General musings

I was wondering how deep we’d get into October/November before I had to break out the many, many layers of clothes I have to wear in order to keep warm in my icebox of an office.

The answer: Oct. 27.

Layers worn: 4.

And what did I see on my way to work yesterday morning? Snow! Seriously. Little hard pellets of snow gusting around.

There was nothing to worry about on the roads, but it was still weird, because it’s really early for snow here. We usually don’t see any white stuff until down in November, around Thanksgiving.

Wonder if the early snow means we’re in for a cold, snowy winter …

So I went and voted yesterday. Thought I’d do it early and avoid what are sure to be long lines on Nov. 4.

Overall, it was pretty painless. Stood in line a few minutes, waited for a crashed computer to restart, and then got my ballot. I filled out a paper ballot that was scanned through a machine after I was finished. (The election workers told everyone several times not to mark outside the boxes — wonder if they’ll be any hanging chads this year?)

Once the ballot was scanned, a little message popped up that said “Your vote has been counted.” And I was done.  

Anyway, I just want to encourage folks to get out and vote — early like I did or on election day. People in other parts of the world long for the freedoms we take for granted here in the U.S. Voting is one of them. So whatever your political affiliation is, go make your voice heard. It’s what Wonder Woman would do. :ww:

So I went out to the mall today to run an errand. And what do I see sitting inside JC Penney all shiny and green and lit up and ready to be taken home? Christmas trees.

Seriously. Christmas trees.

People do realize that it’s October, right? That we’re still three weeks away from Halloween? That it’s still 2 1/2 months until Christmas? :rolleyes:

Seems like the holiday trees come out earlier and earlier every single year. It takes some of the magic out of the season for me. There shouldn’t be any Christmas decorations out until at least Thanksgiving. That’s actually what I do Thanksgiving morning — put up my Christmas tree for the holiday season. But I’m weird that way. 😎

But I guess those trees in the mall are telling me to start making my holiday shopping list now. Sigh …

It’s raining in my neck of the woods today. A cool, silver, gray drizzle that somehow makes everything seem darker and much more hushed. Makes me want to curl up with a good book or take a nap. 😎

What about you? Are you enjoying the weather in your neck of the woods? Are the leaves changing yet? I’m starting to see a few trees turning. I think the explosion of color is still a couple weeks away, though. Maybe today’s rain will help with that …