Ahh the Joys of Summer..

[New York Mermaid]

July 4th in the next few days, I wanted to know what gets you in the summer mood BESIDES MERMAIDING!!!

Is it the smell, the tastes or the places you go?
what is it?

For me its the Smell of Suntan lotion in the air
The taste of a damn good hamburger
And whale watching with my Fianc'e or having a BBQ with my friends/family..

*Ah Yes for those who havent heard the happy news I got Re-Engaged on my Florida Trip..It was ..embarassing.*

[babsannee]

LOBSTER. Oh i love it! I know some people here don't eat it, but this mer could eat like 9 on her own. That, seeing sand on the streets, and the smell of salty sea air.

[Merman Ray]

So far summer is ruined for me because the air is on fire.

[Blondie]

First of all, congrats on the engagement!!!!

And yes!! I live for the summer! Juicy corn on the cob with butter melting on top. Fresh crab by the beach and steaaaak oh God yes, steak. I really like food .-.

I love waking up on days I don't have to work. My room warm from the hot sun peaking through the drapes, the sound of a lawnmower going, the smell of fresh cut grass! Then rolling out of bed and just slipping a swim suit on. And then off to the pool/beach!

[halesloveswhales]

Congratulations on your engagement!

I absolutely live for the summertime!
Well I work as a pirate actor on a pirate ship, so being out in the sunshine on the ocean all day, speaking in a fake Australian/British/Pirate accent, watching dolphins up close, and hanging out with kids is definitely one of my favorite things about summer!
Aside from that, I love how it's not hard to wake up in the morning because the sun rises so early. I love that I can walk to the beach from my house. I love the sun and the freedom and the overall joy that only comes in this season!

[Merman Dan]

I feel my annual craving for conch fritters approaching.

[Ayla of Duluth]

So far summer is ruined for me because the air is on fire.
I'm probably a terrible person for this, but the way you said that just made me laugh. Also, aww :(

For me, summer is ships over a thousand feet long navigating their way through our canal and blasting a captain's salute to the bridge operator and all the tourists. 6 miles away here up on the other end of the city I can still hear them in my house.

Allow me to introduce you all to the Paul R. Tregurtha; the longest ship on the great lakes at 1,015 feet. I can always tell when she's coming in because her salute is much longer than any of the other ships. The first salute is from her, the second salute is the return greeting from the Aerial Lift Bridge. Seeing and hearing this never gets old.
Another unique thing about this is the Maritime Museum we have. The lady you hear talking in the background is taking information from the captain of the ship and relaying it to the people outside through a loudspeaker attached to a replica tugboat statue in the field behind the piers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv0TCmqgyho&feature=relmfu

[Ayla of Duluth]

And the fact that when summer shows up I have to go to work driving horse carriages. Yay for summer seasonal jobs! :)

[lasserine]

Lobster and steamed clams. Yum

[Spindrift]

And the fact that when summer shows up I have to go to work driving horse carriages. Yay for summer seasonal jobs! :)

You get to work with horses?! That is so cool. *starry eyes*
Question: there's been a ton of bad press of the horse carriage rides in NYC/Central Park and other places with reports of animal abuse. Do you know the real story?

[Ayla of Duluth]

I never knew there could be carriage rides in new York because of all the traffic. I mean honestly, even if I could find a nice quiet place for carriage rides I wouldn't do it because it just doesn't seem like a big city ordeal. Carriage rides in a city like that? No thank you.

as for abuse, every company is different. Also, peoples views on abuse are all different too. For instance, when I drive my horse down the street, I use a riding crop. It's like a really long stick, or like a whip with no tail. When I have to cross an intersection, I have to use it on the horse along with clicking to get him to go faster. People see me hitting the horse with the stick and call abuse. Honestly? It's like if I was spanking you with a sock. That's how much it hurts. It's not a tool of abuse, it's a tool to reinforce the clicking.

Some people have also called abuse because when we tie our horses to the trees to wait for customers it can get hot. The horses get sleepy from the heat and hang their heads to rest. People come by, see "sad" horses and say we overwork them. Horses were made to stand all day, every day. If they lay down its usually only for short periods.

We treat our horses well, better than the other company we work with. We spray them with water to keep them cool, we give them fly spray, they get two scoops of oats at 5 o clock on the dot, I could go on.

But anyways, honestly I just don't think new york has the culture for carriage rides. Probably why I haven't heard the stories. I'll look into it though, there probably are some abusive owners out there.

[Spindrift]

Yeah I also saw some posters talking about how horse racing was unethical. I didn't get a really good look at it though, since I was just walking by and happened to glance at it.
I compete in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association circle and have loved riding forever, but I'm still learning something new every day. I also really want to try tumbling. :|
Please let me know what you find out!

[Samantha Siren]

For me this summer I'll be dedicating my time to Horse Boarding and learning to Joust!

[Ayla of Duluth]

I think I'll go make a seperate thread for this. Don't want to derail this one. ;)

[Azurin Luna]

I know that summer is getting closer as there are less people at work and less people in the train, but I'm not lucky as there is no swimmable water near... or good weather for that matter :(

[Ayla of Duluth]

http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?2368-Horse-Abuse-In-NYC&p=28840#post28840
For continuing the horsie discussion, Spindrift. :)

[deepblue]

Summer... where I'm currently landlocked, it's not feeling very summery. Seriously. I'm not a 'get out in the sun' type, but until yesterday, it was still rainy and cool. Now it's hot and sunny.

However, I'm moving back home soon, back to the coast. Summer to me means the salt air in my hair... my hair is very long, past my waist, and I love how, when I walk along the shore, my hair holds the scent of the ocean for hours. Add to that eating cold tempeh and veggie salads, drinking iced water with lemon... just little things. Farmer's markets where I can buy produce right out of the hands of local growers... ah, yes. Summer isn't my favorite season but it certainly has its good points!

[Merman Dan]

beer-boiled shrimp, sandcastles, sunrises on the horizon (sorry, west-coasters, your ocean is on the wrong side, but at least you get sunsets), ghost crabs, sargassum washed in from the gulf, and the constant caress of the sound of the surf.

[deepblue]

Surf movies... now that it's really feeling like summer here, I can't get enough surf movies. Especially those from the 60s- Gidget and the Beach Party films. Yay! Peppy and silly and wonderful. And Soul Surfer, which is really quite inspirational and enjoyable if you go into it for what it is.