I spent a few minutes trying to come up with a clever title for this post, but all I can imagine is me pulling myself out of bed, twisting my hair into a messy bun, and asking you if you’re up for coffee. You nod, just as tired and drained as me, and we confirm our date for coffee.
(We’re also going to meet Kristen at the coffee shop for What’s New With You?, though…)
If we were having coffee I’d probably have something iced or frozen because I straight up hate this heat. Damn, guys. I’m over it. I’d open the conversation by telling you that I dream almost daily of a backyard pool oasis or shaded pontoon boat on the lake. I have access to neither and it makes summer quite torturous.
If we were having coffee you’d have to excuse my nose-blowing and throat-clearing. I am fighting some weird sinus/allergy/summer cold bullshirt. This is my third time being sick THIS YEAR and I am so over it. I don’t think I’m contagious, though. No fever and so far K and my close-quarters coworker haven’t gotten it.
If we were having coffee I’d ask about your long weekend (last week). Two of my best friends came back to our hometown (where I still live) and brought their significant others with them. The girls had fun winery/brewery hopping and then we met the guys for dinner and margs. The plan was to have a fire at my house afterward, but it rained so we sat in the living room and played What Do You Meme and watch the Rocket vs. Warriors game. I love having my friends home to hangout and relax with me 🙂 It doesn’t happen very often- usually I jet off to see them.
(And yes, I’m v pissed that the stupid Warriors are in the finals again. UGH.)
If we were having coffee I’d confess that there’s a deeper psychological reason for my summertime hatred. In the winter it is 100% ok to go home every night, snuggle under a blanket, and hibernate with a book and tea. In the summer there’s this grand expectation to do things. Whether it’s vacation or exercise or swimming or gardening or going to the beach or camping or whatever… it’s there. People discuss their weekends at the lake or on the road and then look at you expectantly. I feel like it’s a lot of pressure to be active and have fun. I don’t have a boat or a pool or a real garden or any athletic skill. Most of my friends live far-ish away (& I’m an introvert). I am SWAMPED with work in the summer. Honestly? My summer weekends look a lot like my winter weekends. It just feels kind of daunting, you know?
But if we were having coffee I’d genuinely want to know about your summer plans! Tell me the vacations you have planned and the weekend activities you’re looking forward to! Maybe it’ll give me some ideas to get out and about.
If we were having coffee, before we stood up and said our goodbyes, I’d ask if you read/heard any of the commencement speeches from this year’s graduation season. Steph shared Abby Wambach’s speech from Barnard College. I love it and I’d definitely share it with you.
And then I’d check the time and realize I’m late for work (because vacation days aren’t an option for me in the summer) and we’d hug and make plans to meet again soon. And I’d probably order another drink for the road.
Life as Louise 
Mm…something cold. That sounds nice. I like the summer for the various events that take place – but I hate the heat because I get hot SO quick. I’m lucky to have one of those round, above ground pools so that’s nice (I’d totally invite you over!) So yeah, it’s a bit hit or miss for me. I still like just hanging at home by myself and reading, etc. so you have to mix it up a bit and not be busy all.the.time.
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
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I went to order a cold drink this weekend and they messed it up and made it hot 😦 Sigh. It was still delicious, though, and I don’t like complaining so I lived with the mistake. Lol
If I had a pool in my backyard I don’t think I’d ever leave my house. I’d have a spot in the sun and a spot in the shade, I’d crack a cold beverage, and I’d be a hermit with a book in my backyard for days and days 🙂
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Yep, tired and drained is about right for today. I would need that coffee. Not iced though… I can’t stand cold coffee – I don’t even like coffee flavoured ice cream (although coffee flavoured chocolate I can cope with).
I have zero plans for the summer. Unless September still counts as summer? My mum and brother are visiting then. There are only 2 English translators at my company now and we can’t be off at the same time. My colleague is off from mid-July until 7 August so I can’t take any time off then, so no summer holiday for me.
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Why is spring so tiring??! Do we push ourselves too hard after the cold and snow melt away? Maybe we burn out early. I dunno. It’s been a tough few weeks, though!
I like all forms of coffee, although I prefer mine very creamy- both cold and hot brews. And no sugar.
September counts as summer! Sounds like it’ll be a fun visit!! Bummer about the work obligations, though. Right now I’m working all summer, too. I have a work trip to Texas next month so that’s going to be HOTTT! Ha.
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I have been on the summer cold/allergy struggle bus this week too. Ugh. No more, no thanks.
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It really sucks when all you want to do is enjoy the nice (not-too-hot-yet) weather. Sigh.
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Still riding that allergy/sinus struggle bus myself! I don’t hate summer… but I do hate the overwhelming heat and humidity. I agree that there’s a push to “do all the things” and I also prefer staying home to read!
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Ugh. Why are our sinuses so cruel?? 😦
The push to do all the things is probably some form of FOMO that I need to get over 😉 I’m making it a goal to figure out a way to enjoy my summers. Slowly but surely I’ll come up with something.
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You are so right about the summer expectations. I even find myself feeling like I need to be doing something even if I am exhausted and really just want to relax. My allergies are horrendous this year I am a sneezing, itchy mess.
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Isn’t the societal pressure to show up and do stuff in the summer stressful?? So weird. It’s perfectly ok to stay home and hibernate in the winter months!! Lol
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I kind of feel the same way regarding the “grand expectation to do things” in the summer. What I love most about summer is not doing much. Outside of deep cleaning my house (because it gets neglected during the school year), going in to WV to see my family, taking morning weekday walks in the park, and going on an occasional trip, I don’t do much at all and I often feel like others view this as pitiful. LOL! Summer is my time to chill and slow down and just “be.”
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I love purging unnecessary stuff and deep cleaning in the summer! It feels great to get rid of everything AND it gives me an excuse to be in the a/c all day 😉 Haha!
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I totally get the Coffee? Coffee. title because I’m there with you, girl. So sorry to hear that you’re under the weather. I had two colds this past winter and it pissed me off so bad. Not fair! It hasn’t gotten “hot” yet but our hottest temps are typically in August and September. And while I do prefer summer over winter, I completely agree that summer comes with expectations. Like I have pretty much nothing planned, a few things here and there, but nothing major so I feel weird. Like why don’t I have big plans for the summer? Am I loser or a freak? Does nobody want to hang with me? And I never feel that way in the winter. Winter is for hibernation!
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Sometimes coffee is a cure-all 😉 I hate being sick. I don’t like being home all day without the energy to do something… plus it just feels terrible. Hopefully we’re both healthy for the remainder of the year!
August gets pretty dang warm here, too. I really shouldn’t be complaining yet…
We’re not losers or freaks 😉 We’re just taking one day at a time. Hahaha!
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ok but if we’re meeting me at the coffee shop, i want to eat (er.. drink) outside because HEAT YES LOVE IT. lol jk, i know i love the heat but rarely make other people suffer if they hate it. interesting about why you dislike summer. i don’t like to do things, i am an introvert too and only have 3 friends in this country.. but i love being outside and not wanting to cry because i’m so cold. i love having the blinds open and having the house heat up. i hate wanting to be inside in the winter alllll the time. i am inside most of the time year round regardless, but the hatred of going outside for even a second is what i hate about the winter, if that makes sense.
sorry you are sick 😦 hopefully you are better soon and don’t get sick for the rest of the year!
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Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo. Just kidding. As long as it’s not so humid I need a bathing suit I guess we can be outside.
I like being cold so maybe I just like all my things (coldness, snow, solitude, being a hermit) to be grouped into winter months… and then summer months feel like a free for all. Haha. I don’t know why I associate them with busyness.
I think my sickness has downgraded to allergy issues, but I’m not going to hold my breath until it’s totally gone. Haha.
Thank you!
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I am going on week two of this allergy/sinus bullshit along with my cube neighbor and Zoe. It is miserable. It is even worse when you go outside and get smacked in the face with the heat and humidity too! Woof! Come on fall! I am ready for you! We just have a beach trip planned for next month. I am hoping to do a few local things like the zoo, botanical gardens and trying a few new restaurants as they open as well. What kind of things are you planning? I wish daily we had a pool!
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Ughhhhhh. Why are our sinuses so frustrating and cruel?! I think I accidentally passed my infection along to my officemate. Whoops. K didn’t get it, though. That was kind of strange. I think I’ve kicked the cold part but my allergies are still a mess. Sigh. The in and out transition from a/c to heat/humidity is THE WORST.
The beach trip sounds like SO much fun. I really wanna go to the beach! I’d love to go to some botanical gardens, too!
We have a summer work trip to Texas planned in July. (It’s gonna be soooo hot- ugh.) Other than that, nothing really. A few concerts. I want a late summer trip or a girls trip in there somewhere, too!
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Allergy/sinus stuff is awful. Hope you feel better and stay well soon!
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So awful! Thank you!!
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Abby forever. Let’s be wolves!
I sort of peace out on all weekends. I love the beach so I go there. I also like to sit inside on my couch and read a book and fuck it. You do you summer or winter!
I have had chronic bronchitis forever. This is my 8th fucking week.
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Yes! I’m so glad you shared that speech 😀
If I had a shore house I’d 100% live there every week with my swimsuit on and my bookshelf full- even if I never went down to the shore. Hahaha!
Chronic bronchitis sounds like the absolute worst. Nothing but hacking, I bet D:
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Oh my goodness, I feel the same way about summer expectations! It stresses me out!! Everyone is on vacation, going to water parks, summer bucket lists, etc. Yeah, we’re doing none of that. Sometimes I feel like I’m doing it all wrong.
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I completely agree. We have nothing on the books as far as vacation goes and that’s kind of weird for us. It’s got me in a strange place mentally right now. Lol
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I loved having virtual coffee with you! I would have ordered iced coffee, for sure.
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It’s just too warm and humid for anything else!
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i’ll be honest, the older i get the less i want to be out and about. not even going to lie about that. we do take vacations but toting around kids is work and it feels less like a vacay because you’re not in the comforts of your own home! so don’t even worry that your plans aren’t as “exciting” or “adventurous”…staying home relaxing is just as good if not even better!
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Sometimes it’s just a lot of work orchestrating a vacation or outing! Whether with kids or a bunch of whiny opinionated adults. Hahaha! With how swamped we get at work in the summer, I just don’t have the energy to relax any other way than on my couch. Maybe in fall we’ll go away… lol
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The older I get, the less I enjoy the heat, too. I used to love summer, but now I am 100% over it and ready for fall! haha
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Back when my grandparents had a pool (and you got summer off from school/all responsibilities) I LOVED it. Now I just don’t care to be hot and humid for three months straight. Haha.
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Oh my gosh. Summer IS a lot of pressure to be active and have fun! I have never thought about it like that, but you are right! Since I’m not a teacher or SAHM, my days look exactly the same as they do any other day, and summer is kind of depressing for me honestly. But I do love being outside and try to go to the park or splash pad with the kids. There is a lot of guilt involved in being a working mom in the summer bc I can’t take my kids to all of this stuff other people can!
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All seasons probably have some level of social pressure (pumpkin patches and leaf raking and lattes in the fall) but I struggle most with summer. I just don’t like being outside for too long. Although this weekend I’ll be outside the whole time… ha. This summer I have less BIG plans and more take-them-as-they-come plans. Which is fine I guess. Haha.
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