Gushing over Autumn

I realized that: a) I'm a post-slacker, and b) I haven't gushed about Autumn and my absolute love of the season yet! So, I am remedying both issues...

Autumn truly is my favorite time of year and it has been slowly moving in to Colorado over the past few weeks. You can feel Autumn's approach weeks before it ever hits: there's a crispness to the air, a few random yellow leaves make their early entrance on trees around town and the evenings begin to cool down. I love those few weeks just before Autumn arrives; I start to get excited and anxious for the season to settle in and wrap the world in its rich hues of gold, rust and burgundy. I wear a gooney smile on my face and embrace the few random days of cooler temperatures. And once Autumn is finally here, I can already be found in a state of utter bliss. This year has been no different.

Autumn seemed to settle over my town this afternoon. It is sunny, still warm, a slight breeze in the air and the streets are dotted with gorgeous, golden trees. Set this scene against the backdrop of the deep blue-green of the Rockies, and I think you can see why I gush. It's beautiful!

There is a front moving in over the mountains and the wind has started to pick up, blowing crunchy, fallen leaves all over the parking lot at work. I can't help but stare out the window, wanting to be outside. I have thoughts running through my head of: pumpkin spice lattes; scarves; warm, over-sized cardigans; suede boots; thick, comfy quilts; spicy-scented candles; hot apple cider and toasted cake donuts; fireplaces; leaf-peeping in the mountains; and evenings spent with a good book and glass of cabernet. Thoughts of all the things that embody Autumn for me...thoughts of some of my most favorite things.

Welcome, Autumn, I've been (impatiently) waiting for you!

Sunday Night Addiction

I am ADDICTED to Lifetime's "Drop Dead Diva"!!! Does anyone else watch this show? It was a summer sitcom and a surprising hit for me. And, after tonight there is only one more show left...excuse me while I pine for the characters, humor and creative story line throughout the Fall.

A quick synopsis: Deb, aspiring model, dies in a car accident and rather than going to heaven her soul ends up in the body of Jane, a brilliant, thoughtful, plus-sized lawyer. While Deb adjusts to being Jane, she is aided by her guardian angel Fred and her best friend Stacy. These are the only people who know the truth about Deb/Jane. Added into the mix is Deb's fiance Grayson who is a new lawyer at Jane's firm. While Grayson grieves for Deb and works to move on, Jane has to watch and keep her secret. The big question: will Jane tell Grayson that she's really Deb or will she move on...maybe with Tony, the hottie lawyer who is currently persuing Jane?

If Jane doesn't want Tony, I will be more than happy to take him off of her hands. :-)

**picture of hottie lawyer to come...if I can track one down.

Musings on wine

I am a bit of a wine junkie. I can say with all honesty that I do not know that much about wine, but I am working on educating myself. I feel like I should be knowledgable about something that I so love. And so, I've gotten in touch with my inner nerd (who really isn't hidden very deep), bought some books, googled some questions and am slowly but surely working on turning myself into a wine connoisseur....and finally being able to earn that personal wine cellar I would love to have someday.

There are very few things that I enjoy more than a glass of cabernet sauvignon on a cool Fall evening or toasting summer with a chilled chardonnay. There is a wine for every mood and a wine to compliment every meal. Wine brings a touch of class to any situation, and can fool a person into acting with greater poise and smiling a little brighter. Wine can always play the common demoninator between my best friend and I, and is the perfect excuse for a girl's night in, gossiping in pjs. And, red, red wine embodies that perfect shade of deep, nearly purple, red that no paint seems to do justice to. Ahhh, wine...

What's your favorite?

Butterflies...

Don't you just love those little moments when someone says or does something that makes your heart race just a little bit, causes butterflies to flutter in your stomach and lights up your face with a smile?

I LOVE those unexpected moments!

For my father

Some of you may know that up until a few years ago, I'd always had a pretty rocky relationship with my father. We are both stubborn, strong-willed, always right in everything we do kind of people, which, obviously, leads to some clashing of wills. He struggled when I went through puberty and was no longer his little girl who wanted eskimo and butterfly kisses before bedtime. He had no clue what to do with a young woman, and I certainly had no idea what to do with a father who was pushing me away...so, as any 2 stubborn, strong-willed people would do, we fought it out with each other. We pushed each other to our limits and put our father-daughter relationship to the ultimate test. I'm sure my mother was at her wit's end playing referee for Daddy and me through my teenage years.

I went through a period of time when I was convinced my father didn't love me. Looking at it now, I know how ridiculous an idea this was, but at the time the pain was very real. I didn't understand that my father was expressing his love through his actions and over-protectiveness; I needed the words and he's never been comfortable with that. And that was the root of our problem.

Our break through came when I left for college. I'd spent the last 18 years of my life working to prove to my father that I was trustworthy, responsible, motivated and self-aware; that I wasn't a completely naive child who needed my hand held. I needed him to understand my intelligence, independence and ability to make a logical decision, but still remain aware of the fact that I was always going to need his (and Mom's) support to be as successful as possible. And slowly, over my freshman year, he got all of this. He finally gave me the credit I deserved, eased up a bit and we started getting along.

Somewhere in all of the shouting, door-slamming and crying we had started to figure each other out. I finally understood that, despite not always being able to say, "I love you" my father loves me with all of his heart. When he researches new digital cameras for me, makes extra chili so I can take some home with me or when he calls just to say hi in the middle of the day he is telling me he loves me. The words are hard for him, but the actions come naturally. And, he finally understood that sometimes I need him to loosen up, give me a hug and verbally tell me he loves me. We found a balance!

Today is my father's 58th birthday. He told me today that he isn't getting older, just better, and I have to agree. My mom is out of town so it'll just be Daddy and me celebrating tonight, which is what made me think so much on our relationship. Had it come down to just the 2 of us even a few years ago, dinner would've been awkward and strained. We would have endured the "celebration" out of familial obligation and to appease my mother. But, not this year. This year we are both actually looking forward to a father-daughter dinner and that is a truly wonderful thing.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Man!!

Dipping My Feet in the Water

Blogging. It seems to be on the tip of everyone's tongue these days, and friend after friend has been jumping into the blogging world. Well, I'm officially following in their lead and dipping my feet into the waters of blogworld.

I am not a wonderful writer, and most things tend to sound better in my head than on paper, but I think my friends will be able to bear with me. The ability to keep in touch with family far away and friends who have moved across the county is just too wonderful to pass up. And, perhaps blogging will allow me an outlet for my brain that just can't seem to turn off and for my ramblings. It may save a few of my friends and family members from excessive texting somedays...maybe.

So, here goes nothing!