A Dirty Hippie Summer Ahead
This is the first summer I’ve actively looked forward to in a long, long time. This is for several reasons:
1. With both Nicole and me dropping weight (her at a considerably faster pace, understandably, but I’m happy with my 10 pounds!), we’re excited to get out more than we have in past summers. We’ve already made plans with friends for picnics at Colt State Park and camping.
2. We’ve got bikes!! If you’re my Facebook friend, you already know this, but I’ve included a picture below just for the hell of it. SO “Now and Then,” right? I just bought a fly new two-toned seat for her, too: purple and white. I think it will go nicely with the Flamboyant Turquoise frame (that is the actual paint color). Ten minutes from our house is the start of the East Bay bike path. We have to get a bike rack to get them across the bridge, but it’s worth it. All I can picture is us cruising around with my basket stuffed with a picnic lunch. Mmmm! Plus, I’ll be able to bike down to the local coffee shop and (hopefully) get more writing there than I do at home with a trillion distractions.
3. My CSA program starts mid-May. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. Pretty much, I get a big crate of fresh fruit, veggies and herbs every week through mid-November, for about $17 a week. It’s all organic and local, meaning I don’t have to buy sad produce from Stop and Shop anymore. If you’re interested, here’s a link to all of the Rhode Island CSAs (you can change it for your state easily): http://www.localharvest.org/search-csa.jsp?st=42&ty=6&nm=
4. I’m going to a polo match! I’ve driven past the field hundreds of times since moving to East Bay and have always wanted to go. All this time, I was forgetting that I have a horsey friend who would love it! Yes, that’s right, the Artist Formerly Known As Axford and I are going to watch the opening match in June: USA vs. Egypt. I can’t think of a cooler way to kick off the summer.
5. My second residency is in July. Writing has been rough this month, and I’m hungry for inspiration. I need to get this month’s packet in the mail (like, yesterday) and crank out the one for May so I can spend the rest of May revising and picking samples for the workshops. Gulp! I hope my classmates like my stuff as much as my advisor has.
6. And, most of all, our wedding! We’re sending save-the-dates this week (it wouldn’t be my wedding if at least one thing wasn’t late, amiright?). By summer, hopefully everything will be in place, and I’ll be looking for my dress. After hearing from friends about how weirdly rigid bridal salons are-and also after realizing that a very traditional dress is not my bag-I will be scouring small shops and department stores every free moment to find a nice, knee-length, simple white dress. And, of course, there’s the stuff for bridesmaids, but that’ll be pretty free-form and open to interpretation (I’m just giving them colors). My biggest unanswered question is centerpieces, but my best friend from home is super creative, and I know we’ll think of something. Sometimes I feel stressed, but then I remember that mostly everything is in order, and now it’s time for the little details. Sidenote: I hate little details. I’m a big picture kinda gal. But it will all get done.
So pretty much, I’m going to be a dirty writer hippie, eating organic and pedaling around Tiverton and Connecticut, enjoying the sun and good weather as much as possible. Can not wait. If anyone out there wants to meet up for a ride or do something fun and outdoorsy, I’m down!
And now, a gratuitous photo of my new love:
