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Summer 2004 - Its Not Quite Over Yet
by Bob
Lowe
August 27, 2004
This
year it is more than just an overworked cliche to ask, "Where
did the summer go?" Wasn’t it just the other day
that we were going into the Memorial Day weekend and planning
all kinds of outdoor, holiday and vacation events for what
seemed like an extended three-month summer? Schools were out,
the winter wardrobe was placed in the back of the closet,
the temps started to warm up, the outdoor pools and swimming
lakes opened, people fired up their barbecue grills in their
backyards and patios and shorts, flip flops, halter tops and
tank tops became the preferred attire of the season. Now,
all of a sudden, it seems, stores are pushing back-to-school
sales, classes are getting back into session, high school
football is already underway and cooler temperatures are here
– as if they ever went away.
What kind of summer was this when Appleton has yet to have
a single day of 90 degrees or above and there were six record
low temperatures – all in the 40s. Farmers are complaining
that the wet spring and cool summer temps caused plants to
put down only short roots, yielding substandard crops. Summer?
What summer?, the cynics might ask. We had winter and spring
and are now experiencing fall weather. So what’s a person
to do? First of all, adjust your attitude. If you find yourself
in a negative funk, lamenting the departure of "The Summer
That Never Was," be thankful that you did not experience
the wrath of Hurricane Charley. The people in Florida who
lost most of their possessions wish their only complaint this
summer was that it was too cool. Be grateful that we were
spared this horrible tragedy – and that we are still
alive, for heaven’s sake. Yes the past 12 weeks flew
by and it never got really hot. But who says you need to experience
swelteringly hot, humid and sweaty temperatures to enjoy the
summer?.
Some of us who profess to love the sauna-like 90-100 degree
temperatures complain about how miserable it makes them feel
when they do get it. And I’ll bet these are the same
people who whine about how the cold and snow of winter puts
them in a foul mood. The other thing we can do is to put ourselves
in a positive frame of mind is to remember that the summer
isn’t over – officially or unofficially. For many,
the summer doesn’t end until after Labor Day. For others,
it ends when the Green Bay Packers season officially begins
on Sept. 13. Others go strictly by the calendar, which states
that summer officially ends on Sept. 21 and autumn begins
the next day. For a good many others, summer is not determined
by a date, time or calendar. It is a state of mind. For these
folks, "summer" is what we have when there is no
snow or ice on the ground.
The thing to remember is that there are still a lot of "summer
like" activities left even beyond September 21. Starting
this weekend in Green Bay, you may want to check out Artstreet,
the 23rd annual outdoor arts festival taking place in the
downtown area 5-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to midnight on Saturday
and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Up to 80,000 people are expected to see exhibitions from 200
visual artists from across the nation, a variety of foods
from all over the world, several musical performers in a variety
of genres ranging form jazz and blues to rock and classical,
dance routines and theatrical presentations, as well as a
multitude of creative activities for children. Log onto www.newartscouncil.org
or call 920-435-2787 for more information. Admission is free.
Also this weekend in Oshkosh is the Ducks Unlimited Great
Outdoors Festival, running Friday Aug. 27 to Sunday Aug. 29
at the Experimental Aircraft Association Convention Grounds.
The official schedule of events is posted on www.dugof.com.
If indoor performers are more to your liking, "Tap Dogs
Rebooted," a high-energy theatrical show with tap dancing
with a touch of "sassiness and sensuality," is scheduled
for Sept. 17-19 at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in
downtown Appleton. If you are looking for a more subdued form
of entertainment, crooner Tony Bennett is coming to the Weidner
Center in Green Bay at 7:30 p.m. Saturday Sept. 25. The Fox
Cities Marathon will be held Saturday September 25and Sunday
Sept. 26 throughout eight communities in the Valley. The Saturday
event will feature a 5k Run/Walk, Kids’s Run Expo and
a pasta dinner. Sunday will be the Marathon Run/Walk and the
Half Marathon run/walk of 13.1 miles. That same weekend will
be Appleton’s Annual Octoberfest, featuring the License
to Cruise classic car show exhibit on Friday Sept. 24 and
the larger food and music festival Sept. 25.
That’s only a sampling of what’s still available.
So get out there and enjoy the summer because it ain't over
yet.
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