The fall of Fall

Fall seems to be coming to a close. It looked like it would last much longer this year - acorns were bombing my house rhythmically and systematically, the leaves were turning colors slowly, they were staying on trees for what seemed like forever - and then suddenly, WHOOMP! They all plummeted to the ground seemingly overnight, bringing the temperature along for the ride. So now not only do the trees look as if they're bracing themselves for winter, yards everywhere need to be raked and de-leaved for the changing of the seasons. I, of course, raked my yard on the windiest day possible, so my Yardwork Joy was at least doubled, if not tripled. Yay. (Note: the previous sentence should be read with a straight face and no vocal inflections.)

Anyway, while my Favoritest-Of-Seasons is taking its last gasps, that means Winter is on the way. The bad part about that is the never-ending shoveling and constant fear of wiping out on black ice in front of dozens of strangers. The good part is that it means that it's much more acceptable, nay EXPECTED, that one should hunker down with a book for extended periods of time! Yippee!!!

In my obsessive need to finish the 999 Challenge, I need to read 14 more books by the end of the year. That in itself is not a problem. The fact that I have to read a particular 14 is what is irking me right now. It's not that I don't want to read these certain books, I really and truly do, it's that there are SO many more that I really want to read and I feel like I'm missing out on something by having a limited selection. I realize that the 101010 Challenge will start in 2 short months, and I can resume reading what I want when I want, but still... I want to read "Wolf Hall" now, not in 2 months' time! Anyone else out there have the same reading issues?

On a positive note, I seem to be in some sort of place where my work schedule is actually doing what I'd like it to do! I hate to post this for fear of jinxing myself, but the past 2 weeks have been wonderful. On the 3 or 4 days that I work, I have multiple appointments with Job #1, and then I have 3 or 4 days "off" to work here at home, whether on Job #2 or just on picking up this dump. It's a Miracle, I tell you! A Miracle! I even took a nap on Saturday, and it was almost a guilt-free experience! (Hey, I'm working on it.) If things keep on happening like this, I might actually begin to relax more in my down time instead of freaking out about the hundred things I should be doing. Things are looking up!

Yet another positive thing is that I seem to have more time for reading. Since it currently gets dark at 4:30 here, I'm spending less time running around and more time at home getting stuff done. My new normal is to come home, put on pajamas, a Netflix, and then to check out email, have some dinner, maybe watch an hour or two of TV, and then put on a record (yes, an actual record), grab a book and a blanket, and spend some serious time with a book in my hands. And a cat on my lap, of course. It's really quite nice.

Well, speaking of, I should probably have some dinner and then grab the nearest book and hit the couch. Stay warm out there!