Summer daze

Enjoy the lazy, hazy days while they last

Summer is a season primarily defined by lack of school.

We’ve all been there at one time or another — there’s the school year, and then there’s summer. And summer was a time we looked forward to because it promised minimal responsibility, which is an asset unappreciated until it’s too late.

Once we start working year-round jobs, summer seems to lose its significance. The days of wistfully staring at a ticking clock don’t disappear, but no matter how many times we urge the clock along during an otherwise bleary day, and no matter how nice of a guy or gal the boss really is, we know we won’t be enjoying a three-month break in the middle of the year. our church serves up for free. The woman doing the writing is Melora Hirschmann from Nebraska; I don’t know her, have never talked with her and couldn’t pick her out of an icecream truck lineup.

Yes! Research by the Department of Energy shows you can SAVE 10% ON YOUR COOLING COSTS by setting your thermostat back 10% to 15% for eight hours a day. It’s hard, with our busy schedules, to remember to raise the thermostat setting when we leave the house in the morning. That’s where the programmable thermostat comes in. Once it’s set up, it will operate by your schedule. Your home will be as comfortable when you come home as it was when you left it.

While you’re gone, you won’t be over-cooling an empty house, and that will definitely save you money.

If you happen to have kids, particularly kids now at home after grinding through the school year, it doesn’t take long — two or three hours perhaps — to start wondering exactly when summer will be over and what day school begins again.

That feeling is predictable, and it’s understandable, and it’s inevitable. We don’t appreciate summer when it’s ours, and we look forward to it most when it’s gone.

My early, and best, summers were unplanned. My parents didn’t worry much about where I was or what I was doing — they knew I would be with friends or reading or playing baseball.

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Aimless summers don’t happen much anymore, and they certainly don’t happen much around here. Urban parents, grandparents and caregivers plan children’s days like military exercises, with wake-up times dictated by camps and babysitters and programs and work schedules. And heaven forbid that a kid is left to wander from house to house looking for friends — what’s the point in visiting someone when you can simply text “yo” and start a 90-minute monosyllabic conversation from the comfort of your bed?

“My mother is in the last stages of her battle with cancer. Each day that I have with her is

During the month of June, all Advocate readers will receive 15% off programmable thermostat installation.** Call for details and be sure to ask about the new Trane Comfort Link Thermostat. This model can be programmed from your smart phone and links to other smart home products.

True, texting is a form of aimless, summerlike self-entertainment, but I haven’t seen much opportunity for self-enrichment in the process. And the very core of texting is imparting thought in small chunks rather than spending larger chunks of time interacting personally with each other.

I speak as both a victim and an accomplice in all of the above, and I wish there was something I could tell myself to ease this burden and return to the days when summer simply allowed us to unwind and reload.

Instead, I’ll leave you with something I read recently in a daily devotional book that

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a gift from God. Some days are better than others, and sometimes in beautiful moments, we connect and have a great talk. After these times, I am glad that I was there, sitting with her and caring for her.”

Parents and children and the rest of us will all be gone soon enough, just as the passing years make summer relatively meaningless. And thanks to our own restlessness, there’s rarely enough time, even during the summer, to enjoy the day with someone we love.

But more than likely, summer is one of the only times we still have to do something like that.

Yes! Research by the Department of Energy shows you can SAVE 10% ON YOUR COOLING COSTS by setting your thermostat back 10% to 15% for eight hours a day. It’s hard, with our busy schedules, to remember to raise the thermostat setting when we leave the house in the morning. That’s where the programmable thermostat comes in. Once it’s set up, it will operate by your schedule. Your home will be as comfortable when you come home as it was when you left it. While you’re gone, you won’t be over-cooling an empty house, and that will definitely save you money.

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Class of 2011 standouts

I just finished reading your “test of strength” feature story in the Advocate (May 2011), and it is really, really good. It seems like every year, the students that are selected for this feature are even more inspirational than the previous year’s group. thanks for doing this story each year. I know from my long experience at lake Highlands High school that there are many wonderful students there who come from every background imaginable, but the general public isn’t aware of the significant obstacles some of them have to overcome to graduate from high school. Great job, once again!

—BoB Iden (former LHHS prIncIpaL)

Congratulationson yourarticle about the six Lake Highlands High School students who have overcome so much and are now headed to college. I am an AVID tutor, and I know all six. They are truly wonderful, inspirational people, and you told their stories beautifully and respectfully.

—Cynthia

What a great story! Thanks for highlighting some inspiring young adults as they approach graduation and the beginning of the next part of their lives. Whether readers are young or old, nobody can argue with the value of one’s hard work and desire to achieve their goals. When our local news often has the not so good, the bad and the ugly as their headlines, it is refreshing to read a story with a positive, uplifting message, particularly about teens in our own neighborhood.

—Emily

WIne-Ing AT THe WIneguy

I am writing because I find Jeff Siegel’s response to the question: “Why is restaurant wine so much more expensive than wine in stores?” in the May 2011 Advocate irresponsible. First of all, by omission, that response implies that all restaurants mark their wines up three times. That is inaccurate. I am part of a large group of restaurateurs that marks wine up at barely twice what I pay, which may still seem expensive, but the costs involved in running a restaurant and serving wine appropriately are much higher than the costs associated with the sale of wine for the average retailer. Additionally, I’m certain you are not aware that a large number of wines are highly allocated and available for on-premise sale only; therefore, those wines command a higher price. —GilbErt Garza (ChEf and ownEr, SuzE)

This weekend I bought and enjoyed a bottle of this Crianza that you recommended. Had it with grilled shrimp. I definitely got a distinct cherry tone on my first couple of sips. I would buy this wine again. —CitizEn K anE

June 4th 6:30pm-9pm to read and comment on this month’s stories and daily Back Talk blog updates. Comments may be printed in the magazine.

Hang with the “girls” and Plant the Town Pink! Don’t miss our annual, after-hours shopping event benefitting the Dallas County Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. With a $10 donation you’ll enjoy local wine from Callais Winery, music by Spyche, organic eats, FREE garden consults & more.

6:30pm-8:30pm FREE Garden Coach consultation!

6:30-8:00 Pre-order Spring Blooming Bulbs!

6:45 -7pm Container Garden Demo

7:00-7:15 Tour the NHG Chicken Coop & Market Garden

7:15-8pm live music by Spyche

A $10 donation at the door gets you a raffle ticket to win amazing prizes. Be one of the first 50 people through the door and get a goodie bag filled with discounts and gifts from local businesses.

Need plant or garden design advice? Our NHG Garden Coach will offer FREE 15 minute garden coach sessions. Plus, pre-order spring blooming bulbs including tulips, lilies and daffodils to ensure you get the colors and varieties you want. Details at www.nhg.com.