Signs of Autumn

Fall is in the air and seeping into my pores this weekend.

First, at the pub last night I had some Irish Mist. I love sipping on this stuff, especially by a campfire. There was no campfire in the pub, of course. Although one of the guys did manage to catch the grill on fire while making burgers for the game last weekend. That's about as close to a campfire as you'll get at a city pub, I suppose. But Irish Mist is all about fall and winter to me. It is sharp and crisp like autumn air and falling leaves, but thick and smooth too, like a cozy blanket or woodsmoke.  

Today, it rained on and off all day. The gardens actually flooded a little with some of the torrential downpours, and even this late everything outside is soggy and drenched. Lee actually bundled up in his raingrear and went fishing early this morning. As for me, I didn't leave the house all day. I listened to the rain fall on the roof and watched it out the windows. I drank hot tea and curled up in my favorite blanket and napped. Again, that's all fall. Usually I whine about dreary rainy weather, especially on the weekends, but today I welcomed the excuse to be lazy.

When Lee came home, we watched the debate on the computer. He actually watched it last night while I was at the pub with my family and some friends, but wanted to watch it again. Then we curled up and took a nap (for me, the second one of the day - I must have needed it). Later, we made grilled chicken salads for dinner and watched a movie. Now he's snoozing, and I'm wide awake after a day of alternating between naps, tea and coffee. So I decided to tackle that age-old indoor sign of the changing of the seasons: The Closet Swap.

Luckily I could do this even with him sleeping in the bedroom without waking him, since the spare bedroom doubles as the computer room and my Girl Room and is where I keep all my clothes. When he moved in, he was amazed at how sweet and thoughtful I was for moving my clothes out of our bedroom closet and into the other room so that he could have the space. And I WAS sweet, but there was also an ulterior motive. Vin weasels the closets in our bedroom, since he's allowed in there. The spare room is off-limits to weasely types because we store so many breakables there, and thus my clothes are weasel free. Lee doesn't seem to mind the weaseling of his - probably because he doesn't have to look dressy at work.  

So, now the summer things are packed up and put away. The fall clothes are out in all their glory. I did a lot of weeding too - some stuff that is now too big is bagged up to give away. Keeping too-big clothes around is an excuse to let your butt grow.

I ended the evening with my ritual taking-out of my favorite jacket - a tailor-fit black leather. Last fall, it was snug. I could wear it, but I barely used it because I didn't like the way it fit. This year, it fits perfectly. Now that's a Saturday night slice of happiness.

Of course, now that I've stashed away the summer wear and pulled out the fall stuff and broken out the jacket, we'll probably have a heat wave.

Tomorrow we plan to just kick around the house in the morning, then go get a workout in, then meet my family at a local Italian restaurant for my grandmother's birthday dinner. It'll be the first time Lee and I have eaten out since we started the diet and exercise. I've had a few girlfriend lunches at work, but at a place on campus that has lots of healthy choices. Tomorrow will be a temptation ... this place is a den of delicious creamy pasta dishes.

I'm working on my "just say no and order the fish" mojo.

Happy Saturday night!