Sometimes, like right now, I suddenly sit bolt upright,
shake my head, and scream (in my own head)
WTF am I doing?!?
WTF am I doing?!?
So as Summer 2012 finishes I realize I have accomplished
little or nothing that I had planed…Zippo…nada…zilch…EPPERS!
But don’t worry…I know summer 2013 is fast approaching…along
with Christmas…and new years…and DAMN IT this was a suck-tastic summer...
Anyway, I slightly enjoy this time of year because I get
flashbacks to when I was younger. Back when a curly haired, innocent, adorable,
and non-cynical Matteo used to hop and skip his way to school. Whose idea of “getting
wild” was fighting trees during recess. Whom would drool over back to school
items and could not wait to going crashing and crackling through lead piles. I
really was cute back then…really really cute…but then I grew up and now…ehhhh…such
is life…
So now that I am a grown up this time of year primarily
means…::drum roll::
GOING BACK TO WORK!!!
And BACK TO WORK I GO!
But, Surely life is supposed to be more than just work?
I spent all summer dreading going back to teaching…however, now
that it has started I have begun to get back into the rhythm of it all…why
fight the inevitable…
Anyway here are a few Matteo tips to help transition back
into the real world and out of summer mode…
1) Declutter…as
soon as Labor Day hits I make it a point to already have cleaned out my room
and put away all stuff that rarely comes out during any other part of the year…this
includes stuff such as Sun block, extra sunglasses, beach passes, baseball
hats, and other “what-evers” that just might bring about that sudden summer
mode.
2) Hide
your freaking beach gear…the second that Labor Day comes around I put away all
the beach gear…I pack away the beach chairs, beach umbrella, and beach toys and
put them all in the basement. I also put the beach towels and blankets back
into the closet…With all of it hidden away there is no need to see them as I
jet off to work in the mornings and torture my mind with dreaming that I could
be lounging around on sand and surf…Out of Site…Out of Mind
3) The
dreaded but necessary switching of the clothing…once again this pains me to do
as I organize my stuff and put away my summer clothing…I don’t put them far
(just incase I feel like quitting life and running away to some island) but I
just reorganize my closet so a pair of jeans is closer for the choosing over a
pair of shorts and a pair of sneakers is easier to find then a pair of flip
flops. It just makes life easier…plus if you are like me…you can still probably
smell the beach and sun on MOST of your summer clothes so it is better to have
them away then having them be a fragrant temptress ready to help you freeze
your ass off.
4) Start
doing fall things…for example…I planted a pumpkin! (Little joys in life)
5) Work
starts…start working…
6) School
starts…start schooling…
7) Start
the PLEASANT autumn thoughts early: the cooler weather, the autumn colours and
smells, the first fire in a fireplace on a crisp autumn evening, the craving for
pumpkin soups and pies, the wind rustling through the thinning trees…It is not
the brilliant sound of waves crashing or the amazing heat of summer…but autumn has
wonderfully vivid moments that you can notice and ENJOY during the commute to
work or just when taking a breather…
8) Switch
your drink…trade Corona for Fall Lager, then trade Vodka…with well, VODKA!! (vodka…the
season defying drink)
9) For
those still in school and who work till mid afternoon…TRULY UTILIZE the
thinning time between ending of school or work and sunset. As fall comes around
in my neck of the United States it begins to get dark around 6ish…so for that short
time in between I have been trying to go outdoor “hiking” or “jogging” (I don’t know why I put those words
in sketchy air quotes but my fingers did it with out my mind realizing…soooo…my
subconscious must be trying to tell me something…)
10) Stock up on
cold medications, and refill ALL necessary sickness combating stuff…this just
safeguards for when the day DOES begin to suddenly get colder at night and you
get the sniffles
11) DO
SOMETHING SPONTANEOUS…(I repeat…I planted a pumpkin)…Just do something that you
can look forward to after work…work sucks…everyone knows it…but in order to
keep sane…plan a few nights out, do a game night, drink and eat…people take an
awkward pause because they are all depressed about saying goodbye to summer and
then well into fall they actually begin to utilize the season…well blah blah
blah…just keep it interesting…and don’t take the break because of work. EVERYONE
uses work as an excuse but just use it to heighten the fun at night…
12) DON’T TALK
ABOUT WORK UNLESS YOU ARE AT WORK…my policy when I get home is that “WHEN AT
HOME…I DO NOT…IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCE…TALK ABOUT WORK!!!” Why do I want to ruin my
intro to fall by talking about the bastard that is work!...Just leave it out…and
use any down time to just enjoy the moment
13) Some people
I have talked to have very awkward limitations on what traditions can be transferred
from Summer into Fall…one of the biggest examples of this is I see people
lugging in their BBQs while driving home from school…I think that a BBQ is a
wonderful way of keeping calm during impending fall and as the work load
commences…not everything has a very true start and finish point and a Hamburger
is amazing no matter what…so keep BBQing!
14) So I enjoy
being outdoors…the air is just so crisp…but I also pride myself on being a
couch potato…soooooo…find something to watch at night so it distracts you…most
shows start the first or second week of September so pick something and go with
it…it could be a returning show or something new…but it is just nice to find
that series or show that you can turn on and rely on to pass time…(come on
American Horror Story and come back on!). Some nights I enjoy just going with
the flow and picking a show at random (especially if it is a drama it gives me
something to think about on the ride to work…)
15) NO IT IS
NOT COLD…it is COLDER! What?! Ok so…as WEEK AGO it was 70…this week it is 65…some
how though (and I suffer from it as well) we all think it is suddenly FREEZING
outside! However, just bring some layers…it helps at work especially when air
conditioners might still be set to max chill. Plus you might be cold because
you did not follow tip number 3 and are still running around looking like a
beach threw up on you.
16) Don’t fall
for the decoy HOT day…Mother Nature can totally be a bitch at times and make an
upcoming day in the upcoming months a very believable scorching summer day…but
don’t fall for it and be like YEAH IT FEELS LIKE JUNE! LET’S ALL CAR POOL DOWN
TO THE BEACH DURING OUR LUNCH BREAKS! SUMMER IS HERE AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!! Because it
is not…and it won’t be…and it will rather embarrassing and disappointing the
next day when you are known as the, “Person who freaked out because of warmth”
I don’t know…I want to give more tips but (aside from sheer lazyness)…basically…even
though work has started and summer has came to a close…keep up spirits everyone! Do
not make the awkward “womp womp” sad pause and rather just jump in with both feet…anyway…more
posts coming soon…now that it is fall I am going to try and write more (what a hollow
promise...damn it!)
CHEERS, SALUTE, CHIN CHIN!!
