The Beginning of Autumn

In the last couple of days, we've noticed a distinct climate change. Humidity has dropped. The air feels more inviting, and the sun less punishing. At night, we enjoy the cool air as it breezes through the porch windows.

The fireflies are starting to visit us again. We see them in the distance, flashes of light in the forest. They provide hours of entertainment for the cats.

The cats, meanwhile, are spending more of their time lounging on the porch, usually perched on the jacuzzi cover, carefully aligned with the sun's beams, and generously donating their furballs to the hopeless cause of vaccuming.

The grass doesn't need to be cut every 4 days. The flowers are not shrinking in an attempt to minimize the sun's impact. Instead, they are blooming in all their glory. This makes for happy butterflies and hummingbirds.

I can now go for walks through the woods, without fear of sunstroke or attack by mosquito squadrons.

I can start to light off some of the hundreds of candles that have been accumulating in the house. Every time I go to the mall, three or four more follow me home. It's a conundrum.

I can start enjoying a cup of hot cocoa in the evening while watching the fireflies.

I can dust off my telescope and go outside to watch the comets, asteroid showers, and autumn moon.

I am a happy camper.

Our House Doesn't Like Us

Our house is only two years old, and already it's falling apart. Well, maybe not falling apart, but a lot of things have broken down in the last two weeks. First up was our A/C, when a faulty drain plug caused water to leak all over the garage. In trying to fix the plug, the A/C company broke the drain pan. A new one was ordered and due to be installed today. In the meantime, the A/C has been on scaled-back use, which generally means temps in the house have been around 85. In September. In Florida. Ugh.

Next up was our dishwasher. We started noticing a strange smell, which we took to mean that a pipe/tube was clogged or there was some food still stuck in the drain hole. So we tore apart the dishwasher, cleaned everything out as much as possible, and put everything back together. Still smelled. Was about ready to bite the bullet and call the repair guy when Big Dave noticed something. The geltabs we were using actually smelled pretty bad (he accidentally broke one when trying to fill the dishwasher). So we stopped using that brand, and the mystery of the smelly dishwasher has been solved.

Then the drains in our master bathroom and kitchen sink seemed to be getting stopped up. Ordinarilly this would be a job for Liquid Plummer, right? Well, no. You see, when you have a septic system, you have to be VERY careful about the chemicals you use around the house. Everything must be septic friendly. So off we went to Lowe's and Home Depot to find the elusive pro-septic drain declogger, which we finally found after a 6-hour tour.

Our master bathroom has a shower leak, which has seeped under the linolium. So now we must tear apart the bathroom trying to discover the leak, and redo the linolium (which has already been redone twice).

The fan in the porch is not working, and I'm suspecting a faulty wire.

But at least we still have a home.

The neighbors across the street are in the process of being foreclosed on. They built their dream home, with the intention of retiring in 5 years. But, like many homeowners, they have seen their equity disappear as home prices continue to drop. They owe more than the home is worth, so they are walking away from their dream.

Compared to that, I guess we still have it pretty good.

What Not To Wear At Aquatica

Big Dave and I celebrated our anniversary this week with a trip to O-town to experience Aquatica, the new waterpark. All in all, a very enjoyable outing. The weather was just about perfect, the rides fun, and the lines short. Can't ask for more than that, right?

Well, yes I can. And I will. : ) While Big Dave got an eyeful of young PYTs in their skimpy bikinis, I was treated to the retina-burning sight of middle aged. beer-bellied men wedged tightly into speedos. My eyes will never be the same.

Where were my cute, tan, well muscled frat boys with form fitting suits? Where were my young, impressionable 18-year-old farm boys with cowboy hats and manly staggers?

They were at Adventure Island, that's where! They probably took one look at the pasty-white, pot-bellied English guy in the thong bikini briefs and decided to go elsewhere, just in case the look happened to be contagious.

In the park, there are signs EVERYWHERE with rules about what you can and cannot do. I thought it might be a good idea if management put up additional signs about what people can and cannot wear in the park -- something like this:

1. If you cannot see your toes because your big belly is in the way, do not attempt a speedo or a thong.
2. If you resemble Cocoa the gorilla because of your hairy arms, back and stomach, you must wear a t-shirt.
3. Make sure your suit is the correct size. No one wants to see your whole package.
4. Butt cracks are not a fashion accessory. Pull up your pants.