I The house is too quiet and the guests have all gone awoke this morning to sounds not heard in weeks, sounds I couldn't immediately place, as unfamiliar as they had become. I awoke this morning to the sounds of silence. Where, I groggily wondered, was all the commotion, the chaos, the clamour? The sounds of dogs yipping hyper good-morning greetings, of people laying claim to various bathrooms and embarking upon morning ablutions, the sounds of people prepping tea and coffee as they casually make plans for the day and mull over assorted breakfast options. Oatmeal's boiling over. We're out of bacon. How does everyone want their eggs? If you can tear away from that computer for ve minutes, you're in charge of toast. Getting low on orange juice, and whoever's buying it with pulp, stop your nonsense -- you shouldn't be able to choke to death on OJ. This new Conor Oberst album is sublime. Turn it up. Who's making a grocery run today? Anyone want to head to the gym? This butter is gross, there's bread crumbs in it. Who's up for an hour of yoga? It's another beautiful day out there. 7 | Thursday, July 24, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com That's Life Andy Juniper Guest Contributor But, then, it's summer. All days are beautiful. An open canvas. Colour it however you want. In sunshine, cycle, swim, take the dogs for a long walk before the heat kicks up, maybe squeeze in an hour of yard work because, honestly, under that sky-blue sky, it doesn't really even seem like work. Under cloud cover, nd a quiet nook and cop an afternoon nap. Or just put the feet up and revel in the decadence of stealing an hour or two in the middle of the day to read. It's called All That Is, by James Salter, the new novel by the 89-year-old modern-day Fitzgerald. Back cover blurb by John Irving calls it "a beautiful novel, with suf cient love, heartbreak, ven- geance, identity confusion, longing, and euphoria of language to have satis ed Shakespeare." Trouble is, Irving understates. What a book. Who's making drinks for Happy Hour? Something simple: a cold beer, a chilled glass of wine. Or is someone up to mixing something summery? Manhattans mixed, someone recalls a lyric from a classic Replacements' song, and raises a glass in toast: "Well a person can work up a real mean thirst after a hard day of nothin' much." Nothing much at all beyond bliss. But on to the hardest decision of the day: what to do for dinner? Barbecue? Bistro? Order in? It takes time and considerable debate, but a consensus is nally reached. There's a commotion in the kitchen, a buzz around the barbecue, summer scrumptious in the making. Talk turns to evening options, a walk, a swim, some cards, maybe some TV: apparently The Bachelorette awaits unwatched on the PVR, and there's always the Blue Jays, now oundering in the East. The sun slowly sinks in the west and no one thinks beyond the moment. I awoke this morning to the sounds of silence. And the dispiriting realization that our annual summer house guests are gone. Andy Juniper can be contacted at ajjuniper@ gmail.com, found on Facebook http://www. facebook.com, or followed at www.twitter .com/ thesportjesters. Interlocking Tumblestone, Retaining Walls, Garden Installation, Sodding & Excavating, Call for FREE Estimate plus more (905) 827-8158 · www.rogerslandscaping.org Retail Opportunities at the New Oakville Hospital Posted July 29TH www. .com* RFP FOOD · PHARMACY · RETAIL - OPENING DECEMBER 2015 HOSPITAL RETAIL · 18 units available for food and other retail lease opportunities. · Units range from 140 sq. ft. to 5,000 sq. ft. · Help enhance the patient and visitor experience at the New Oakville Hospital. DON'T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY *Register with to download the RFP 1.800.964.6379 or visit their website www. .com. For more information on the New Oakville Hospital www.newoakvillehospital.com. Halton Healthcare Services has appointed Carillion Services (HIP) Inc. to manage the procurement process on their behalf.