weekending.

It's not that it feels like fall, exactly…we're enjoying brilliantly sunny days with temps in the low 80's. It's really that it feels like back-to-school. The return to routine, more structured schedules, and the predictability that academia brings. The weekend…

*Austin had a football scrimmage. He's a Junior this year, which means the Varsity Team. It also means that most of the team towers over me, and can grow a 5 o'clock shadow by noon. Weird. 

*I baked Morning Glory Muffins. I've mentioned before that cooking – and baking in particular – is like therapy for me. There's something about the process of combining ingredients to get to a delicious end goal that centers me.

*Hope will return to Halifax in just under 2 weeks. It's bittersweet. She belongs here, but she belongs there. I so insanely proud that she's starting her last year of undergrad. 

*I started reading she told stories. Simply beautiful. I'm craving friendship time, and she is someone who I think that I would be friends with.

*I watched (while doing other things) a dozen episodes of Grey's – seasons 1-3. It just never gets old. 

*I am going to do my best to power through the coming week. I'm taking a few days off over Labor Day weekend, and I'm promising myself that I won't fill the hours with chores. Although it's cliched, it's absolutely true that fall in New England is magical…and I plan to enjoy it. 

*Don't you think that they should rename these wine glasses? Clearly they should be "Olivia" or maybe "Pope." And yes, I'm totally buying these for Barb's visit.

*I am absolutely, positively NOT getting a sore throat. Nope.