Summer! It was the best of times, it was the worst of times

Since Memorial Day marks the unofficial beginning of summer, I thought I'd jot down some of my thoughts about summer. Feel free to add your own bests and worsts:

1. best thing about summer-not having to work!

1. worst thing about summer-having my kids around me ALL DAY is really tiring!

2. best-swimming! It's free and it's fun! as a bonus, it totally wears the kids out.

2. worst-always having to search for the shady spot whenever we go out, realizing they've already been taken by giant SUVs and then resigning myself to cracking the windows and putting up the sunshade.

3. best-fun and FREE programs at the library.

3. worst-TOTALLY inadequate parking at the Main library downtown. Now that we have the newer, bigger Marcy Branch, I doubt I'll be going to downtown very often.

4. best-no more packing lunches! hooray!

4. worst-now I have to cook lunch AND dinner! Sometimes I feel like my entire day is prepping/cooking/cleaning, wait a few hours, then repeat. ad infinitum.

5. best-excursions to fun, slightly faraway kid attractions like Kidspace in Pasadena or the Discovery Cube in Santa Ana.

5. worst-having to brave traffic and gas prices, or paying hefty metrolink fares and doubled travel times. hmmmmmm.

6. best-being able to take late-night walks around the neighborhood and not worrying about getting home because we have to get up early the next day for school.

6. worst-any semblance of a schedule goes completely out the window. I love my schedules.

7. best-the abundance of fresh fruit means that we have the time and fresh produce to make delicious popsicles and ice cream.

7. worst-the constant whining for snacks and aforementioned popsicles and ice cream!

8. best-more chances to go to LEGOLAND!

8. worst-other people are also on vacation, clogging up our beloved park. Though it hasn't reached Disneyland levels of crowdedness, it has come close.

9. best-really juicy and delicious summer tomatoes.

9. worst-really horrific heat and don't get me started in the air quality.

10. best-not worrying about the roof on my 81 year-old house leaking! Even if you don't see it, you know it's leaking somewhere.

10. worst-worrying about the air conditioning bill!