Free t-shirts have as much variety as purchased t-shirts. They come from 5ks and charity events and baseball game giveaways and raffles and auctions and invitational sports tournaments and family reunions and from the college recruitment team that visited your school back in February.

Everybody loves t-shirts, and everybody loves free stuff. Ergo, free t-shirts. The first guy to combine these two factors was a true genius. He deserves a national holiday. I submit we set aside June 6th as National Free T-shirt Day and everybody gets to wear their favorite free t-shirt all day. We could even get together some fund-raising and make t-shirts and give them away on that day! How could it get any better? Free t-shirts to celebrate Free T-shirt Day? That would be amazing.

Here's the only drawback to free t-shirts: they usually come two sizes too big. See, they had mediums when they first started handing them out, but they only had a limited amount and they just handed out the last medium like, a minute before you got here. But, here, you can have this t-shirt, it looks just like the other ones, and its only 2XL, and they'll even throw in a sticker that says "Good Job" on it with a smiley face! Maybe next time we give out t-shirts you can get here earlier to get one in your size? Have a good day!

So there you have it. Reason One for Summer being a great season: T-shirts.