Fallen

I know that Autumn is still a few weeks away on the calendar, but it seems to have hit early this year on the weather front. Not that it has been Autumn-like chilly exactly. In fact it's been quite pleasant. A little too pleasant for the last week of August and the first fiew days of September. Usually we are sweating through heat and humidity and Autumn is the furthest thing from our minds.

But this year, the weather and the calendar conspired together to remind us that Summer is quasi-officially over. And my heart and my mind are both torn over it. I do love me some Summer, especially with weather like we've been having for the past 2 weeks. But I might love me some Autumn even more. Especially late September into early November. Once you need a jacket everyday, I'm done with it. But a light sweater or sweatshirt and I'm fine. Even better are the nights when you can prance, yes prance, around New York City still wearing shorts, sandals and a sweatshirt to keep out the evening's chill. 

We've got a lot going on over the next few weeks, but I'm hoping we find some time to make it into the city to enjoy New York in it's finest season.

Now listen to some Billie Holliday, fer crissakes.

Bullets over Autumn

There are a lot of reasons why I love Autumn, and before all you Summer sun-freaks blow a gasket...I know. I know that Autumn doesn't officially start for another week or so. Some people like to hang onto their favorite season until the bitter end. Me? I like the changing of the seasons. And here are some of the things I like about the Fall:

• I like that it is the only season that is referred two by two different names.  Seems whimsical to me.
• I enjoy sleeping under a blanket with the windows open.  Two things that don't really go well together during Long Island's hot and humid Summer months.
• Fall festivals.  I can't get enough of them.  The NYC area has a bunch of oyster festivals that began this past weekend and continue through the middle of October.  I don't even really like oysters, but I do love me a festival.  Harvest festivals come in a close second.
• Oktoberfest.  I love me some good German food and some even better German beer.  Oktoberfest usually runs through the end of September and into the beginning of October.  Great excuse to get your oompah on.
• Layers.  As much as I love popping on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt in the Summer for sheer convenience sakes, I also love the layering options in the Fall and Winter.  A t-shirt, a sweater, maybe a fleece or a vest.  Because on any given Fall day you have no idea what the weather is gonna be like.  Layering gives you many options.
• Football.  I'm a baseball guy through and through, but I love me some football on the weekends.  The Fighting Irish on Saturdays (fuck you, Michigan!) and the entire NFL on Sundays.  Either sitting at home with a bowl of chips or at the sports bar with the rest of the maniacs...football is comforting.
• Chili.  While it may be the most perfect food invented for any time of the year, a nice steaming pot of chili on a crisp Autumn day is a wonderful thing.  Think I'm gonna make me some pretty soon.  It's like a ritual to me.  The recipe was passed down to me from my father and I'll get to pass it down to...well, my nephews I guess.  Or the cats. They dig chili also.  
• Halloween.  And everything associated with it.  Carving jack o' lanterns, watching scary movies, dressing up in women's clothing.  Wait, what?  Anyway, I'm gonna be down in Charleston SC this year for Halloween.  I'm hoping for a slight chill in the air and maybe a ghost story or two.  Mwu-ha-ha-ha!!!
  

What about you?  Do you dig on Autumn as much as I do?

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Note: Remember to play the Bug-Eyed Trivia Challenge every day. I really don't enjoy dressing up in women's clothing.  Not really.