Summer is Slippin' Slidin' Away - Parenting Plights & Delights

“Summer should get a speeding ticket.” ~ Author Unknown

Spring and summer are my favorite seasons. My kids are grown, and I don't have to deal with hectic school mornings anymore, but every year at this time I pause to mourn Fall casting its shadow on summertime.

Some of my favorite childhood memories:    

Surprise showers with tingly raindrops.

Marking the street up with sidewalk chalk well past 9:00 and still daylight.

When night fell, lightning bugs flitted around us, glowing with magic.

As a mother, summer fun with my kids and my sister Pam and her children bring more happy times to mind. These photos are from about 24 years ago, but it seems like just yesterday:

"Take time to play. It is the secret to staying young." ~ Unknown

Get ready. Get set...

GO!

Pam remembers this day of fun spent with our kids.
Sometimes adults need to take time and play like a kid again.

"When life rains on your parade, bring out the slip'n'slide!" ~ Author Unknown

"A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine." ~ Author Unknown

Photos will fade and summers fizzle, 

but memories are forever.

"No school. Sleepovers. Tanning. Beaches. 

Water fights. Tank tops. Flip flops. 

Lemonade. Sunglasses. Taking Pictures. Late nights. 

Ice-cream. Warm air. Camps. Short shorts. 

Sleeping in. Summer Breeze. 

Tan lines. Sand castles. Long hair. 

Mud fights. Bonfires. Slushies. Pool parties. 

Sun kissed hair. Palm trees. Barbecues. 

Blue skies…Make it count!" 

~ Author Unknown

Check out this great YouTube video. It's only 21 seconds long.

Wowsers! Does this look like fun or what?
Would you brave a ride on this?

Do you have any favorite summer memories? What's your favorite season and why?

Parents, do you like to do things like this with your kids?

Do you have a parenting or grandparenting memory

or another story you'd like to share? 

If you're not a parent, memories from your own childhood count, too. 

Warning: I might feature your story in a future post. 

(Names can be changed to protect the guilty!)

I'd like to thank all those who have shared their stories. 

These posts wouldn't be the same without your input.

If you don't want to leave a comment but would rather contact me by email, 

here's my address: lynkelwoohoo at yahoo dot com.

This Isn't Photoshopped!

Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a persistent one.

~ Albert Einstein

What's going on with the spoon dangling from that bracelet? 

No, it's not a charm gone wild. No, it's not a magic trick. No, it's not Photoshopped. 

This is my aunt's bracelet. A group of us went out to breakfast. She lifted her arm and felt something heavy on her wrist. She couldn't believe a spoon was sticking to her bracelet. She removed it, but the next time she lifted her arm, it happened again! How could that be?

Simple: Her bracelet comes apart in two separate equal-sized pieces. Each piece has magnets built into them to hold the bracelet together around her wrist. The magnet attracted the silverware on the table.

I wonder what she'd pick up wearing that bracelet in a jewelry shop? Imagine her walking out with a pricey metallic piece and not realizing it. She could end up in prison!

Magnetism is one of the Six Fundamental Forces of the universe, 

with the other five being Gravity, Duct Tape, Whining, Remote Control, 

and the Force That Pulls Dogs Toward the Groins of Strangers.

~ Dave Barry

Can you think of any other strange scenarios that could happen with a bracelet like that? C'mon now, stretch your imagination and have some fun!

Mean Cats Ban C. Lee McKenzie's Children's Book

SPECIAL INSIDER INTERVIEW WITH C. LEE MCKENZIE

Author still under siege by FFF. Second Howl-In Threatened.

Interviewer L. Nerd: Today C. Lee McKenzie has gone to the public with a plea for support in the ongoing (Federation of Feline Familiars) FFF v. C. Lee McKenzie case, now in negotiation. She is trying to avoid a lengthy and costly trial, but the FFF continue to hold firm in their demands. They refuse to back down on their insistence for a rewrite of Alligators Overhead in which they replace the current witch familiars, the Ornofree alligators.

The Book at the Center of the Controversary 

Interviewer L. Nerd: So, Ms. McKenzie, can you summarize what has happened so far?

C. Lee: The FFF has held one Howl-In to protest what they refer to as a threat to future generations. They say my book opens the door to other species who might want the job as witch familiars. The alligators are firm in opposing the cats. They’re prepared to go to court. I’m very concerned that this dispute might even result in hostilities. After all, these alligators know how to declare war. I’d appreciate your readers’ support: letters to the editor of their local newspapers, letters to the FFF whatever. The FFF is already organizing another of those dreadful Howl-Ins!

Interviewer L. Nerd: When did you first suspect you might be in for trouble?

C. Lee: I was blindsided by the FFF’s attack just before my book came out. I thought they’d find my story was an interesting twist on the traditional “cat needs witch,” “witch needs cat” theme. They have centuries of being familiars on the international scene. Hadleyville is one very small point on the map.

Interviewer L. Nerd: They’re demanding a rewrite or what?

C. Lee: Banning my book! And believe me they have a huge political machine behind them.

Interviewer L. Nerd: This dispute has been going for a few weeks. Has there been no move toward a settlement?

C. Lee: Almost none. The FFF had a major conference that demanded we recess until their chief negotiators returned. Al Wisecat and the one they call Champion of the Under Cat are taking the lead on these negotiations, and evidently they both had major presentations at this conference--one paper was Breakthrough on Hair Ball Elixirs, another on The Catnip Conspiracy Theory.

Interviewer L. Nerd: They sound like significant players in the FFF. I read you made an offer to donate a case of dolphin safe tuna to the conference and that it was being considered as a step toward easing the tensions.

C. Lee: I donated several cases, and the Malamutes, who responded to my request for help, donated some ball toys and finally two scratching posts. Unfortunately, the alligators ate them.

Interviewer L. Nerd: So what are your plans when negotiations resume?

C. Lee: I’ll return to the table with these offers: I’ll dedicate my next book to the FFF and donate 10% of any proceeds the first year the book is out. I’ll sign an agreement to never write another book in which cats lose their traditional roles to another species. I’ll replace the cat toys and the scratching post eaten by the alligators. I have received some information that leads me to believe there’s a small break in the FFF ranks. This might mean things will go in my favor. I’m not sure.

Interviewer L. Nerd: Can you reveal what this break is about?

C. Lee: This is a picture that came into my possession showing that tuna might be the pivotal negotiating point. Obviously, some members are interested in taking this part of my offer. 

Then there was a dispute following the last round of talks. Some wanted to take my offer.

Interviewer L. Nerd: So there you have it. The latest news on FFF v. C. Lee McKenzie. She’s stated she will report the results of this dispute on her blog within the next few days.

Awesome book trailer!

"Alligators, witches and a spooky mansion aren't your average neighbors . . . not unless you live at the edge of the Ornofree swamp in the backwater town of Hadleyville. Pete Riley may only be eleven, but he's already up to his eyeballs in big trouble, and this time the town's bad boy, Pete, didn't cause it. This time the trouble arrived when a legendary hundred-year-old mansion materialized next door with someone inside, someone who came to seek him out. Then the Ornofree alligators declare war to try to save their swamp from being bulldozed for a shopping mall, and Pete discovers he's living among a coven of "sadly-out-of practice" witches. When one of their ancient "magick" spells goes wrong and all the witches vanish, including his guardian aunt, Pete's left to face the perils of the Ornofree Swamp War alone. He soon discovers that he just might have inherited the family talent for witchcraft, and, although he doesn't know one thing about the practice of spell casting, he's the only one left in Hadleyville to do it. It's up to him work some dangerous "magick," restore his aunt and bring back all the other witches. He might stand a chance of succeeding if his one friend, Weasel, sticks with him, but even the two of them may not succeed."

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON KINDLE 

http://tinyurl.com/7hv8j5a

AMAZON PAPERBACK

http://tinyurl.com/9kvezg5

B&N

http://tinyurl.com/8ywogjt

SMASHWORDS

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/204548

C. Lee McKenzie

WEBSITE: http://cleemckenziebooks.com

BLOG: http://writegame.blogspot.com

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/cleemckenziebooks

TWITTER : @cleemckenzie

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0042M1KYW 

GOODREADS

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2809083.C_Lee_McKenzie

I'm in the middle of reading Alligators Overhead right now. I can't wait to see how Pete Riley gets out of the mess he's in! C. Lee McKenzie's books never disappoint. This is a fun, entertaining middle grade read. Parents who read aloud to their kids will enjoy this book, too.

Do you have any advice for C. Lee McKenzie on how to fight back against the mean cats? Do you think this issue can be resolved?