Winter, Spring, Summer, Pumpkin

Fall has been a kind friend this past October & November (barring the Halloween snow storm, but I blame that on climate change more than Mother Nature). I wish every fall could be this way, but it's tricky too, because it gives the illusion that we're getting away with a warmer winter, until 4 1/2 months into the new year we're still bundling up on our couches with hot chocolate in one hand and the suicide hotline on speed dial in the other.

But we'll cross that frozen bridge when we get to it. For now, here is a list (and a few pics) of some things that make the awful change from daily "highs in the 70's" to "highs in the high 40's low 50's" a little more bearable.. if not enjoyable:

Bright leaves
Halloween
Pumpkins!
Apples
Thanksgiving
Holiday shopping
Pumpkin spice lattes
Family
Football
Emma's birthday :)
Sam Adams Octoberfest


 Tree outside my apartment at night

GOP candidates on Halloween











You can't tell, but this was the smallest, cutest apple ever











Army-Rutgers football game at Yankee Stadium (on Emma's birthday). The day was enjoyable, I routed for Army, but didn't mind that Rutgers won. Mostly I was excited to be in Yankee Stadium during off-season.











Sam Adams, with a flower :)











So for now, during this season, I will focus on being thankful for the beautiful colors, food, drinks, celebrations and people that the fall season brings.

"Oh how we love pumpkin season.  You did know this gourd-ish squash has its own season, right?  Winter, Spring, Summer, Pumpkin.... We anxiously anticipate it every year."  ~Trader Joe's Fearless Flyer, October 2010

 
 

Perhaps I Am a Bear

Winter is fast approaching. How do I know, well according to weather.com, yesterday's weather when I got to work at 10:04am was "Sunny 74°F." When I left at 7:04pm: "Cloudy 58°F" Almost 20 degrees difference. This is not okay. Since this happens on the one day I didn't read the hourly forecast on my weather.com app while dressing in shorts and a tank top, I ran to Old Navy and bought a cute new pair of jeans to change into for the rest of my night. I planned on returning them, but since they were on sale and cute, I think I'll just keep them to remind myself that New York weather is neither predictable nor pleasant for the majority of the year, especially November through April. Usually these are the months I hibernate. As Anne Morrow Lindbergh says: "Perhaps I am a bear, or some hibernating animal underneath, for the instinct to be half asleep all winter is so strong in me." September through October is the time I rotate my wardrobe to my Fall/Winter collection and prepare for depression, sickness, and hibernation.

But 23 years of Northeast winters and I've had ENOUGH, J.Lo style. So instead of sitting in my room and crying for 6 months, this year I'm fighting back! I'm going to enjoy winter. 'How is this possible?' you ask. 'Did that earthquake knock my memory of the misery of the past 5 winters in New York?' Well, quite possibly. But I've decided to embrace my frigid enemy nonetheless. Stay tuned throughout the New York fall, winter and spring of torture and I figure out how (and if) it's possible to enjoy these months without Zoloft and Xanax.

(FYI: "Light Through the Haze" is a line in the song, "Sunshine" by Matisyahu. While he's not actually talking about weather, I was listening to him while starting this blog, and thought it was an appropriate title).