Thinking Beachy

We've got a brief swell of warm weather out here on the East Coast. 
(By warm, I'm talking very low 70's)
The coat-less weather has my mind wandering away from fuzzy sweaters and boots to skirts and flip flops. In just a few short months, summer will be here in all it's warm, humid, buggy glory. I don't know about you, but I plan for Summer 2016 to be even more adventurous.

Literally. I'm planning.
Remember my Summer 2015 Bucket List?  Well, I'm making another one. Almost finished, in fact. And, let me just tell you, this one is even bigger and more "out there" than the last.
Why am I telling you guys this in early March (regardless of the warm weather), when summer doesn't start until June?
I WANT YOU TO HAVE TIME TO PREPARE A LIST OF YOUR OWN!
Sure, it's fun to be spontaneous. But "spontaniety" in the summer usually equates laying around the house with a book and junk food. 
But maybe that's just me...
Join the fun! Work on a Summer 2016 Bucket List of your own! Mine goes live on the blog June 1st.
Less than three months to go.
I.
Can't.
Wait!

I Can Write About This Later

This past weekend I accomplished another item on my Summer Bucket List. (I'm moving pretty fast, huh?!)

The weather was absolutely amazing for a beach day, and I loved it. Though I didn't set foot in the water.

Why, you ask?

Last year I had to be rescued by a lifeguard. At the best of times I'm not a strong--if even decent--swimmer, and the water was rough. Credit to my dad who was on his way to rescue me when the lifeguard intervened (I know you're reading this!).

Still, the event was internally traumatizing. Then and there I vowed I'd never venture into the ocean deeper than my ankles.

On the plus side, my lifeguard rescue led to the birth of THESE WICKED WATERS. Of course, I didn't start penning TWW until February when it was cold and dreary and very un-island-resorty.

But still. Being back at the beach last weekend reminded me of how the idea for water-wing-wearing Annie was sparked. It's amazing how scary moments in life serve a purpose, even if only a plot idea for a book.

Ever wonder how beach lifeguards rescue people? Feel free to ask! While being rescued I basically memorized everything. Somehow I knew I'd need the information for later ;)

Oh, and by the end of my book? Annie is a very awesome swimmer.

DC in a Deluge

Item #5 on my Summer Bucket List is now complete. I came, I went, and I visited DC.

With my two other adventurers.

Getting to DC and parking was a whole adventure in itself. The friend who was going to do the driving canceled, so that left me behind the wheel. Have I ever mentioned how much I dislike driving? But I was determined! So at 6:30 AM, off we went. Suffice it to say, there were a lot of road closures--but we made it to Union Station Parking Garage.

Then the real adventure began.

We took the metro to get us closer to the Jefferson Monument (less walking the better!). I've never been to the Jefferson Monument and it was well worth the walk. Quiet, peaceful, and right on the Tidal Basin. If you've never been, I highly recommend it. Bring a book and a snack. GREAT place to hide away and read.

Minutes after we left the Monument, the sky let loose a rainstorm. Silly optimistic me left my umbrella in the car. Hello, walk in the rain! Thankfully the sun came out afterward and we were able to dry off before we entered the Air and Space Museum. Though my hair never quite recovered.

We didn't stay in Air and Space for too long. One because I'm not the most avid exhibit visitor/reader (though my friends are!). And two because of this...

The highlight of the trip, for me, was definitely the Library of Congress. The architecture was amazing--the very feeling in the place was amazing. If you love books, go. You will be inspired beyond anything! Found a sentence in the ceiling that made me smile--only because it's so true!

The chief glory of every people arises from its authors.

What do you guys think? ;)

Some more pictures of the Library of Congress, because it's that fantastic.

Overall, the trip to DC was a success! Lots more left to do before the summer's out :)

Lessons in the Outdoors

Summer Bucket List item number two officially gets a line through it!

On July 2nd, I pitched my tent, grabbed the junk food, picked up the scary library books, and wrangled my sisters. Then we camped out.

We did the whole shebang: hot dogs roasted over a fire (then marshmallows!), scary stories, even the midnight trip to the bathroom.

Throughout the whole process I relearned a very important lesson: I hate camping.

It's not that I don't love the outdoors or being huddled in a tent while crickets chirp outside and lightning bugs dance. Those things were major pluses of the evening. More like I dislike being cold and having my sleeping bag stolen by an over-snuggly miniature poodle. I also happen to scare easily. So maybe those scary library books weren't in the best taste.

Still. The first item on my bucket list is finished! Since this is the first "adventure" accomplished this summer, I decided to dedicate a blog post to it. Make sure you periodically visit my Summer Bucket List page to keep up with the others!

Summer 2015 is going to be amazing, guys. I can just feel it.

Tossing My Summer in a Bucket

Summer officially hit the U.S. on the 21st. Technically, I'm two weeks late, but I've created a twenty-five item Summer 2015 Bucket List.  CLICK HERE to check it out!

By some people's standards, the items might not be the most exciting.

But for me?

Trying a new restaurant, getting a pedicure, trying a new recipe? The epitome of adventure. For me, at least. As a person, I have a difficult time with anything "new." But this summer is a summer of determined excitement. Thus, new things are a necessity!

Check back on the page every once in awhile. As I accomplish each task, I'll stick a picture up there as proof. Not that you guys take me for a liar or anything.

Now I  encourage you, readers, to make your own bucket lists. Add some unknown into your sunny days.