Kids come into the library all the time with sooooooooooo cute rainboots. And I'm jealous. Often I say to the parents, why don't they make those cute boots in grown-up sizes.

And then I receive a gap email in my inbox, (I've ordered online from them before and I haven't turned off the emails) and I open it to find:

super cute rainboots for adults!

I'm amused that very few of their "rain boots" are marked as "waterproof".

I really love this pair (the "pink argyle"). They're waterproof! And pink! But they're too expensive. I just can't justify spending $60-$70 on rainboots.

Sigh.

So cute though.

I've had the window open all morning and keep going back and looking at them. My boss is laughing at me "dreaming of rainboots".

Edited to add: Oh my gosh - the ones I like the best are already off the main page. They're almost sold out. wow! I'm sure they'll reappear when they get more, but yowza that was fast.

But I also love these and these.

I need to stop looking at the pretty boots now.

It's flannel pajama weather, snuggle up under the covers with a cat and a book weather, wrap your hands around a big mug of hot coffee/cocoa with the steam rising up and tickling your nose weather. It's scarves, and gloves, and hats, and sweaters. It's fluffy sweater weather! It's winter coat weather. It's see your breath and a chilly wind that makes the brightly colored leaves dance weather. It's make afghans that are so long that you can huddle under them as you crochet them weather. It's invigorating and sad, beautiful and bittersweet. It's fall rapidly turning into winter.

I'd been putting off pulling out my winter coat until the last possible day. That day was today I decided. Part of this is stubbornness and part of this is forgetfulness. It takes a few weeks for grabbing a coat to become a normal part of my out-the-door routine again. I only remembered this morning (before opening the door and getting hit with a blast of cold) because my roommate left three minutes before me in her winter coat. My coat felt strange as I put it on. It was too heavy, and it felt like it was enveloping me, swallowing me whole. The weight of it felt odd as I donned it. And yet I know in a few weeks, it will feel natural again. So much so will it be natural that when I shed it in the spring I will feel light and slightly naked and vulnerable. But for now, I feel as though I am carrying an unexpected burden, a weight and a heaviness that I am not yet ready to bear. I am atlas with the world upon my shoulders, weighted down, no longer able to soar. (yes, I'm mixing up my mythology, ignore it and move on). I love this season, love the leaves, and the crispness in the air, love the bounty of apples, love pulling out sweaters I've not worn in a year and burying my face in their softness, and I hate it, hate the bite in the wind, hate the desolate ways the trees look naked and bare after the leaves fall, hate the sense that winter looms just around the corner to taunt me.

So on Saturday, I didn't get to enjoy the nice weather too much. I went down to the trolley tour as mentioned. And then I ran to the plaza to drop some clothes off for the Junior League thrift store. (Have a donation quota which I've more than met now.) They were having a pick up at the Lill studio which is this really neat make-your-own purse boutique. Really cute stuff and now I have a discount coupon. Even with the coupon, it still might be rather pricey, so I am still debating.

Sunday skipped church to work on progress review. That afternoon went to Oktoberfest for the church singles group. Had hot dogs, burgers, brats. Played volleyball. Watched the Chiefs game. Oh, and I made funnel cake. I am a veritable funnel cake master. I'm not quite ready to throw away my life and become a carnie, but it is a good skill to pull out and use for fun days like that.

About noon yesterday the weather changed. Early this week, our high was 88. That is ridiculous for October. Now it is cool, and fall feeling. Fabulous. I was so ready for this change of weather. In about a month and a half when it is freezing, I am sure I will be complaining. However, right now, I am loving it. One of the guys said last night that he loves this weather because he can smell football in the air. Eh. I'm not smelling football. But I have plenty of other fall wondeful associations.

I have been looking for a dress for buffyholic's wedding next weekend. I have a lot of spring/summer dresses, mainly sundresses, but no fall dresses. I usually wear a sweater and a skirt. I want to go a little bit nicer for this. I found this one from Nordstrom's which I really like, and I ordered it. But it won't get here in time. It won't even ship until after the wedding. I may try to go find something else. And when I get it, I'll see if I want to keep it or return it. I don't know.

Yesterday was the first day that felt like fall. It was cool and rained all day. We didn't really see the sun. When I left work, I shivered. Soon the leaves will change. I'm always eager for the changing of the season. I am so bored of my summer clothes, and I've bought a few new sweaters and shirts that will be good for fall/winter. Plus I have all my clothes I haven't worn in six months, and they feel like new. It wasn't quite cool enough today to warrant a sweater and still I spent five minutes staring at my closet, debating outfits, revelling in the possibilities. I put on a good "transition" sweater set that has 3/4 length sleeves. When I think about wearing summer clothes, I sigh mentally, and get so bored. I realize that I am very blessed to have this many options and this seems like a silly thing. But one of my favorite parts of seasons change is wearing different clothes. There are always new things, and then there are your favorites that you get to rediscover, it is rather like meeting an old friend again.

An interesting article for your Friday amusement:
How Curious George Escaped the Nazis

I have been so tired lately during the day. I can barely keep my eyes open. And yet when I try to go to sleep I toss and turn for an hour or so. This is just the last few days, hopefully it will pass.

I was practicing Old MacDonald has a Farm on my guitar for my storytime the other day and I got to thinking. Every two and three year old can identify farm animals and their accompanying noises. They can all cheerfully explain that cow says moo, pig says oink, and sheep says baa. There are innumerable books and toys about the farm and farm animals for children. As kids we had a speak-and-say (I think that is what it was called, you pulled the lever and the arrow in the middle spun, and whatever animal it pointed at, it made that sound) that produced farm animal sounds. There are farm play sets, videos, etc. We have done a drop-in learning center on a farm theme and now I am doing a storytime. It is always popular. Why is this so important to teach our children? The vast majority of American children live in cities and suburbs where it would be much more useful to teach them red means stop, green means go, and stay away from the man in the trenchcoat who hangs around the playground. Do we teach this because this is what our parents taught us and we're passing it on? Are we conjuring up images of an idyllic pastoral past to contrast with our modern, hectic urban lives? Are we in denial that our society is no longer a primarily agrarian society? Any thoughts?

Also, on the way home from Emporia, I pass a sign that says "One Kansas farmer feeds 128 people and YOU!" I like that sign.

This week was my new member orientation for Junior League. For those of you who don't know it is a women's organization dedicated to training women and serving/building communities. My chapter has a ten year focus on children's literacy. Since our new member class has 125 people in it, they have placed us into small groups by commanalities. Everyone in my group is young and single. Talking to them was a lot of fun. It was good to hang out with professional, smart women. One of the girls is hosting a party this weekend and sent us all an evite. Very nice of her. I'm not sure if I will do it, I am waiting to see if other girls from jl are going.

It's been thunderstorming all day. Very fun.

I'm behind with school. I'm studying constantly and I'm behind. I may shoot myself.

Okay, I'm not going to shoot myself.

I keep seeing all this cool scrapbooking stuff. I don't have time for the next four weeks.

Susan's wedding is in three weeks.

In four weeks I will be drifting down a river in the Ozarks, bliss.

I got cool new librairan tshirts.

My sister wants me to buy her ipod so she can buy a new one. I'm not sure why I shouldn't just buy my own new one. I've flirted with the idea of buying an ipod, but I haven't committed to it yet.

Victoria's Secret semi-annual sale, hit that yesterday. Much fun.

My guitar playing keeps getting better.