The leaves are falling, the colors have all changed, the boats are taken in; every time I mow I imagine it’s the last time.

Fall is my favorite time of year. The morning and late afternoon light reminds of the colors of old movies. It’s cool at night and every warm afternoon is savored like the kiss you gave your lover before she embarked on some far off adventure … without you.

I spent my formative years in Milwaukee so I drank from bubblers. When I wasn’t drinking from a bubbler I often got a nice cold “soda” out of the refridgerator. No I didn’t get a “pop” I got a “soda”.

Check out this map showing regional difference in the usage of “soda”, “pop” and “coke”. Generic Names for Soft Drinks

The best part of this survey is that they list all the “other” names people claimed to use for soda. Check out the list for Minnesota. I feel a little bad for poor folks whose personal lives were dragged into this scientific survey.

I moved to Minnesota to date and eventually marry a woman. I like to occasionally point out all the sacrifices I made for her when I moved this state. Now I have one more item to add to the list, I had to change from “soda” to “pop”.

A clever design company, noting that one almost never sits and cooks at the same time built a combination stovetop/chair. Check it out.

I haven’t been playing much scrabble this year. A few years ago Jennie turned me on to this web site where you can play scrabble on-line. She has schooled me more than once, injuring my ego and improving my vocabulary in one fell swoop. It’s very cool because you can play at your own pace. When your opponent makes a play you are notified in email, then you have seven days to make your play. It usually goes pretty fast but it is possible to play a game against someone far away or someone who doesn’t have scads of time to sit and play games.

Anyone reading this ready to play a game? Come on, are you chicken?

I’m off for a nice bike ride today. I’m doing the Grand Rounds, or at least parts of it. Hope you are enjoying fall as much as I am.

Check out this scanned in collection of correspondence between President Bush and Harriet Miers. My personal favorite is this handwritten note from Bush. Yes, I think you read that right it says, “P.S. No more public scatalogy.”

What could that possibly mean?

I think I’ll tack that on the end of the annual Christmas letter.

I can’t wait to see a collection of my correspondence and cards posted for everyone to gawk at.

Recently, I bought the book “Cider House Rules” written by John Irving at Half Price books. John Irving is the author of one of my all time favorite books, “A Prayer for Owen Meany.” The “Cider House Rules” came with this charming inscription in the front of the book.

For those of you who find the hand writing difficult to decipher, it says “Started reading – Not a Christian Book don’t read”.

Why is it that I want to read the book more now?

Perhaps this blog should have the same warning …

Congratulations go out to Joel and family! It’s a boy.

My favorite local cover band, ColdFront played a gig at the Firehouse Lounge in Circle Pines this last Saturday. They rocked the house as usual. This was the first gig I’ve seen where they added a slow tune to mix it up a little. My only disappointment was that I arrived right at the end of the first set and missed “Basket Case” by Green Day. (BTW, isn’t that song the theme song for bloggers everywhere?) Where did I put that CD anyway?

It’s been a long time since I closed a bar …