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phoning it in

September 3, 2011 /

Here is little Bug at the park under a giant oak tree. We stopped after school because I’d promised we’d go the day before but then I broke her heart because I realized that going to the park when it cools down is also when all the gangsters like to go to the park and cuss loudly and generally act like hooligans who might steal your purse or something. They are probably harmless but I’m a scared paranoid mama bear in this town.

We have to move. I’ve set a date. We are moving in June.

So we went the next day after school. It was sweltering and there was no one at the park, probably because the metal slides were hotter than a cookie sheet in the oven. Why would anyone install metal slides at a park in the desert? I don’t know. Anyway, this giant oak tree offered us wonderful shade. It was actually pleasant. We spread out a blanket on the soft over-watered grass and she ate her leftover lunch from her lunch box, which was pretty much all of it.

13 Comments

  • bethany

    September 3, 2011 at 6:03 am

    Glad you had a cool picnic, I hear you about hooligans! The parks here go crazy after the middle schools get out, but there are enough parents of younger kids that we all tend to ride herd on them to get them out of the little kid areas at least, I’d never try that alone though. Glad you’ve set a date!!!

  • SAJ

    September 3, 2011 at 6:08 am

    Probably, hopefully back to the beach. I’ve been watching the rent prices and they’ve dropped. I think I’ll be able to afford a very small place. Of course I’ll have to give up my garden and my dog back to my mom but it will be worth it.

  • Cathy

    September 3, 2011 at 8:03 am

    Bug looks so teeeeny weeeny! Congrats on setting a date. I envy your moving to the beach – would love to do that myself. I’m only about 20 mins from the beach but it’s not the same!

  • Ashley

    September 3, 2011 at 7:30 pm

    Two things – Metal Slides = stupid idea by guy who has NO CHILDREN and lived in a hole his entire childhood, never having slid down a hot metal slide.

    Your title totally reminded me of Jillian Michaels yelling at me not to “phone it in” while tourturing me with squats and the like. Thanks for that.

  • gingermog

    September 4, 2011 at 1:08 am

    Lol I remember the feeling of burning metal against my bare legs from playground slides. Rite of passage. I also remember when all the equipment was surrounded by unforgiving concrete instead of the wood chips or bouncy rubber stuff they have now.

    Love the washed out light in the photo, really intensifies how hot the day was, you’ve captured a beautiful moment.

    Good luck with finding a place near the beach when the time comes. I imagine you must miss it, although being so close to family is also good. Wishing you a really lovely weekend xx

  • Kuky

    September 4, 2011 at 9:52 pm

    Better safe than sorry. One of the parks we go to, in a not so good neighborhood, actually had a shooting there a week ago. Yikes!!

    And yay for moving back to the beach. That is wonderful!