According to the calendar, spring’s just a few weeks away! However, I’ve lived in places where that was totally meaningless, since snow and cold were still hanging around in late April. It’s pretty meaningless where I live now too, since Southern California is essentially seasonless. However, this week’s Ten on Tuesday topic is “10 Things You’re Looking Forward to in the Spring,” so let’s see what I can come up with:

1. My birthday! I might have mentioned that it’s coming up this month…
2. Leaving the house without a jacket
3. New green growth on the hillsides, before it all turns brown for the summer
4. Packing up the sweaters, and getting out the capris and shorts
5. Getting a pedicure to usher in open-toed-shoe season
6. Going back to the bookstore! I gave up buying books for Lent, and I have not yet caved, so I might actually make it this year; Easter’s coming up soon, and hopefully my birthday gifts will include some bookstore gift cards…
7. The third anniversary of my first date with Tall Paul, on April 17
8. The return of some of my favorite TV shows for the rest of their strike-shortened seasons, and an encore of one that won’t be back with new episodes until summer
9. Cooking outdoors on the grill – we are finally getting one for the patio, possibly as soon as this weekend!
10. Vacation! School lets out on June 13, which is technically still spring (talking about the calendar again), and we leave the next day for the big Three-Generation Road Trip! We’re heading to Yellowstone via Utah and Idaho, and probably stopping at the Grand Canyon on the way back home.

Spring is my favorite season. What about you – are you looking forward to it? Visit Ten on Tuesday to see what the players are anticipating in the new season!

And here’s a bonus “ten” list on a closely related topic: it’s the “Let’s Pretend It’s NOT Winter” meme, via MaryP, who lives in Canada and has far more reason than I do to want to be done with winter.

1. If you could go anywhere in the world RIGHT NOW, where would you go?

Hawaii – specifically Maui or Kauai – the USA’s very own tropical paradise. I’ve never been, and have always wanted to go.

2. What’s your favorite tropical drink?

I drink pineapple juice every morning at breakfast – does that count? OK, if that’s not tropical enough, add a splash or two of rum, and you have one of my favorite college-era drinks.

3. What’s your favorite (non-winter) activity?

That’s a tough one, living in SoCal, since you can do most outdoor activities year-round – but we don’t do much trail walking in the wintertime, and I’d really like to get back to that again.

4. What’s your favorite article of summer clothing?

Shorts and capris (not together, of course – that would just look weird).

5. What’s your favorite food cooked on the BBQ?

Everything tastes better cooked on the grill! Steak, salmon, skewered shrimp, chicken, burgers – I’m looking forward to them all this summer.

6. You’re on the beach…what do you have on your feet?

I’m barefoot, but I’m walking on the wet sand near the ocean, where it’s cooler. Sand gets in your shoes anyway, so why bother?

7. Canoe, motor boat or white water raft? (Or write your own)

Motorboat.

8. Do you prefer to swim in a pool, a lake or the ocean?

A pool. It’s a more controlled environment, and I do have my control-freak moments…

9. Favorite flavor of ice cream?

I’m not crazy about ice cream, which makes me a real oddball in my family – but if you’re offering, I’ll take almost any variety of chocolate except chocolate-mint.

10. What do you look forward to most about summer in general?

Long hours of daylight, having the windows open to the fresh air, less traffic, going to the movies, and no homework for anyone!

Subscribe to Blog via Email