The Rise and "Fall" of the Empire

Alright, folks, here we are, at the sad, sad truth...it is officially Fall. Now, Fall is my favorite season, what with all of the wide-eyed students, football games and general energy around campus. The leaves have started to turn and fall, as well. Cozy sweatshirts, long sleeved t-shirts, scarves and that smell of fall just makes me smile. Pumpkins, squash, warm apple cider, cinnamon and spice room scents, cute boots, Tom and Jerrys, a cozy fire (if you have a fireplace...only thing I miss about Eau Claire, besides Mike's family, of course, is the fireplace we had in our really nice apartment), mulled wine, board games cause there isn't much to do outside anymore, the Wii cause there isn't much to do outside anymore, babies being conceived cause there isn't much to do outside anymore ;).

Now for the kicker...it is damn cold out there!!! It is 8, count them, 8! degrees colder this morning than yesterday morning. They are saying our first freeze could be tonight. We've been spoiled here in September, which is part of it, but I just wasn't prepared for the incredible drop in temperature that is so indicative of Wisconsin weather...I never am. I wore socks yesterday and today...SOCKS! Last night I had on pants, socks, a t-shirt, a zip-up, my robe and a fleece blanket on me...now, granted, in my apartment, it doesn't matter if the windows are closed, the air decides it's just going to go ahead and continue to burst into the place anyway but still, that is a lot of layers!

I will admit that while watching Obsessed (with Beyonce Knowles) with my niece this weekend, I got a bit excited for Christmas (towards the beginning of the movie it was Christmas). I love the songs and I always get such a warm feeling when I think about Christmas...then, I remember that with Christmas and Fall, comes snow...generally lots and lots of snow. This is what I am not looking forward to. The only solace is that when it snows, it is not below zero. All of the meteorologists are saying that we are going to have a mild winter...I cross my fingers everyday that this is true. I'll believe it when I see it. We should have a mild winter after the mild summer we had...on the radio, it was stated that we had more 80 degree days in two weeks of September than we had in all of July. I think we deserve a mild winter for that.