October

I don't know if I've said this before, but I don't take New Year's resolutions in January very seriously.  I mean, really, who is going to make a change in the horrible Winter months? Where is the motivation in that?  And, it's not like you have any time to do anything in the Summer, because most of our goals revolve around bikini fittings, and by that time, you're doomed. 

So, for me, Fall is my New Years.  Yes, I'm sure it stems from the fact that we are all taught at a very young age that the school year is a new beginning.  New pencils. New clothes.  New friends and classes.  It just makes sense to me that the Fall should continue to give us that kind of feeling when we're adults.  That means, if Fall prompts resolutions, then November is about the time where those resolutions are out the window, and we're all, "what? Running?  What's that?"  and dusty lists of well-intended goals. 

October went by so fast, and I don't think I accomplished much.  I will primarily blame this on school, and also on travelling.  Because, when you travel, you have to take a couple days, or weeks, to get your equilibrium all balanced again.  That's what happened.  I swear.  And school.  So I had this list all made up, which included Fall stuff, like tights, and boots, and apples.  I wore none of those, and didn't really eat an apple.  For the whole month of October.  That's gross. 

So, here is October in pictures. 

I picked, and stripped, about a thousand pounds of basil.  I mourned the loss of the convenient summery herb, then I angrily threw a third of the crop away because I was not going to make another ounce of damn pesto.  I filled three colander's worth full, and ran out of olive oil and lemon half-way through.  But, it'll be worth it in a couple of months when I crave mozzarella and cave in, despite past experiences, and buy a tomato from Mexico.  At least the basil taste will be authentic.  I also transported a container of pesto across the country, and was very glad that I double wrapped it in Ziploc bags. 

I pretended I was me a year from now.  All bridal and with a perfect waist-line and complexion.  I walked the aisle of the church that would seal the deal, on a Saturday exactly one year to the day.  And, it was kinda terrific.  I took in the church, it's structures, it's sunlight, it's gem-like lights, because I knew I probably won't be looking at that kind of stuff this time next year. 

I stared at water.  Literally.  Blue, icy water, rippling with the passing of a ferry boat. What did I say before?  I miss mountains more than water?  Or the other way around.  I'll be honest with you, it changes.  What do I despise more?  The tick-infested, "mountain" hills of the Susquehanna valley, or the brown, almost-stagnant water of the Susquehanna river?  I can't decide.  So, I can't decide if I crave real mountains or real bodies of water more.  I got on the ferry and was literally like, "See ya later family, I'm going to go communicate with the water."  So, that's what I did. 

I sent some love to a sick puppy across the state.  Or, we did.  There's nothing I hate more than sick puppies.  Theresa's dog, Maverick, has some kind of crazy autoimmune disease that they're struggling with.  He was lucky to get a doggy blood infusion, and seems to be doing a bit better. Hang in there Mav!

I love how clean the carpet looks in that picture.  Fleeting moment. 

We caught up with old friends at our favorite bar. Which, apparently has a fire place.  Who knew.  We sat on leather couches and drank cold beers by warm fires.  And then they put the play-off game for baseball on.  I hate baseball in October.  I hate how it's always on Fox and it always pushes the Simpson's Halloween episode back to November.  Anyways, it was good while it lasted. 

I fought reality and pretended that this was the beginning of Fall when the air is just crisp, and not cold, and the good leaves are still on the tree.  And then, reality won and I found myself just standing in the back yard, staring at half-naked trees, in desperate need of a jacket.  How dramatic, I know.  It all went by so fast. 

So I compensated.  With flowers on the window sill.  And a Halloween party.

K went as a convict, but he told everyone he was "engaged".  I don't care.  I was a cop.  Convict and cop.  Clever, huh?  Yeah, Randy and Theresa showed up with the same costumes.  Only Randy was "married" ( and Theresa was tall, skinny, and blonde and in a more decked-out costume).  Which, later prompted a very in depth discussion of which kinds of prisons and what level each man was at.  It ranged from life-in prison, awaiting trial, the prison from the Count of Monte Cristo, and psych asylum.  Very good.

The party was dramatic.  We had every room decorated, managed to hire a living corpse for entertainment, and were able to keep it going until the wee morning (people didn't leave until 6 AM!).  Some people don't really get it.  They think it's wrong, or childish to stay up that late and "party" like that. It's good.  It's a good life. There's nothing like listening to Metallica's quietest album at 6:30 am, with your best guys, pondering life's biggest mysteries, and ending the party with this:

We caught up. And, then I made the best breakfast in the world, so boo-ya.

October. 

And, now, I'm ready to go pick some apples.  I told K I want to do something Fall-y this weekend.  He said the apple picking season is probably over.  Damn. 

We can't make all of our resolutions, really.