Fall Musings

Just pinning down a few random thoughts and relaying recent goings-on…

Fall: It is (sort of) officially fall! David and I are obsessed with fall, and check in with each other each year about when we think fall really starts. Usually we have enough willpower to wait until it officially starts, or until October, but not this year. I had David convinced to break out his fall scent spray the day after Labor Day (he went up and down the MIND Institute halls spraying it), and we showed up to work in matching rust-colored fall shirts two days after Labor Day. I tell him about my pumpkin lattes, and he totally understands that I want to wear brown boots, even if it’s 95 degrees.

Anyway…fall has started for us! It has turned pretty windy and a bit chilly up here. I had to wear a sweater for the first time on our evening walk yesterday, and I’ve been cold in the mornings and at night. Granted, it’s supposed to get up past 90 degrees most of the next several days, but I am fully embracing my favorite season of the year!

Qualifying Papers: I have been living, breathing, eating, and sleeping my qualifying papers lately. I have been breaking my self-imposed rules and writing in the evenings, writing on the weekends, going back and forth between writing, going into work, and then writing again–all in a day, etc. Luckily, I finished one of my papers last night and got it sent out today (whew!). A big thank you to Carolyn for talking stats with me, to my mom for proofreading every last letter, and to Nik for hunting through the APA book to figure out how to cite weird things!

Anniversary: Yesterday was Nik’s and my 6th year anniversary! We don’t usually celebrate this (at least, we haven’t in a couple of years), but I think it’s nice to acknowledge anyway. I guess next year we’ll have to switch from a September 15 anniversary to an October 6 anniversary. Technically, we now also have a November 27 anniversary (engagement) as well. As of next year, maybe we’ll stick to the one real wedding anniversary! Anyway…Niko, I love you!

Prelims: Oh, it’s prelim weekend for some of my friends. You all may remember me during my prelim summer, a stressed out wreck! I just wanted to wish you guys the best of luck, and assure you that you will be amazing! Natalie and Amy, you’re brilliant women and you will rock the exam!

Running: As I mentioned before, Nik and I have started running. We’ve been really good at keeping it up, and we’re slowly lengthening both the portions of the path we run, as well as the overall path itself. Every few runs, we go a bit farther. It hurt so badly at first. My legs were fine, but my lungs and throat killed me. I suppose it didn’t help that we were running in really high heat, but I was also just totally out of shape. It has now been getting easier, my lungs have caught up to my legs, and I can actually say that I understand the zone that runners can get into. I can more easily get to that point of no pain, just enjoying the run and surroundings. We see all sorts of critters on our runs, and it’s not rare to run alongside rabbits, lizards, horses, prairie dogs, etc. It’s really fun!

First Saturday Dinner and a Movie: First Saturday Dinner and a Movie is tomorrow, and I’m excited. Nik and I braved the Mexican meat market today, and picked up some delicious-looking carne asada. I can’t wait to have people over to relax with lots of food, drink, and a movie. And as we truly get into the colder months, I’m looking forward to making big batches of stews, soups, and chilis for everyone!