7 Things That Define My Summer 2015

During my college days, I used to work at a summer camp in Texas. For the record, it's probably my favorite job I've ever had or ever will have. Is that sad? Maybe, but honestly, there is nothing quite like the work I did at camp. I just loved facilitating groups of kids, counseling staff members, being intensely tanned and covered in chigger bites. I loved letting thirteen-year-old girls know that it's okay to be weird, or pimpled, or bookish, or to go swimming while you're on your period. I loved working alongside the best people in the world and regularly making a fool of myself to the delight of children.

See? Sheer delight on these kids' faces.

For most of my life, camp was summer. Especially during those four years that I was on staff, that place and those people were my definitive picture of summer each year. It quickly became my favorite season.

But you can't be a camp counselor forever (wait, but can you?), and when I left Texas three years ago, suddenly I started having these completely different summer experiences. Summer 2012 was all about getting my feet wet in NYC. When I think back to that year, I think of hot dogs at Grey's Papaya, trips to Coney Island, and lots of job interviews. Summer 2013 was improv classes, block parties, and Prospect Park. And last year, my summer was defined by writing deadlines, beach days, and rooftop drinks.

Now that this summer is well underway (and almost over, what?!), I can definitely spot some reoccurring themes over the last few months. Here are the things that define this summer for me:

1. Big Brother

Is anyone else watching this show?! Because if so, we should talk. This is the first season I've ever watched after YEARS of avoiding it. If you've never seen Big Brother and you're totally unfamiliar with the trope of this kind of summer reality programming, the basic idea is that 16 people live in a house for 90 days, compete in competitions, and vote each other out until one person is left standing. And while I'm typically not a fan of shows in which a bunch of sexy people live in a house together (hence my initial avoidance), I have been struck by how much actual strategy exists in Big Brother.

Like, no joke, I fantasize about playing this game, guys. That being said, here is my new life plan: I go on Big Brother, lay low for the first 30 days, build a really strong alliance called like #HottiesWithBodies, betray my alliance and ultimately win. My husband, Daniel, goes on Survivor and does the same thing. Then, we play as a team on The Amazing Race, we of course win, and together we receive the reality competition triple crown. I mean, it's a fool proof plan, right? So if anyone knows anyone at CBS, be sure to give them my number.

2. Ramen

Guys, I've been eating ramen like it's my job. I'm not talking cup-o-noodles. I'm talking legit fancy ass ramen from the best ramen shops in NYC. It's the food of my summer. In fact, the above picture was taken by my waitress at a restaurant called Ramen Ya. It was posted to their Instagram account, which by the way, if you ever want to know if you have a ramen problem, being Instagrammed by a reputable ramen restaurant is a good way to find out. At least she didn't include the following hashtags in her description: #eatingalone #sadwoman #ramenaddiction #pleasehelpher

3. Berg'n

Via designtimes.com

This has become my favorite summer haunt. Berg'n is a beer hall in Crown Heights with lots of unique food and really cold air conditioning. I played trivia there the other night with some friends under the team name "Titty Titty Bang Bang" and while we definitely did not win, I'd like to think we came in 1st in Immaturity.

4. Family

My mom, dad, and five-year-old niece came into town, and it was legitimately one of my favorite visits ever. It was the first time I've ever really been able to see this city through the eyes of a child. The above picture is my niece throwing herself into the water at the beach at Coney Island. I wish I could love anything as much as she loves flailing around in the ocean.

5. This crop top

This is my summer outfit. I wear it basically every other day. All hail the small sliver of skin that is my midriff.

6. Being a nerd

I've been up to some nerdy stuff lately, guys. I mean, besides playing trivia and obsessing over Big Brother, that is. Specifically, I've been to not one but TWO live podcast events in the last month. I know, Nerd City over here. Having taken a survey of the people who read this blog, I know that most of my readers don't even listen to podcasts, so it's likely that you don't super care about these events I went to, but whatever, I'm going to tell you anyway.

The first was a live performance from The Gilmore Guys, which if you aren't listening to the Gilmore Guys podcast, you should probably get on that. It's exactly what it sounds like: just two guys gabbing about Gilmore Girls, and as I'm sure you can imagine, it's everything. The second podcast event I attended was called Cast Party. It was a night featuring live performances by some of my favorite podcast superstars, the hosts of Reply All, Invisibilia, With Special Guest Lauren Lapkus, The Truth, and Radio Lab. Again, I know you don't care, but there you have it.

7. Goodbyes

This picture was actually taken last summer, but whatever, you get the idea -- I like these people.

This last week, I said goodbye to one of my very dearest friends, Clint, who is moving to LA because he's a crazy talented musician and that's where crazy talented musicians go, I guess. Actually, this month, I'll be saying goodbye to a few more close friends, and it's honestly a strange feeling. We twenty-somethings are a transient group of people, so I'm certainly no stranger to having to bid adieu to friends in this city. But this particular season of friends moving has left me questioning what the remainder of my NYC journey looks like.

Daniel and I have never been people with a five-year-plan. We've always said that when we're ready to leave, we'll know. While I'm not feeling the push to get out of New York any time soon, I have to admit that I'm a little curious what the next step will be. Seeing my friends step out into new adventures in new cities has me wondering what our next new adventure is going to look like. Will it be a career shift? Will there be a baby involved? (AAAHHH!) I don't know, but in the meantime, we'll just keep on crushing it in the best city in the world.

What are the things that define your summer?