:)

Fall, fall, falling...

Whenever August rolls around, I seem to start itching for autumn, craving the crisp air, firey-colored leaves, and hot chocolate to warm me up in the mornings. I love summer and wish for it the majority of the year - but there comes a point when my bangs are plastered to my forehead that I just want it to end.

Does this not look yummy?

This past week has gotten me super excited for fall. I spent the weekend in lovely Chicago - which actually was not-so-lovely: cold temperatures, pouring rain and overcast skies. But it gave me a chance to whip out my sweaters, my close-toed shoes and prepare for what would eventually be coming in the next month or so.

There's something I love about walking around in fall - I'm sure a lot of it has to do with seeing leaves changing color or the fact that I absolutely love corduroy - and I simply can't wait to explore this season in a new city.

So, while summer may provide the opportunity for endless Corona nights at bars, free transit on super-hot days, and an influx of tourists from far and away, you can give me autumn any day.

Oh... and I should also mention the football - God bless fall and college football season! Go Blue! and happy tailgating!

Be it ever so humble

Oh, cute little two bedroom, two bath, plus den (!), affordable Capitol Hill townhouse apartment. How I love thee.

There are no words to express quite what I feel for you - I have yet to meet you, but I know that we were meant to be. I only hope your close-lipped owner with the world's best poker face will give you to us.

I admire your brightly painted walls, petite backyard, fireplace that we will fill with candles because we're girls and probably couldn't start a fire, your in-unit laundry machines and your included water and satellite fees. To me, you are perfect.

I have imagined my furniture housed against your walls, my dishes placed in your cabinets, my photos sitting on your shelves and candle-lit evenings by the fireplace (again - probably not a fire for fear of burning down said beautifully-painted walls).

So, please say that my credit score is high enough and let us know soon if your owner is willing to lease to us - the time we're currently apart is torture.

Until the time comes when we can finally be together, please stay away from anything that's creepy or crawly, beef-up your insulation and maybe clean up your bathroom.

Perhaps I may be a little too hopeful, but I can only hope that you feel the same way.

Yours truly,

Jodi

A pretty meaningless post

Given that I generally have quite a bit of time to think about and ponder things, I often find that it is the simple things in life that generally give me the most pleasure and comfort.

I've notcied of late that I do silly things and make habits of others - almost to the point where it's ritual.

With the colder weather, I get a rush stepping on little scraps of ice on the ground - merely because of the satisfying "crunch" they make underfoot. That is perhaps my favorite part of snow - something I haven't really liked since I started driving.

I'll notice too when ads pop up on certain Web sites where you have to "beat the other guy" at something to win five free ring tones or some other ridiculous prize that requires you sign over half of your personal information, that I can't resist in participating. Maybe I'm easily amused or just plain bored - either way, it's a sick habit. I don't even need those ring tones!

Perhaps living alone has brought out the weird quirks in me. I do something every night when I get home that I never did before. I have to pull back the shower curtain and my bathroom to assure that no one is there to pop out at me. I haven't yet figured out what I would do if someone were actually there. Screaming is a good bet...

I suppose before I've always had some weird traits - perhaps these are just more noticable to me now that I live on my own and have to entertain myself the majority of the time. Oh well - I suppose it's all a part of figuring out what makes us happy to sustain ourselves. Whatever the reason you can bet that I can't wait for the next batch of snow to crunch through - even if it does mean temperatures in the negatives!