Three-Year Anniversary! Ideas for an awesome IBD-friendly summer

Have you ever had something electronic deleted unfairly? Say, a final paper for a class, a presentation for work … a blog post? Right when you were feeling good about it and thinking “the hard part’s over”? Even though you were careful to save it and didn’t even hit the wrong key accidentally? Yeah. To “celebrate” our three-year anniversary, my blog decided to delete a post. Its way of passive-aggressively asking for some vacation time.

So we’re going to take a different approach. Oh my GOD, it just did it again. Seriously, Weebly? OK.

The awesome blogstress Sarah von Bargen just posted about 39 ways to make sure you have an awesome, memorable summer; be sure to visit her post here. Below are some of my favorite ways that are friendly to IBDers, with some modifications.

Happy summer! May yours be free of heart-palpitating technical glitches.

#1. Yes, swim! Make sure it’s not in a lake with some weird fungal or bacterial issue. Also re: #4, go jet-skiing! It’s one of my favorite things ever, as is kayaking. But again with the safety—only go as fast and as far as you’re comfortable with.

#2. Absolutely get a crazy pedicure. I might give myself one shortly. Maybe some nail art of a dog barking at a mongoose up in a palm tree. I can totally pull that off by hand.

#7. Definitely bring your dog swimming. Possible first step: Get a dog. Seriously; they’re the greatest. Foster one first if you’re worried and want to discover the dog’s temperament (and your handling of the responsibility) before committing.

#9. Camping in your own backyard sounds awesome. I saw this in a yogurt commercial once and was unreasonably charmed (plus, your bathroom’s right there). Maybe this will be the summer. In the meantime, my husband would actually like to go somewhere and camp. Psh.

#11. Yes, crazy popsicles! Japanese-whiskey ones! Matcha-green-tea/ginger ones! Black sesame creamsicles! Yes, all my ideas are about Japan. Sub alternative milks and other ingredients as needed. See #20, #21 and #26 as well.

#14. Drive-in movie adaptations for IBD was the topic of my first column ever! Full circle! Also see #36.

#22. I really would love to Rollerblade in my basement. What a great idea! Mine even already has handrails (sort of); it’s like it was fate.

#28: Bizarre tourist traps are awesome. See my blog post on YesandYes for a few of Atlanta’s cheapest ones, and yesandyes.org for other cities! Including #30: Rooftop dining (Six Feet Under across from Oakland Cemetery is one of the best).

#31: Re-reading my Judy Blume, Roald Dahl and R.L. Stine books (Fear Street! Goosebumps!) is a current goal of mine.

#35: I have a big bottle of salt spray for hair in my closet. Perhaps I will dust it off. Also, I just dyed my hair blue for the summer, so I’ll add that to the list; this woman agrees with me.

Have a great first part of summer! See you after the 4th of July.