It's October!

I know I am late on this, trust me. October is my favorite month of the year. Few other months can so readily conjure up colors and scents and foods and temperatures. It's a really amazing time of year and I try to full embrace it while it is here. And yet, at almost one full week over, I have yet to indulge in any October-related activities. I have yet to watch a horror movie, I have yet to have a spiced wafer, and most importantly, no candy corn.

Luckily, after contemplating all of this on my drive home from work today, I found a bag of candy corn and a box of spiced wafers in the house. Delicious.

Fresh Air

That term seems to refer to something I have not felt in weeks. This summer is really starting to wear on me. I don't care for summer as far as weather conditions go. I am a fall/spring person. I don't like the cold nor the heat. I really enjoy cool, light jacket weather. Weather where everything is calm. Too cold leaves you paralyzed and too hot leaves you exhausted and on edge.

One of the best things, though, about the summer is a fresh house. Over the winter, due to the cold, you leave your windows locked up tight. Something that I really enjoy is when it is finally nice enough out to have the windows open. Waking up in the morning, relaxing at night, lounging on the weekend - these moments are all enhanced a little when there is a natural air flow running through your home. Air literally gets to be stale, otherwise, and it has a different weight to it in a way.

This summer has been unbearable. I was out shopping the other day and saw some nice looking clothes for the fall that have started to fill the racks. I could not even fathom buying or trying anything on that was for cooler weather, however. Just the idea of wearing that stuff made me hot. It has been brutal for weeks straight. Today it reached a "feels like" of 108 here. I walked outside and laughed. It's about all I can do. The extreme heat that just has not let up has become so preposterous that my reaction is simply laughter. I am just baffled that with the sun setting its still in the 90 degree range.

I have had mixed feelings about the approaching month of September in the past. Some years it was dread for school, others it was the excitement of work ending and, strangely, more free time to come. In more recent years, September has meant New York and has always been met with excitement. Now, September is looking like pure relief. My life will not change, as far as routine is concerned, for the first time since I was 4 years old when September hits. I think my apprehension about how I might deal with that is completely overshadowed by the longing for a cool day. And these days, "cool" means less than 90, sadly.

(I don't know if I have mentioned it on here before, but the image above is something that hangs in my room. It is several pictures I took myself, printed and hung. The entire thins was conceived by me, designed by me, and executed by me. Most of the time, it has the effect of any other poster in my room. It is just cool decor. But every once in a while I look at it and really let it sink in that it's something I created myself. I am really proud of it.)

Positive Weather, Positive Outcomes

I am not a big fan of summer weather. I know - you might think based on my readiness for the warmth that I am a big fan of the hot sun and such, but you would be wrong. I am a fan of the middle ground (not to sound dull). My favorite seasons are spring and fall. I would much rather be in jeans and a t-shirt or a hoodie than anything else. Preferred temp range: 50-75.

This might seem odd, but it's something I like. I am a fan of comfortable weather. I feel like, just as the severe cold can be debilitating, the heat can be the same way. Long strings of, or just individual days of 90 degree temperature makes people unpleasant. You sweat more, you get stressed easier, everything you do is an effort because it is exhausting in that climate. What temperature is a pool typically set to - 60s. Why do people like the pool? Because it is refreshing - I rest my case.

That being said - temperature is relative to adjustment. When it is summer, 50 degrees feeling like freezing and likewise when it is winter, 40 degrees is a breath of fresh air, and that it what I woke up to today. After feeling really out of it last night I slept until about 12:30 pm today, went to breakfast at the local diner with friends and ultimately decided that it was a day meant to be outside. It had been awhile since I was able to walk down the street with my coat unbuttoned and I was more than happy to stay outside in such weather and it led to an incredibly productive day. I was able to spend all of the remaining daylight, and even some dusk hours in city. I became a member of the New York Public Library (long overdue - no pun intended), as well as spending a gift card from my parents, picking up some things at Border, and finally getting some produce that was both a better selection and better quality than what the local grocer's have to offer.

All in all I'd say that is a great day. Homework? Well isn't that what Sunday is for?