Summer has taken a toll on me. 

During the summer months, our Filipino Club holds an annual Luau Party to raise funds for our College Education Incentive Program-- guess who does most of the work? Me, with the help of my family.

We were involved in the dances for the entertainment portion which meant practices at least twice a week lasting up to 9:00 PM until the day of the event.  We started early this year - as early as April.

I sourced out and bought costume materials and when they came in, I sewed and glued and put them together for 12 female and 5 male dancers.  Made tahitian headdresses, tassels, head leis, you name it- I made it.

I decorated.  Which meant that I had to go to Party City to select what I am using to decorate the party room.  On the day of the event, I loaded my husband's Ford F150 and carted all the stuff to the event (including trees and greenery from my own home), 5 hours before the party.   We worked in a frenzy. Setting up tables and chairs and getting the stage dolled up and lights put up. Oh, and I forgot, the Tiki Bar had to be decorated too. This process took up to 3 hours, with lots of help (between dress rehearsals happening concurrently with the decorating). Some of our members came to assist and that made all the difference.  We were expecting around 250 guests to show up.

I went home to cook and get ready with 2 hours to spare before I had to go back to the social hall.  I am donating a pan of green beans and a huge pan of hawaiian meatballs.  I had to be back by 4:00 but the meatballs took some time to cook which left me a mere 10 minutes to get ready and return to the party.  We were rushing out of the house like it's on fire.

At the end of the party, we tore down and cleaned up and we were back home, exhausted, by half past midnight.  This every exciting day was July 14.

Two days later, I had to fly to DC and back for a conference. The airport is 1 1/2 hours away from where I live. My flight left at 7:00 am which meant that  I had to be on the road by 3:45 am to catch my flight.  It took everything to keep my eyes open throughout the day.  A stretch limo took us to Regan airport for the flight back to NC and I was back in my car on my way home by 7:00 pm.

This past Saturday, I had a birthday party for my stepdaughter Erika.  Bunch of kids (I'd say around 30 showed up), some adults. Cooked until 5:00 and entertained until midnight. I was worn out.  4 kids spent the night, cooked breakfast, went to the mall to go school uniform shopping, back home to do my laundry - work next day.

We've been to Myrtle Beach SC once this summer.  I plan to go to Wrightsville Beach next.  Our pool has been restored to it's sparkling beauty and I am going for a dip every afternoon when I get home from work to ease these weary bones of mine... I am enjoying my summer, one way or another.