So with the kids starting school this week (here in NY at least) it signals the end of Summer 2014.



How was your Summer, my fellow Orgers?

Was it eventful?

Are you ready for the advent of Autumn - the cooler temps, the holidays, & all that?

I can't wait for Fall because my birthday is the end of this month (9/30) I love how it's not too hot but not too cold either. Besides, I treat my birthday like it's a holiday so I'm celebrating well into the first week of October.

My summer wasn't too bad. The weather here in VA wasn't too hot, in fact, I believe this is one of the milder summers we've ever had. I didn't really do a summer vacation this year, just mainly worked and partied a lot.

missfee said:

I can't wait for Fall because my birthday is the end of this month (9/30) I love how it's not too hot but not too cold either. Besides, I treat my birthday like it's a holiday so I'm celebrating well into the first week of October.

My summer wasn't too bad. The weather here in VA wasn't too hot, in fact, I believe this is one of the milder summers we've ever had. I didn't really do a summer vacation this year, just mainly worked and partied a lot.

This was definitely a mild summer for us as well (Northeast). Almost a non-summer. In fact, I think that we only hit the beach ONCE (back in June) not counting the trip to Myrtle Beach.

Unfortunately, the Farmer's Almanac calls for a very cold winter this year (same as last year).

PurpleJedi said:

missfee said:

I can't wait for Fall because my birthday is the end of this month (9/30) I love how it's not too hot but not too cold either. Besides, I treat my birthday like it's a holiday so I'm celebrating well into the first week of October.

My summer wasn't too bad. The weather here in VA wasn't too hot, in fact, I believe this is one of the milder summers we've ever had. I didn't really do a summer vacation this year, just mainly worked and partied a lot.

This was definitely a mild summer for us as well (Northeast). Almost a non-summer. In fact, I think that we only hit the beach ONCE (back in June) not counting the trip to Myrtle Beach.

Unfortunately, the Farmer's Almanac calls for a very cold winter this year (same as last year).

Well that sucks.

This was a hectic summer for me - I had a trip each month (June - Iceland/Amsterdam, July - Myrtle Beach, August - Montreal) - so now that the summer "is over" I seem to be almost in disbelief.

Things that I wanted to but did NOT manage to do this summer;

• take the kids camping
• do a beach day in either July or August (& only once in June)
• go fishing
• host a BBQ
• attend the Shinnecok Pow-Wow last weekend

But traveling was beyond awesome so I'm good.

Now I'm looking forward to (hopefully) doing this Fall;

• Apple/pumpking picking Upstate
• Hiking the trails at Bushkill Falls
• Trip to Amish country in Pennsylvania
• Daytrip to either Philly or Boston

Maybe I can still have a BBQ in the next few weeks.

WHERE does the time go???

I'm actually looking forward to being able to run any time of day (before or after work) without getting overheated.

At least until it snows and people do a shitty job of shoveling so I have to start running on a treadmill again.

Eh, same ole, same ole really.

SuperSoulFighter said:

I know what a pow-wow is (I'm very interested in native/ancient American cultures) but what and where is the Shinnecok one? Over here in Holland, we didn't have much of a summer, so when fall comes, it won't be much different! [Edited 9/2/14 11:15am]

LOL, actually today is probably the hottest it's been all summer for us here in NY. If it hadn't been the 1st day of school for my kids, I would've called in sick and headed for the beach.


The Shinnecock Nation has a small reservation out on the eastern end of Long Island, in Southampton (surrounded by the summer homes of celebrities & millionares).
They hold a Pow-Wow every Labor Day weekend. I used to go frequently - but I haven't been able to go since 2011 (it's always one thing or another!).

Here are some of my pics from that year;









Me enjoying a "Navajo Taco";

Next year I won't let ANYTHING stop us from going!!!

i've had a great summer but how did it go so fast? i was just thinking earlier about how it was june a moment ago and now look it's september. i love all the seasons but wow. back to school already?

SuperSoulFighter said:

Thanx 4 the info, looks pretty cool. They even have an Aztec in there! I always like to go to festivals like this.

Yeah the Aztec dancers come every year from Mexico City, and they are a crowd favorite.

XxAxX said:

i've had a great summer but how did it go so fast? i was just thinking earlier about how it was june a moment ago and now look it's september. i love all the seasons but wow. back to school already?

I'm telling you, it's like just yesterday I was posting on the "Amsterdam" thread about going out there, and now Wal-Mart is getting ready for Halloween!

I've been ready for fall since the end of last fall.

* Sweater weather

* Leaves changing

* The Canadian National Exhibition and Toronto International Film Festival

* Sukkot

* Cider

* Concord grapes

* Pumpkin everything

* Clam bakes
* Corduroy

* Suede

* Halloween and U.S. Thanksgiving (with the accompanying Charlie Brown episodes)
* Oktoberfest

There is nothing as cool as autumn!

Lammastide said:

I've been ready for fall since the end of last fall.

* Sweater weather

* Leaves changing

* The Canadian National Exhibition and Toronto International Film Festival

* Sukkot

* Cider

* Concord grapes

* Pumpkin everything

* Clam bakes
* Corduroy

* Suede

* Halloween and U.S. Thanksgiving (with the accompanying Charlie Brown episodes)
* Oktoberfest

There is nothing as cool as autumn!

Hey, can you elaborate on Sukkot?

PurpleJedi said:

Lammastide said:

I've been ready for fall since the end of last fall.

* Sweater weather

* Leaves changing

* The Canadian National Exhibition and Toronto International Film Festival

* Sukkot

* Cider

* Concord grapes

* Pumpkin everything

* Clam bakes
* Corduroy

* Suede

* Halloween and U.S. Thanksgiving (with the accompanying Charlie Brown episodes)
* Oktoberfest

There is nothing as cool as autumn!

Hey, can you elaborate on Sukkot?

In a nutshell, it's an eight-day Jewish festival (though only seven in Israel) in fall commemorating God's provision of simple, temporary shelters (called "sukkahs" or "sukkot") during the Biblical exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt. Jewish families still build these structures out of various materials and a thatch, or "s'chach," roof -- and they eat, sing, pray and occasionally sleep in them.

I'm not Jewish, but I grew up in an Orthodox Jewish neighbourhood, and it was always so cool to see my neighbours celebrate this festival. It has become a favourite sign of fall for me.

These days I sit on the steering committee for a Jewish organization that hosts an international sukkah design competition. We invite designers and architects from around the world to reimagine the sukkah in crazy modern ways, and we shortlist about eight teams to travel to Toronto and build their sukkahs, which are displayed in outdoor venues in the city. A panel of celebrity judges name a winner, we take bids for the one-of-a-kind sukkahs, and proceeds from the event benefit the construction of permanent affordable housing in Toronto.

[Edited 9/2/14 19:28pm]

Yup. I'm over this hot and humid summer!

I had a pretty good summer! I worked hard...

Lots of live music...

• Alice Smith on June 30th
• Bruno Mars on July 17th
• Living Colour on August 21st
• a bunch of awesome free concerts at NJ Performing Arts Center on Thursday nights...
  
  

My birthday was on August 24th, and I ended the summer with a weekend trip and more live music:

• The Sax Pack with Jeff Kashiwa, Steve Cole and Marcus Anderson
  
  

I started the school year (as a teacher) yesterday... I'm not happy about some of the changes, but my mom had to remind me (as I grumbled on the phone) that I need to be thankful I still have a job!


I'm looking forward to cooler weather, Rutgers football, and more live music...

• Cher on Sept 17th
• Tamar Davis on Oct 3rd
• Culture Club on Nov 25th
  
  

Hey PJ: We didn't get to hang out this summer!

I always look forward to Autumn! It's my favorite time of year! Warm days, cool comfortable nights! Not really a summer person. Although the temps weren't too unbearable here in Michigan this summer, we had some rain storms like we have never seen before. Freeways turned into rivers, people trapped in their neighborhoods because the water was several feet deep. Homes being destroyed because of flooding. I had never personally witnessed such destruction before.

Lammastide said:

PurpleJedi said:

Hey, can you elaborate on Sukkot?

In a nutshell, it's an eight-day Jewish festival (though only seven in Israel) in fall commemorating God's provision of simple, temporary shelters (called "sukkahs" or "sukkot") during the Biblical exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt. Jewish families still build these structures out of various materials and a thatch, or "s'chach," roof -- and they eat, sing, pray and occasionally sleep in them.

I'm not Jewish, but I grew up in an Orthodox Jewish neighbourhood, and it was always so cool to see my neighbours celebrate this festival. It has become a favourite sign of fall for me.

These days I sit on the steering committee for a Jewish organization that hosts an international sukkah design competition. We invite designers and architects from around the world to reimagine the sukkah in crazy modern ways, and we shortlist about eight teams to travel to Toronto and build their sukkahs, which are displayed in outdoor venues in the city. A panel of celebrity judges name a winner, we take bids for the one-of-a-kind sukkahs, and proceeds from the event benefit the construction of permanent affordable housing in Toronto.

[Edited 9/2/14 19:28pm]

I have seen balconies in Brooklyn turned into sukkahs, similar to this;



I was curious to see why YOU looked forward to Sukkot.

Very cool.

wildgoldenhoney said:

Yup. I'm over this hot and humid summer!

Lucky you.

<--- JEALOUS

ZombieKitten said:

In 2 weeks we are going to Bali

chocolate1 said:

Hey PJ: We didn't get to hang out this summer!

Fall is a good time to walk the city.

kitbradley said:

I always look forward to Autumn! It's my favorite time of year! Warm days, cool comfortable nights! Not really a summer person. Although the temps weren't too unbearable here in Michigan this summer, we had some rain storms like we have never seen before. Freeways turned into rivers, people trapped in their neighborhoods because the water was several feet deep. Homes being destroyed because of flooding. I had never personally witnessed such destruction before.

It def was a wet summer for many parts of the country.

Last week(?) we had a torrential downpour here on Long Island...certain parts got 13 inches of rain in like half an hour!!!

Yesterday was so hot & muggy...I felt like pulling the kids out of their first day of school and going to the (now closed) beach.

PurpleJedi said:

PurpleJedi said:

ZombieKitten said:

PurpleJedi said:

<--- JEALOUS

I'll bring back a parasite just for you!

"Whatcha talkin bout Zombie?"