Summer Fun Ftw

Well hello there youngin'. Time for another entry by me, Caitlin. I've been pondering over this entry all day too so hopefully I can make it as nice as it was planned out inside my head. :P You know what I can't believe!? The fact that last Monday was only my last day of school and summer doesn't 'officially' start until tomorrow! Isn't that cool? I think so, because when I reflect back, last Monday when I went into school for that hour up until this Wednesday feels like an entire month in itself. I have done quite a few things it feels like since then, and knowing I have all this summer left looming ahead of me is stunning! x) I really must say, Summer 2007 is starting off pretty dandy but there is room for some improvement. ;] It was quite hot Monday and Tuesday so I spent my day swimming. I absolutly love to swim, seriously, I bet I could make it as a fish. :P Then today was too cool for swimming, so after catching up on a few things on the computer in the morning, I went outside the rest of the day pretty much. I couldn't have been happier this afternoon. I've gone out places, hung out with friends, swam, played outside, read, ate, and slept in all within my first week of summer. I really hope it only gets better and I continue this trend of doing things and getting out and making plans, etc. :] I'm so tan too! Tanner than I was a week ago, that's for sure. =) Gah, it's beautiful, haha. I plan on writing a list within this entry about the fun summer activities my brother and I engage in over the summer months. Particularly today we had a blast digging up old games we used to play. Who cares if we're both teenagers, that doesn't mean we can't create an outside game with a toy or two we played with as youngins'! ;P

Maybe you'll even find something interesting and try it yourself! I sure enjoy everything that comes along with summer, and having fun games to play makes it even better. What I've listed below in a fun-detailed way are games we played today or have very recently. :] Enjoy.

1. Extreme Wagoning- I put this game first because it's gotta be my favorite and it's thrilling. :P All you need is a wagon. [We have a red and white plastic one.] I have a spacious backyard with a dozen hills and my brother and I like to climb up some of the largest and most dangerous hills. Then we'll take turns sitting in the wagon while the other gives us a big push and we go flying down the hill and must steer away from holes in the ground, bushes, trees, water and the woods themselves. It's really scary the faster you go because obviously you lose control and then you can go flying into the woods, hit a tree, and fall out [or roll the rest of the way down the hill on your body]. Very fun and good exercise climbing up hills all day. :P I also thought it was funny how my mom would come outside and watch us fly down the hills and laugh when we'd tumble out. hehe ^^

2. Baseball- Traditional American game right? Right. My brother's been nagging me for a while to play a game with him, and today the weather was just right [as it gets hot out back in our field so cool days with a breeze are perfect]. I actually completed an entire game with him, and it was lots of fun! We set up our bases, and got out our bats, mitts, and ball from when we each played softball/baseball ourselves. The final score from our game today was 11-10. You can easily play this with two people; just adjust some rules =]

3. Pogo Stick- Okay, so maybe you don't have a pogo stick. :P That's alright. I'll tell you about it anyway. :P In my garage we have this metal pogo stick from the who knows whens and it's challenging to bounce on. I scratched my leg up but that's alright, you'll live. My brother and I challenge each other to see who can bounce more times each turn. I only got about 4 or 5 while he got 3 before we quit as it was just too hard. :P

4. Hula Hooping- We do more than your average hula hoop race. We roll them, run through the circle like dogs, use them like skip-its, wrist twirl 'em, and throw them back and forth. I like my hula hoop, but it's not totally Chase's thing. :P

5. Frisbee- One of the best summer games ever! Gotta admit it. Whether I play it on the beach, by the pool, or under a shady tree it's so much fun. Plus it's good when you don't want to play anything that'll make you real sweaty. :P

6. Hand Ball- Chase named this game. It involves one person holding a tennis racket on one side of a net [or line used as a net] while the other has just a tennis ball. My brother will throw the ball to me and I'll hit it back. He'll then try to catch it and we go back and forth. I really like this game actually, because I like tennis rackets and Chase just likes to fall on the ground when he can't catch a ball, so it all works out. :P

7. Horseshoes- Very recently a real genuine bag of horeshoes were bought, with the real heavy horsehoes and pole sticks. I tried our new game for the first time today and it was very hard for Chase and myself. I can throw the horseshoe but it's heavy and doesn't make it that far. I guess this game is good if you are strong and know all the rules. :P

8. Fishing- Tomorrow my brother and I have plans to go fish down in our pond and stream. That's a good&calm summer activity anyone can take part in. :]

9. Police- Since my brother and I both have bikes, we created a game where we pretend to be police officers on bikes who must capture the criminals. We take turns chasing each other on our bikes and the arresting part is quite fun. Watching the television show 'Cops' and having memorized some of the Miranda Rights [You have the right to remain silent, anything you say or do can be used against you in the court of law...etc etc] can add to the fun and reality of the game. =]

10. Hammock Swinging- I love our hammock, but I miss my swing. :P In the meantime the hammock is still fun. :] I like to jump up on it while lying flat on my stomach and having someone push you high up in the air feels like you are soaring. It reminded me of the one carnival ride I was recently on called the "Cliffhanger". Depending on the height of your hammock, if it's close enough to the ground you can use your hands to push yourself. Another fun thing to do is sit on the hammock as you would naturally, plug your iPod into your ears, and enjoy someone giving you a few good pushes. The faster the more exciting, and it's very relaxing. ^.^

A nice list of ten seems to be all I have at the moment. There are more, but those are the ones on the top of my head and the top choices my brother and I pick from when we wander outside. Being barefoot while playing these adds to the summer fun in my opinion, and feeling free to roll around and get dirty is fun too. :P I mean, playing some of these, falling on the ground seems inevitable. I think taking a break and going outside to use your imagination whether you're seven or seventeen is a healthy thing! Not to mention the amusement. =) The computer, the TV, and just plain laying inside will always be there for when you come back. ;]

I have to say, I am happy with trying to write a blog entry every few days and having done so the past week. Three scholarship essays I looked into doing are nearing their due date in July and the one includes a blog entry about something or other [I forget] so you can expect that sometime soon. Hey, and I also think I have officially planned on what I am going to do about my whole starting to drive dilemma. See, if I figure it out ahead of time in my mind then I feel I have something to follow I guess.

I told my parents how Buddy Foote got his very own car {woot!} and that started a driving conversation in general. My mother doesn't want me to get my permit until I have my own small vehicle as well because her's has problems and she has to get a new one soon and she needs it and can't risk me damaging it anyway, and my father's truck is too large to learn in anymore than I have. Therefore I came to this conclusion. Will it play out as follows? We'll just have to wait and see. If my father agrees with my mother on buying me a small car [preferably a Chevy Tracker my mother suggested and I loved :P] then after my physical I can go take the permit test sometime in early August. Then, having my own vehicle to practice in, my parents are more than happy to teach me in more detail and have me drive them places to accumulate hours and all the other neccessary things I'd have to accomplish. I've read my permit [if I pass] would be valid for one year, but at six months I'd be eligible to go for my junior liscense. I think what I'd do is practice as much as I could through August to March or April. I informed my parents how it might actually be a good thing for me to practice and learn in winter like my two friends did, and gain experience at a pace I feel comfortable with. The thought of starting to drive still makes me uneasy because it's so new and seems sometimes, from all the accidents I hear, a guaranteed death sentence liscense. x.O I know that sounds rather pessimistic, but I can't help expressing my fears which have held me back from January until now where I feel more ready to give it a shot. :] Once back at school, I could look into signing up for this driving program they offer, and then when springtime came I could go take the second test. If I make it pass that, then it's decided I'd need to get a job next summer since then I'd have my liscense and would be required to help pay for things like insurance. I think this makes sense to me and it sounds like a decent way to handle this dontcha think? =] I always seem to take my time with things, and this is no exception. x)

I think I'm going to end here now, before I drag on more. :P I have a couple Radically Random surveys I did and have stored away for a shorter entry, so for now I'm going to post a random picture I edited and put up on Starry Bliss for no reason really. :P I hope you all keep enjoying your summer and you'll hear from me again real soon. =)

Radically Random...