September Somethings

The month is passing quickly. I can't believe it's halfway over. We've had a lot of changes in the house lately. Drew left for New York to pursue his last year of grad school at Columbia. A friend of his from France, Marie, briefly moved in with us until she found a permanent place to live in DC. She's since moved. Her stay was a mere 2.5 weeks. Milton found a job in Raleigh and has moved (mostly) to start his new position. He still has some of his things in our house, which he's promised to get by the end of the month. It was a pretty fast move. When he was offered the job, they asked him to start four days later.

Right now we have two open rooms, one of which we have to fill and the other of which Marie and I are thinking we'll fill to bring in some extra cash (and reduce our rents). It would be great if we could.

We celebrated Marie's bday last week. She wanted to go to dinner and then we came home and had her friends over for games and socializing. Marie had a good time and any excuse to have a party is fine by me!

This Saturday we have plans to join French Marie and her beau, George, for a day at Mt. Vernon. I've lived in DC for over 3.5 years and still have never made it to Mt. Vernon, so it should be a fun day trip. Next weekend the four of us are planning on heading to NYC to visit Drew for the weekend. I'm excited about seeing NYC since I haven't been in well over 14 years.

I'm eying a half marathon in VA Beach in March 2010. I haven't done a long run in a while and this seems like just the race to get me motivated back into shape (and back into some pants I've outgrown). The race is a St. Patty's day theme since it's the week of the holiday. People apparently get dressed up for it- in their best Irish green! It looks like a fun time and a good first half marathon. Mal has agreed to do it with me so we'll make a sisters trip out of it!

Hello, September!

Fall is in the air in DC. I opened my windows and slept sans A/C last night and it was as wonderful as I imagined it would be. When I was younger, one season always won out when I was asked the question, "What's your favorite season?" Spring was said without any hesitation.

Over the past couple of years I've felt a resistance. Spring is no longer the season that quickly pops into my head when asked that question. What is it about fall that has crept into my soul and won me? The smell? A mixture of aging leaves, chimney smoke, and rain. The feeling of the cool breeze as summer's heat reluctantly loses its grip? The colors of those leaves? Wow. The remainder of a sun-kissed tan? New flowers and plants that spring forgets? Apples make their fall debut!

Sure fall is a preface to winter, a season that definitely is my least favorite, but it's intoxicating while it lasts. Welcome back, my fall friend. I missed you and your glory.