Summertime
June 15th, 2008
Oh, Vermont. You continue to charm the pants off me, sometimes quite literally. This weekend, once the green slime had moved beyond critical levels, we hit up one of our area state parks, of which there are a legion, and — I can hardly say this without trembling with excitement and shock — went swimming. Like in an actual LAKE and stuff, surrounded by mountains — literally, giant peaks of mountains all around us — and then returned to our blanket to lay in the grass and bake in the sun. I’m a swimmer; Adam is not. And it was perfect, if entirely pedestrian for normal people, but for me — and in particular, for my very water-phobic husband — an entire afternoon spent flat on our backs in a crystal-clear lake was something quite special indeed.
Oh and I totally took pictures, but you’ll have to insert your own image here, for I CANNOT, for the life of me, find my stupid camera downloader doohickey, and I am embarrassed to tell you that I think it’s buried somewhere in our bed clothes, because our bed is like an upstairs coffee table. Last night, for example, I awoke nose to bottle with my thyroid medication and discovered a pen had lodged behind my ear. And to be honest, I just dislodged one of the dog’s bones from my rear end. This is what happens when you’re crammed into the lone air-conditioned room because of heat reminiscent of the underside of Paul Pierce’s scrotum for nearly an entire week. Also? I came a little mentally undone last week, having a lot of work to do and one room to do it in, and for the first time, I fully understood why solitary confinement is so effective.
One of the best things about my part of Vermont, in my admittedly limited experience, is that people truly have their heads screwed on straight. There are no proverbial Joneses, at least that I’ve encountered — competition and status has almost entirely disappeared, save for certain academic circles, and it might be the most freeing thing I’ve experienced in a long time. Certainly there are far more far-reaching implications stemming from this — raising kids here would be a rare pleasure — but in the practical sense, any fear I had of getting into a bathing suit dissipated the second I hit the park. Perhaps I’ve simply been to the wrong beaches, but between the Caribbean, Boston-area and Naples — the three beaches I’ve hit most often — I’m always self-conscious, no matter how in shape my thighs are. But here, people were focused only on enjoying themselves, no one even GLANCED at my thighs, and God, was that awesome.
Also awesome? Racing swimsuits. I swam competitively back in the day, and amassed quite the collection of them, and because I was so in shape (see: competitive swimming), failed to notice their best quality: Dude, they suck you in like a pair of SPANX, man. I threw on a Nike one I’d forgotten I had and lo, I was nipped, tucked and, for the first time in DECADES, sporting a perfectly flat stomach, albeit one held back like a dam of lethal amounts of Spandex and perhaps some kind of cement-mimicking nanotechnology.
And finally, three things that are in no way related:
1) I have taken to using a pill case with the days of the week on it, because I can NEVER remember if I’ve taken my medication for the day. Ever. And yesterday, I interrupted a conversation with a friend to marvel, “Look! LOOK AT THAT BIRD! It’s BEAUTIFUL!” Next up: binoculars and a variety of mysterious bathroom products for corn prevention.
2) Dinner this evening included herbs — basil and cilantro — from my own garden. And earlier, I had a salad with lettuce I grew MAHSELF. Honest to God, you’d think I’d just shit GOLD the way I was carrying on about it. Which reminds me: would anyone like some lettuce? Because I realized I planned this garden VERY VERY POORLY and in a matter of days, will be saddled with (oh my God) THIRTY LETTUCE HEADS maturing at precisely the same time. I like salad as much as the next girl but even I have limits on my leafy greens consumption.
3) I am deeply, incredibly saddened by the death of Tim Russert. I am among the nerdiest of the nerdy, and watched Meet the Press religiously every Sunday — TiVo-ing when I couldn’t catch it live — and Russert was the best television journalist I’d ever seen. Dude was BRILLIANT. And though I am heartbroken for his family, friends and everyone else who actually knew him, I am personally crushed that I’ll no longer get to invite him into my home every Sunday. This disappointment will be further underscored if David Gregory is invited to fill his seat on a permanent basis, if only because he looks like a Muppet, and Muppets have no PLACE in Presidential election coverage.
Happy Monday!
*oh God, who DOESN’T sing “Summertime”? In my personal collection, I can think of Jesca Hoop, The Sundays, The Samples
Entry Filed under: Nuttin'
26 Comments Add your own
1. Jennifer | June 15th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
I feel the same way about Tim Russert. I am selfishly fast forwarding to November and wondering what in the hell I am going to do without him on election night. It won’t be the same.
2. Amanda | June 16th, 2008 at 4:27 am
“*oh God, who DOESN’T sing “Summertime”? In my personal collection, I can think of Jesca Hoop, The Sundays, The Sample”
And now, New Kids on the Block.
P.S. love Tim Russert.
3. TwoBusy | June 16th, 2008 at 5:03 am
Most Horrifying Usage of the Boston Celtics as a Metaphor
2008 Winner: Jonniker
4. Jen | June 16th, 2008 at 5:36 am
I cried when I heard about Tim Russert passing on Friday. He just had a way about him, and it’s a tremendous loss.
While David Gregory may look like a muppet, he’s a tall dude that can DANCE! I am entertained by his moves.
5. Sadie | June 16th, 2008 at 5:47 am
David Gregory totally does look a Muppet, doesn’t he? Tim Russert’s son Luke was on the Today Show this morning and I was amazed by his composure and charm…I mean, through all the clips and stories, I was tearing up AND SO WAS MATT LAUER, and Luke was well-spoken and warm but never wavered once.
I learned about gardening excess the same way you’re learning with the lettuce…except in my case it was an obscene amount of summer squash. Too bad you can’t freeze lettuce. Give heads to your neighbors and people at the coffee shop; everybody likes lettuce!
*add to shopping list: racing swimsuit*
6. H | June 16th, 2008 at 5:51 am
I gasped when I first heard about Tim. I’ll miss him.
I do the same thing with my garden – only with radishes. For some reason, I never get it right and end up eating radishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And do you know what happens then? Radish farts!
7. jonniker | June 16th, 2008 at 5:55 am
HA HA, H. You know what else I have an ungodly amount of, or will? Radishes! FOUR ROWS OF THEM.
8. Regina | June 16th, 2008 at 6:41 am
2 more weeks I can’t wait!!!!!
And yes Tim Russert was very sad and shocking.
And yes i like lettuce as much as the next guy but that a lot of green! Maybe you should try and sell it at the farmers market or better yet just stand on the side of the road with a sign offering all your glorious garden fare. Oh i can see it now, Jonna in overalls somewhere on rt 7 sitting on the back of a pick up holding a cardboard sign chewin hay! (ok the hay was much but the mental image was amusing!)
9. Danielle | June 16th, 2008 at 7:13 am
I totally want some lettuce, but since I am in Boston, I don’t think I can help you there.
10. ali | June 16th, 2008 at 7:55 am
need racing swimsuit. now.
although i’d be tempted to put it on and never take it off. ha!
11. Carla Hinkle | June 16th, 2008 at 8:16 am
I found myself tearing up all weekend about Tim Russert. Not the least because in all the coverage by the NBC/MSNBC folks they were all so obviously broken up — on the special Meet the Press yesterday Tom Brokaw had moments of being overcome, even Mary Matalin (who I find such a cold fish) was red-eyed and holding James Carville’s hand.
I cannot stand the thought of him being replaced by David Gregory, who is not bad, but is really, really boring. His show (“Race for the White House”) is terrible. I am hoping Chris Matthews gets the nod. He is a little unstable at times and seems more egotistical but he has the same zest for politics and the same blue-collar background (Pennsylvania, which he looooves to talk about). Nothing will replace Tim, though.
12. jonniker | June 16th, 2008 at 9:07 am
Carla, I think you just presented worst-case scenario for me. CHRIS. MATTHEWS. Oh dear, no. OH DEAR. I haven’t been able to stomach him since his book and subsequent interview on The Daily Show.
13. Lara | June 16th, 2008 at 9:25 am
This is such a happy post (um, except for the Tim Russert part. May he RIP.) You have inspired me to set out and find myself a lake within an hour or so’s drive of Philly!
14. Jess | June 16th, 2008 at 10:49 am
We loved Meet the Press too. It was the only reason why I would ever get up before noon on a Sunday. Tim Russert was mindblowingly good at what he did.
Unrelatedly, last summer we looked up nearby swimmingholes on a website dedicated to tracking them, and had a similar experience to the one you describe. It might have been pedestrian for other people, but for us it was AMAZING.
15. babs | June 16th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Have you read the book “Animal Vegetable Miracle”? Your lettuce bounty reminded me of it. The story is all about a family living one year only off what they can grow in their garden or buy in their local area. It’s a tad preachy, but also interesting.
And I so agree on Tim Russert… I can’t imagine what the show will be like without him! His unexpected death reminds me of when John Ritter died. So sad.
16. StartsWithAnX | June 16th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Ditto on Russert. Loved that cherub broadcaster.
17. Jenertia | June 16th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Is the lettuce non-icebergy? Because if it’s of the flavorful kind, you may be able to make lovely, freezable, rich pesto with it.
Can’t help with the radishes, though.
18. jonniker | June 16th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Jenertia (your name kills me, btw): It’s Red Sails and buttercrunch. So yeah, non-icebergy. And HA HA, I haven’t even mentioned the giant patch of mesclun mix and black-seeded simpson that hasn’t matured yet. Although really, would that stuff make a good pesto? Why is the thought creeping me out, despite seeing it on Smitten Kitchen? Does it TASTE like lettuce?
19. Teej | June 16th, 2008 at 11:59 am
So sad about Tim. Glad to see other commenters here feeling the same, because I was at a wedding this weekend and felt like that weird friend of the groom’s whose eyes keep welling up over what now?
I have to agree with you that Chris Matthews would not be a good replacement. But on the flip side, I like Chris Matthews. He’s so unnervingly — and at times inappropriately — honest that I can’t help but like him. He’s a total idealist and optimist. But he wears his opinions like campaign buttons. As for Tim, I never could be sure how he personally felt about a candidate’s positions. I couldn’t guess who he’d vote for. But I think everybody can agree who Chris Matthews wants as his BFFs.
And am I the only one who was totally shocked to learn that David Gregory is 6’5″? I was thinking more like 5’6″.
20. Carla Hinkle | June 16th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Yes, Teej, I can see your point about Chris Matthews — but I CANNOT stomach David Gregory. He just isn’t a very good interviewer. He asks the most boring questions on the planet. How about Andrea Mitchell? She would be OK. Maybe she is a little old, though. I would loathe Katie Couric (a nice person but a lightweight). I think Joe Scarborough and Keith Olberman are too political. Gwen Ifill i just find boring. Perhaps Chuck Todd has potential but I’ve never seen him give an interview. Maybe Tom Brokaw as a temporary fill-in and then they get a little breathing space to look?
21. ZestyJenny | June 16th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I also have thyroid issues and also had a lengthy trying to conceive process and now yay! have finally achieved procreation. Somewhere in the middle there, I also could never remember if I had taken my pill, and of course the taking of this pill was quite important to managing to get knocked up, and now to avoiding flipper babies. I, too, decided the answer was one of those days of the week pill things. I was at Target and I asked someone who was younger then me, “Hey, do you know where I could find one of those days of the week pill things that old people use?” And she got totally offended! She was all, “Not just old people use them. This in the one I have.” and she flounced off. Ha!
On a side note, the one I got at Target it super cute, and make me feel a little less like an old lady.
22. ms picket to you | June 16th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
the tim russert thing makes me so sad. his son luke, as others have said, was amazing and great and it proves that tr must have been a great dad.
i spent too long looking at sad vids today and I wish i was in VT and could jump in a lake.
23. Susan | June 16th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
When I first moved to Cape Cod I lived in a cottage (small shack) on a pond. I went skinny dipping every night after work because no one else had access to my side of the pond (and I was waitressing and reeked of garlic). All good until the leaves fell off the trees and I discovered I was backed up to the highway.
24. aly | June 16th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
i’m in buffalo and we just idolized tim russert. he was amazing and smart and funny and i’m just so… so sad. i hope you read his book, big russ and me, b/c it’s such a great example of what’s wonderful about upstate new york. (if not PLEASE DO!) i’m so lame but I JUST ADORED HIM and i just can’t stop crying over the montages.
and i agree with the above– luke russert was simply amazing and his dad was so proud, i just know it.
also? will smith and ella fitzgerald both have my favorite “summertime” songs.
25. Carolyn J. | June 16th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Hey, my husband’s also hydrophobic, and I spent my childhood in the water. Guess who’s having trouble agreeing on vacation spots?
26. Jonniker. » O New E&hellip | December 2nd, 2008 at 7:30 pm
[...] David Gregory is rumored to replace Brokaw on Meet the Press. FROM THE BEGINNING, I have said that I would be fine with many options, so long as it wasn’t David Gregory, who [...]
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