Almost Done: Checking Off A Summertime Bucket List

Summer is over for the vast majority of people by now. My younger siblings have all started school, my friends have all returned from their vacations, and even my parents seem more routine-y lately. 

But I don't head back to classes until September 16th, and I'm still in (what should be) sunny Virginia, though it's gotten a little cloudy the last couple of days.

I made this summertime bucket list at the beginning of the summer, and now it's time to check off the last few. Here's a stock take of the as yet unchecked items....

Irish

1) Host a Fourth of July party/barbeque

My friend and I hosted a barbeque on July 4 at the BF's house. While we only expected a maximum of 20 people, more than 50 people and 6 hours later, we checked it off as a success.

2) See Cork City at sunrise

I have a sneaking suspicion that the boy reads this blog and gets date inspiration from it. I suppose that's smart. It's kind of like being able to read the girlfriend's mind without being psychic or having to call her friends. Anyway, he surprised me one day and suggested we get together early in the morning and drive out to watch the sun rise over Cork. Check!

3) Start a DIY project

Not quite a check yet, but I did buy all the supplies. That counts, right?

American

1) Host a beautiful bridal shower and bachelorette party for one of my loveliest friends

Check!! She's getting married so soon! 

2) Go hiking in the Blue Ridge

See Number 3.

3) Visit a Vineyard

I must confess that when I wrote 2 and 3 on this list, I knew exactly what kind of bachelorette party my friend wanted. So we went for a hike around the mountains and had a picnic wine tasting at a nearby vineyard. Check!

4) Go to an amusement park

Still unchecked!! 

5) Weekend at the beach

Spent the whole of a Sunday at an Ocean Club down in Southside Virginia with the boy and a great friend last week. Resounding check! 

6) Visit New York City

Epic speed visit to NYC with BF while he was visiting America for two weeks. So many friends to see in such a short time, we set up a big happy hour at a great pub called Fiddlesticks in Greenwich Village to see everyone at once!

7) Host a patio tea party

I don't even know what I was thinking with this one, but it is as yet UNCHECKED!

Summertime

1) Take a roadtrip (or several)

The most roadtrips have happened. But I'm still open to more! In the process of being checked!

2) Have a pool party

I don't have a pool, so I don't suppose this one was ever really going to happen. Wishful thinking, but still unchecked.

3) Surf (as much as possible)

So far this summer, it's only been ONCE! But we did manage a couple of days surfing in March. Does that count?

4) Camp out for a night under the stars

I had this great idea to get an inflatable pool and fill it with blankets for the evening (thank you, Pinterest!) but I haven't done it yet. So, UNCHECKED!

5) Attend an outdoor concert

In this case, I think Josh Groban at Wolf Trap counts! Woohoo! Check!

6) Make margaritas

As yet, unchecked. And yet it's so simple! Sheesh, Diva. Get it together!

7) Have a bonfire beach party

 I don't live near the beach, but I did hear talk of a nearby firepit..... Hopefully soon to be checked!

8) Go horseback riding

I love horses, and I miss riding so much sometimes. Horseback riding in late summer is like the best thing ever for some reason. As yet unchecked... the boy was too nervous to go with me ;) 

9) Eat popsicles

Easy and delicious. Check!

10) Visit a farmer's market

I suppose this can happen in the Fall, too. But see farmer's markets are cliché in the Fall, and therefore must be cooler in the summer. But Dad's grown a ton of peaches this year, so it's almost superfluous. 

11) Go to a carnival

Still unchecked!

12) Hang out with friends and family

The most checks. But I would love to add some more checks to this one, too!

A Weekend Southside- A retro post

Last night in an impromptu Skype session, my biffle M and I were baffling over the difference between six months ago and now. Our third biffle was still engaged, we lived in the same state, we were both single and crazy, and we were baffling over what to do with ourselves over the next six months. Now we are living more than 3000 miles apart and still managing to stay invasively involved in the other's life. I'd call that success.

But in thinking over our conversation, I realized that I never posted about our weekend Southside, visiting the bride-to-be and picking out bridesmaids' dresses last April. So as almost a year has past, I feel it is appropriate to share these pictures with you.

So, so, so sunburned. (That happened before we ever got down there, she can't blame our mutual activities.)

The biffles x

The biffles drink. There's a good story about the one on the right.... Stay tuned (it's included below).

Lovely.

Even lovelier

There's something about taking pictures right next to each other: You can't see what the two people beside you are actually doing. Be careful, you might end up cheesing it while your friends do... well who even knows what.

 The night we got down to E's neck of the woods, we hung out that the family restaurant for a few hours and then went to a chill bar to hang out some more. Obviously a little photoshoot erupted, but we didn't scare anyone away. So don't worry. 

And the mason jar story? Well, I went to the bathroom for a couple of minutes, and when I came back out, I took a sip of my beer in the mason jar. Totally normal thing to do, except I spat it out. Because suddenly my beer had become very hot. I don't mean that it was no longer ice cold, nor do I mean that it was like the best beer ever. What I mean was that it was spicy, very, very, spicy. 

With utterly straight faces, everyone at the table tasted the beer when I wouldn't shut up about the weird, new taste. Every single one of them told me they didn't taste anything weird, everyone except one. This one kind soul was the last to taste the beer. He took one taste, looked at me, started laughing and just said, 'Sorry, I can't do this. That actually tastes terrible!' 

When everyone started yelling at him for giving them away, I realized that my 'friends' had put Tabasco hot sauce in my drink while I was away from the table. They all proceeded to spit out the bad taste around the table, and someone bought me a new beer. 

'Friends'! Pah!

I taught them that monkey face.

The happy couple.

The happier couple.

The really happy couple.

 

 The next day, with sore heads and dreading hearts, we went bridesmaids' dress shopping. After trying on literally a hundred dresses (I don't know how we managed honestly), we finally decided. 

At the time, I remember consciously deciding not to post these pictures because I didn't want to ruin the surprise of the dress design. But since you've already seen all the wedding photos, I think it's okay.... 

Then, it was sadly time to say goodbye. With a bug hug, we hit the road.

M showing off her muscles. It's okay, girl, we know you're strong. No need to rub it in!

Planned Outtage

We're down the 11th hour over here in my world (is that even a phrase that people say? I have no idea), and the inertia of the past few weeks is about to be turbocharged into craziness. In fact, it's already begun. I've spent the past week (and especially the past couple of days) frantically packing up my life inconveniently into two suitcases. The real drama of packing, though, will come in a week when I return from a quick vacay to wash my last few articles of clothing and stuff them in my already zipper-bursting bags.

Saturday, my two best friends came over. They barely know each other, but we three musketeers had a fantastic (if a little strange) night of dancing out on the town. I love it when my own separate friends who don't know each other become friends. It was our last night together; all three of us are moving out of the DMV and onto new life projects. Regularly scheduled Skype Dates have already been discussed.

G.N.O.

Anyway, I'm leaving early tomorrow morning for E's wedding weekend, which promises to be hectic and wonderful. And the day after her wedding, the plan is to head to the beach for a week. We'll see if it happens. After the beach week, I will be sprinting for a flight to Ireland, and I probably won't be updating you all until I'm landed and calm (which could be a while; as you know, I don't do well on planes. If I don't pass out of a panic attack, I usually get dreadfully ill a few days after landing. Phew!) But you've been duly warned, Mr. Blogger. I will be MIA until further notice!

Happy end of summer to all! And see you in September. ;)