With only a few days left...

   With only a few day left in the month of July, this summer seems to be moving right along... kinda! Many I have spoken with have made a somewhat similar comment...”When is summer finally going to get here with the hot muggy days and the warm uncomfortable nights?”

   For sure we have had some very picturesque days, clear blue skies, warm sunny days, but not too many breaking the 90 degree mark, perhaps just one or two.

   There have been several warm nights, but none that have required the air conditioner at full blast for extended periods of time.

   August 1^st seems to be a date, however, that signals a midpoint. Half way through the summer, only several  weeks before the new school year begins, kids  think about trading in their swim suits for textbooks and backpacks and become  eager for back to school shopping to see the latest in this year's 'must haves' styles and clothing trends.

   High school teams begin those dreaded 'two-a-day' practices. Parents are ready for the time when the house will be quiet during the day for at least a few minutes..

   Those families who haven't taken their vacations yet begin to panic. Can't we just squeeze in maybe a day or two away? Please?

   Even the mosquitoes and black flies seem a bit out of sorts this year. But the deer flies? They are in great form right now.

   Mid-summer is a time when people look forward to those few remaining warm days and trips to the beach, or maybe the last neighborhood barbecue.

    Is there still time to have one last yard sale, to clean out the garage in order to make room for the snow blower? Of course there is! In fact, I was able to pick up a really great lawn mower just the other day at a sale right down the street. And the price? Perfect. I'll take it. And by the way all you skeptics... it does work!

   But August 1^st, or there about, is a time to also look back. It's an opportunity to pat yourself on the back for the projects you were able to complete around the house this year, a bit of outdoor painting, working in the garden, finishing up on those indoor projects that didn't get done this past winter.

   And one can not forget the outdoor pizza and bread oven my wife and I recently finished, a project a bit larger and more challenging than we had anticipated, or at least more challenging than I had anticipated.. Who knew we would need so many rocks and sand!  Who knew our yard had so many rocks! (although the lawn mower knew) Who knew there were so many textures of sand? But the smell of the freshly cooked pizza and baking breads, it was well worth the work and the weather cooperated with no rain and cool temperatures.

    Normally, when we start a project like this, the temperatures soar well into the 90's. But now that it's done, I bet the neighbors are jealous as the smell of baking bread fills the neighborhood. (No. we am not going to trade a loaf of fresh bread for your very well used weed whacker. And besides, I know it doesn't work.)

   Summertime is suppose to be a time for fun and family, a break from the world events and tragic news. But the airways have remained filled with the news of shootings and killings, of the devastation caused by flooding and storms, of the world financial and political struggles and the seemingly endless wars and terrorist attacks.

   And speaking of politics...Come on folks, sixteen candidates and still counting and the election is still over a year away. Think of all the money that is being spent. Perhaps if there is that much money to be spent getting elected in this country, for almost any office these days it seems, the time has come to look for a better system. (Reminds me of the new 'golden rule.' He, or she, who has the gold... rules! Isn't that right Mr Trump??)

   And as for “politics' in Maine this summer, it's unfortunate  this is the new way of doing business "as usual" or maybe it's worse than usual. Well... at least some of the states' law attorneys have some work this year. Bet they're not on vacation right now. (Are the Koch Bros. really paying the legal bills?)

   Looking back on this year's summer projects, I would say that we were able to accomplish more than in the past years. Perhaps it was because I am not sharing that precious time with working or maybe we were better organized, or both. Are there more outdoor projects  to complete before the snow flies? Of course. But if we were to finish  everything, then there would be nothing to do or to complain about.

   Before long, September will be at the doorstep and that means Fall in Maine. It is my favorite season. The nights will be cooler and the weather forecasters will be soon warning of frost. The leaves on the trees will be turning from a rich green color to bright reds and gold and before long it will be time to break out the rake and... think about starting up the old snow blower, to see if it still runs of course. (I said 'only think about it'.)

   And the first night with a fire in the pellet stove to take the chill out of the air, we'll take a look at the pictures we took this summer on the cell phones, decide the ones to keep or delete, cut a steamy hot piece of pizza, tomato and fresh basil, freshly cooked in the outdoor oven and turn off the evening news. See...It's summer all over again. :) 

                                               

Just in case you missed it...

   Just in case you missed it, July 2nd was a pretty important day. The date represents the mid point of the year, halfway, meaning there were 182 days before July 2 and there are 182 days remaining in the year after July 2. ( the exception being a 'leap year' of course.) To be more precise, the exact time of the mid point is 12:00 noon, or 1:00 pm for those areas of the world that are on daylight savings time.

   The mid point of anything can be viewed with different meanings and interpretations.

   For example, if you are having a good year, you hope the remaining 182 days continue in the same way. But if you are having a bad year, you hope that day 183 becomes a turning point for you and the remainder of the year is a bit more positive.

   July 2nd is the date for some memorable historical events too. I am sure we all remember the coronation of Emperor Valentinian in the year 437 when he assumed reign of the Western Roman Empire, taking over from his mother. 

   Interesting though. Although he was now the Emperor, his mother still called the shots! Some things never change.

   Perhaps you remember 1698, the year and date that Thomas Savery patented the steam engine. No kidding here. This invention really did change the world and the future.

   July 2, 1776...the date the Continental Congress severed ties with Great Britain, although the Declaration of Independence was not officially announced until July 4^th.

   In 1921, on July 2nd, President Harding signed the Knox-Porter Resolution, formally bringing World War I to an end. Unfortunately it would not be the last conflict involving the United States and others seeking power and control around the world.

   It all began, for Wal-Mart, in 1962, when they opened the doors for the first time in Rogers, Arkansas. And the rest is, as they say... history.

   July 2nd also appears to have been a very popular birth date. But to be honest, there are names on the list of people I have never even heard of, perhaps the one exception being Lindsay Lohan. We all remember Lindsay, right!

   The date also has its share of deaths too, some of the more notable names being Henry the Fowler (943), Earnest Hemingway (1961), Betty Grable (1973), and who can forget Fred Gwynne (1993) of the Munsters' fame.

   It's interesting there are no holidays or significant observances on July 2,nd unless you want to consider World UFO Day. But then ask anyone in the 'know' and they will quickly inform you there are no such things as UFOs, so... there is no real need for UFO day. I mean, when was the last time you saw a little green man (or woman) walking the streets of New York City.

   In case you are having difficulty with the concept of the mid point of the year in terms of days, here is another way of looking at it. As of noon of July 2nd, 4380 hours have past in year 2015 with 4380 yet to go. That means there have been 26,280 minutes to date, many of which I have probably wasted and another 26,280 to go. I wonder how many of those minutes I will waste too? And no, I am not going to break that time down into seconds. Now that would be a real waste of time!

   In our daily discussions with others, we use the expressions of mid point and halfway quite often. “How far into the book are you.?” “ Oh, half way.” How far along into the television show or movie?” “About halfway.” “I am thinking about coming to see the game. Do I still have time?” “The game is at mid point, just beginning the second half.”

   But I wonder what would happen if we knew when we were at the mid point of our life, the middle, half way? Would we make any changes?

   The challenge is that, for the most part, we really don't know when we have reached the middle. We have some ideas, we know when we have less time than more time, but the middle, I am not so sure. And how important is it to know when or where the exact middle actually is anyhow?

   July 2nd of any year may be a good day to sit down with a cool glass of ice tea, a few cookies and take a look back over the first 182 days, do a mid point evaluation. What went well? Are there things that need to change? What can I do to make the remainder of the year as good or better than the first half. 

   In fact, midday of any day could give you a similar opportunity. Is this going to turn out to be a good day or a bad day and if a bad one, what can I do to make it better. The truth may be that perhaps there may be nothing, but at least you're thinking about it.

   We don't really know how long we will live. Maybe, we need to treat each day as if we were halfway and make the future as good if not better than the past.

   And about that 'mid life' thing? Was that really the time I wanted to trade in the minivan for the red Corvette convertible?