summer

The Self-Appointed Storm Broadcaster and Boss

Summer thunderstorms aren’t exactly a new invention; they’ve been around since time began. I was sitting at my usual hangout recently when the sky opened up. Heavy rain and thunder with several flashes of lightning. Then the power goes out. It’s pretty standard stuff for an Ontario, Canada summer with three or four thunderstorms rumblingContinue reading “The Self-Appointed Storm Broadcaster and Boss”

September 1 Is When Summer Suddenly Feels Different

There is something about September 1 in Southern Ontario – and I’m sure in much of the northern USA and the rest of Canada – that happens every year. It can be 78 degrees outside. The trees are still green. You can be wearing shorts and a T-shirt. The forecast might even call for anotherContinue reading “September 1 Is When Summer Suddenly Feels Different”

Summer Is Not Over, People. Calm Down

Let me repeat that: It’s only July 16. And yet, if you listen closely—on patios, in lineups, even from your friend grumbling, you’d think we’re already packing away the sunscreen and hauling out the flannel. Apparently, summer is “half over.” Or worse, basically done. Why? Because the MLB All-Star Game just happened. Because the CanadianContinue reading “Summer Is Not Over, People. Calm Down”

Summer Memories – How the Smallest Things Leave the Biggest Impressions

There’s something magical about summer. Maybe the longer days, the warmth in the air, or the slower pace invite us to soak it all in. But what is interesting about summer is how the most ordinary moments can be etched in our memories for years or even decades. Big trips or extravagant events often makeContinue reading “Summer Memories – How the Smallest Things Leave the Biggest Impressions”

The Patio Crowd Is a Different Breed

The is the penultimate entry in the bar series and based on my observations from last summer and already this year. I’m not saying the entire patio crowd fits the narrative or the true stories below, but many do. It’s that time of year when the snow is long gone, the temperatures climb, and suddenlyContinue reading “The Patio Crowd Is a Different Breed”

May Is The Month That Can’t Make Up Its Mind

As I wrote about last year, living near the Great Lakes brings all sorts of weather, sometimes all four seasons in one day. That said, one of the craziest months is not March, when the weather can be miserable but spring officially arrives; it is May. Living near the Great Lakes in May is likeContinue reading “May Is The Month That Can’t Make Up Its Mind”