Halloween Tree

Even though Fall is almost unrecognizable here in summerland, it does have the best Halloween tree.

They grow big, and you only see the thorns upon close inspection. The entire tree is covered in them and they are intimidatingly sharp.
Happy Halloween!

(I just have to draw your attention to this website. Someone has invested a lot of time into disliking the VP candidate - much to my delight.)

Fall - the new summer

Here in the land-of-endless-summer we've entered the season of heat, dust, desert winds, and fires. What fun. There are some hidden advantages to a 12-month summer (ok, it only really lasts about 11 months and one week). We get flowers and vegetables at the same time. Funny, everywhere else we've lived the flowering was done by the end of the growing season. But the land-of-endless-summer defies the laws of nature (which goes a long way toward explaining a lot of things around here). So, about a week ago, S. and I headed to the Fullerton Arboretum; it was in full bloom and it was a delight.
The Arboretum is only a few acres but was planned as a vast parking lot.

It features many strange flowers. Sea anemone?
I have no idea what this is but I find it fascinating

(I'm not the only one).

Gourd tunnel
And, to bring us back from a summer daydream, there's a little corner of Fall on display.

3654

Count back this many days. That was the day that R and I met! A big group of us new grads got together to meet one another under the pretense of celebrating R's birthday. (He later divulged that he had secretly contrived to make sure that I attended.) This was about 3654 days ago which works out to about ten years. Cheers to us!

Meetings, relationships, and birthdays - October is such a great month!

artificial light

I'm almost done with my chapter draft and the weight is lifting. (Thank you for the encouragement.) I can now see light at the end of my tunnel - but only if I don't look past this chapter to the four others waiting for me (my light will surely dim).

Several other developments are providing me with artificial levity and have improved my general outlook. Last Monday was the first day of fall. Like someone else I know, I love fall. It is my favorite season. We don't get much in the form of "seasons" around these parts, but I remember well what fall looks like and I'm enjoying my seasonal reminisce. Assisting me in this endeavor is my neat, new gizmo. We cashed in all our chips (i.e. credit card rewards) and got a sweet new computer. I'm told it can make a good toy, but I haven't had time to explore this yet. I have, though, found the appropriate wallpaper (below). Finally, my artificial buoyancy is also partially attributable to my rediscovery of our store of adult beverages. This really helped take the edge off my anxiety. In fact, I decompressed enough to sing to my chapter as I worked (you know the song,... barenaked ladies, "...I love you more than I did the week before I discovered alcohol...). I can't believe I didn't hit upon this solution sooner.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to tomorrow evening. I plan to settle in, relax, and watch Gwen Ifill make the vp's squirm. I have long admired a Ifill, but I think I became a fan four years ago when she stuck it to Edwards/Cheney with a question about what their candidates would do to counter the recent rise in HIV infections. Their cram sessions didn't include this one; both of them were completely stumped. After the debate fun, I may even try out the civilization game that R keeps trying to tempt me with.