Yesterday was the first day of fall. Appropriately, it was chilly, and I wore pants for the first time in months. As I write this, I'm wearing sweatpants. It was like someone flipped a switch and temperatures plunged with the new season.
Things will warm up starting with Jeff's birthday. This is my favorite time of the year.
The temperatures hit 100 degrees on the past two days. It was 95 as Jace and I went out for our evening walk last night. We've got two more days of this weather. Most of the country is dealing with the same heat dome.
I'm happy to be a homebody. I bought fruit and veggies on Tuesday and picked up some prepared dinners from Lovejoy's on Wednesday. Yesterday, I got wine. We're all set.
I'm feeling mellow today. Jim and Liz were visiting Thursday afternoon to Sunday morning. We had dinner with Annette and George at their place, lunched at Bowleys and Loonasea, and went thrifting. Otherwise, we just hung around. I cooked one night and we got pizza a second night.
I took it easy yesterday too. Jeff and I had gin and tonics on the balcony, I read, and I journaled. As for today, Jeff has a PT appointment at 1. I'll go food shopping while he's there and figure out tonight's dinner. I have several things to do but don't have to do them all today.
It's my birthday week, and we're heading into unofficial summer. The weekend doesn't look very good now, but things can change. Regardless, I'll just try to hold onto the mellow.
Today is the March (or Spring or Vernal) Equinox--very welcome after a cold and snowy winter. It didn't feel springlike when Jace and went for a walk this morning with temperatures in the 30s. As we approach the official start of spring at 10:46 AM, it's warming up. It's now 50 degrees.
I've been looking forward to this spring--our first in Maryland. We'll have more time and opportunities to explore all that the area offers.
I bought two bunches of daffodils last week and have seen several daffodil sprouts and buds around the neighborhood. Yesterday, I saw my first bloom on the walk with Jace in front of the hospital's old cancer care entrance on Stevens Street.
I stopped to take two photos, but they were too blurry to post here. I blame Jace for pulling the leash and me. I actually argued with him about it.
Luckily, I'll see more daffodils in the near future.
I started counting a month ago. We made it to the first of March, the beginning of Daylight Saving Time, Pi Day (we had a triple berry pie) and Saint Patrick's Day (we went out for lunch and had Guinnesses.)
Spring begins tomorrow at 5:01 AM.
We got a preview this afternoon. I had to drive up to Danbury to pick up our income taxes. I took Jace with me, and we visited Danbury Dog Park. I didn't see any dogs in the large dog area, so I got an okay from people in the small dog area for us to join them. (A sign limited the area to dogs under 20 pounds.)
It was sunny and warm; we were there for over an hour. Jace did a little running so that was good. And he got to smell new smells and meet new dogs.
One woman there said snow is predicted for Friday. Apparently, there's a chance of snow somewhere in Connecticut, but not near here. I don't think I could bear it.
Today was the first full day of Daylight Savings Time--another milestone on the way to spring.
Next is Pi Day, then Saint Patrick's Day, then the Vernal Equinox.
I'm ready.
Here's my Spring Forward poem.
Spring Forward
The government stole an hour from me
2 am Sunday morning
when all decent people are asleep
no witnesses.
The government stole an hour from me
they don’t admit to stealing; they call
it legislating
but the two aren’t mutually exclusive.
The government stole an hour from me
they’ve got everyone in cahoots with
them
big business, schools, and the media
I can’t fight them all.
The government stole an hour from me
they say they’ll give it back in November
But I want it now
Who knows?
In November, my time may be up.
###
Fall officially started yesterday. It was appropriately chilly in the morning and I appropriately used this Welcome Fall glass.
May is my second favorite month after September. It's my birthday month, the month when the nice spring weather takes hold, the month when school years or semesters are almost over, and the month when lilacs and lilies of the valley bloom.
I was writing in my journal last night about seeing May as new beginning, another new year. Well, so far, I'm not off to a stellar beginning. I did dress to return to the gym, but was moving slowly this morning, and generally felt off. So, I blew off the gym again, quoting Scarlett O'Hara, "Tomorrow is another day." At least Jace got me out walking. I also exercised today--mostly stretching and balance work.
Tomorrow looks like a beautiful day. I need to take advantage.
Today is the first day of winter. While I don't celebrate the onset of winter, I appreciate that daylight will get longer each day, although it will take a few weeks to even notice it.
Winter is coming, the Stark words from Game of Thrones. If winter is not here now, it will be in a few minutes. They can pinpoint the start of the seasons by minutes now.
Winter is my least favorite season, but I have to muddle through it.
I'm beat. It feels like it's been a long day (though it's still early.) I woke up around 4:15. I know I slept after that--I remember snippets of dreams--but I'm not sure how long.
I had a good workout at the gym. I also researched some auto and home insurance pricing. Those were my main to-dos for today, along with this post. I wanted to post because it's been eight days, not because I have anything particularly insightful to write.
Jeff sold his car last week to a cousin of a neighbor. We had a slight snag because he had let the registration lapse. It took us three tries over two days to renew online. If the online system didn't work, we wouldn't have been able to get an in-person appointment until the end of the month.
I spent a good chunk of Saturday going through all the stuff I got out of his car and consolidating his things with what I had in my car. We had more towels and blankets than we realized. I ended up reorganizing the linen closet and packing up things for Goodwill.
For several weeks, our temperatures have richoceted from unseasonably warm (90 degrees in September and 80 degrees last week) to unseasonably cold. It's strange to see the beginning of fall foliage and Halloween decorations when it's 80 degrees. At least it feels like fall now, even though it's late October temperatures for now. It's also rained the first three Saturdays of fall, with more rain predicted for this Saturday. Ugh.
It's taken me a long time to recover from my bout with the flu. I don't know if I had a bad case or if I'm just old.
We're watching the baseball playoffs. Things aren't going as expected, but that's what makes baseball fun. I do hope the Orioles turn it around though.
It's the day after Labor Day. Most of the kids are back in school. Summer is unofficially over.
But damn, it doesn't feel like it. We are in the middle of a six-day "heat wave" (in quotes because I don't think it's officially official, but I'm going on how hot it feels.)
Just under two weeks ago, I was happy to feel a touch of fall. I'm waiting for more.
Here's another thought.
I first noticed it one day last week: a slight chill in the air. It surprised me on Tuesday morning--temps had hit 90 the day before. For the first time in maybe three months, I put on jeans. I hope the 90-degree days are done for the season. Actually we've been lucky in this summer of weather hell.
I welcome fall. Jeff doesn't share my enthusiasm for a long road trip, but we'll go away for a few days for our anniversary. On Saturday, I researched some places in Litchfield County. We really miss the old days of the Interlaken. I've got a list of five or six possibles, but want to check out other areas as well. I love fall getaways.
Today is the first day of summer and the lightest day of the year (as opposed to the longest day of the year--it's still the same 24 hour day.)
Newscasters seem dismayed that it's a cool day--about 10 degrees cooler than normal. I welcome the cool day--there will be plenty of hot days going forward.
It's been a busy few weeks, and I'm tired. I could use some lazy, hazy (but maybe not crazy) days of summer.
So what if it's unseasonably cold, it's May.
Maybe we're paying for the warm weather this winter.
May is my second favorite month. Mainly because it's my birthday month. I also love how spring settles in, the lilacs, the lilies-of-the-valley. There's Cinco de Mayo which we'll always celebrate as Lola's birthday. We'll have a mint julep in honor of Derby Day.
May signals that the end of the school year is near. Then there's Memorial Day, the unofficial beginning of summer, the first three-day weekend since the beginning of the year for many.
Here's to May.
Spring has really sprung over the last two weeks. Here are a few photos from my walks with Jace. Our walks have been a pleasure lately. I took more pictures, but they just weren't very good.
As of 5:24 PM. We got off to a cold start, but it warmed up enough for Jace and me to get in two nice walks. Even though we had a mild winter, I am welcoming spring with open arms.
They say the spring equinox is a brilliant time for beginnings.
In recent walks with Jace, I've been checking out seasonal decorations and seen more general autumn than Halloween decor. You know pumpkins, scarecrows, artificial autumn leaves, gold and orange flowers (sorry, I don't know the names.) I've seen a handful of houses with specific Halloween decorations: one with inflatable figures. Surprisingly, the house up the street, that usually vomits inflatables on its lawn each year, is strangely bereft. So far, anyway. I'll see how long that lasts.
For the past few weeks, I've done minimum housework. The dishes and laundry have been completed, and the worst of the messes cleaned, but that leaves a lot to be desired. I've started...That's all I can say. Two days of rain, courtesy of Hurricane Ian, will keep me inside for a good part of the weekend. If not now, when?
The Mets are playing in their most important series of the regular season. As I write this, the Mets are down 1 to 3 in the 7th. Jacob deGrom gave up three homeruns; his ERA is now over 3.
I don't feel so good.
Jace has been with us for four weeks. He's been sweet and loving, but disruptive. We've taken care of his medical problems. Now we have to deal with his socialization, separation anxiety, and barking. We just confirmed a meeting for friends to meet Jace this weekend.
I wish I had posted about the Mets on Monday, They clinched a postseason berth and Max Scherzer won his 200th game. They won again the next night, their sixth in a row. That would have been a good time. I thought the streak would keep going. Yesterday I didn't have the heart to write after the Mets were shut out by rthe Brewers. On to Oakland.
Fall started about an hour ago. Sometimes fall is described as "arriving." I just started thinking--arriving from where? I know it was in the Southern Hemisphere for a few months. but where after that? (Cue suspenseful music.)
There's a lot to do in the next few days.
I heard that some kids are back in school already. It's nothing personal, but it really bothers me. It's the middle of August, too soon for school.
A weather report graphic on TV at the gym reads, "Summer Weather," but that's not unusual. Hell, it's still summer for another month. Don't tell the schools, retailers, and meteorologists.
Fall is my favorite season. That doesn't mean that I don't cherish the end of the summer. I'm not rushing into the fall.
We have another month. Let's do something fun!
