Well, the torrential rain finally ended so the ark-building project could be abandoned, but then the wind started gusting with a vengeance. It was a chilly breeze too, not the tropical stuff that we got used to the last week or so. Early this morning, I was still curled up in bed with my radio headphones on wishing the weather prognostication was better than the last few days. I kept switching from one meteorologist to the other willing the weather to improve, but both proclaimed sprinkles, sprinkles and more sprinkles throughout the day. The anchors on both stations quizzed the weathermen repeatedly about the conditions for today’s Tiger game at 1:07 p.m. but their forecast throughout Game 3 of the ALDS was glum and they urged everyone to take rain gear. I decided to throw off the covers from my cozy little cocoon and get up and at it and wait ‘ til daylight and scope it out then for myself. I puttered around and then peeked outside – yup, the wind had kicked up but no rain yet. I had to go out anyway as I wanted to mail my Canadian buddy her birthday card today. I decided I was not going to fly away, even though ‘tis the season for flying, and besides I have no wart on my nose, nor a tall conical hat and my broom is tucked away in the back of the garage.

As a general rule, I check my work e-mail early every morning and usually give my boss a head’s up that I’m out for a walk, or errands, and will check back in later. He likewise fills me in on his schedule via e-mail since we last touched base. Well, what a surprise … Robb was in the office twice yesterday; the last time, an impromptu visit at 8:30 p.m. to make revisions on the work I did Sunday afternoon. Some of the work was labeled ASAP. So, all that agonizing over should I stay or should I go (not to sound like that song of yesteryear) and now it was out of my hands. I still suited up to traipse down to the end of the block and mail my card. I opened the screen door and a wayward gust caught the corner of it and the door soon left my fingers and nearly flew off the hinges. Whew! Whatever leaves were wobbling on their stems yesterday were now strewn on the lawn and sidewalk and starting to gather in small piles along the curb as they were whirling and swirling through the air like a Hallmark card with a subtitle “Happy Fall!!!” It made me a little sad – my favorite time of year and it looked to be almost over in one fell swoop. I enjoy watching Mother Nature dip her paintbrush into the autumn palette to apply those burnt orange, bittersweet and golden colors to be admired by all and then she gently nudges those beautiful leaves onto the ground. Ahhh Fall … but this is too soon! While the leaves were all aflutter around me, I whooshed along like a tumbleweed for that short, one-block trip to the mailbox. By the time the trek was over, my topknot was askew and tendrils were escaping in every direction. I came into the house with a few leaves amongst my loose locks and scattered onto my sweats as well. I brushed them off and deposited them in the garbage and went over and poured a cup of steaming hot coffee before taking on the day. Maybe tomorrow the rain and wind machines will be turned off and I’ll get in a short walk after the HVAC man does his furnace check … brrrrrrrrr.