Autumn in North Georgia

Fall falls differently in northeast Georgia. Not being a huge fan of heat and humidity, I don't love the 80 degree weather we get straight through September, but I have to admit it does make the summer feel longer. Especially since I'm no longer in school and therefore have no schedule changes to mark the seasons. "Summer" is just whenever it's hot. And it's hot from May through September. So I guess summer lasts longer in Georgia. Man, I love it here!

Anyway, even when fall does come (as it's been trying to do in the last few days), it happens a little differently. First off, the trees start to change before the weather does. It's an odd thing to me. The temperature outside is telling me it's summer, but the foliage says it's autumn. Secondly, fall sneaks in during the night and then goes back into hiding as the sun rises. It's not unusual for morning temperatures to dip well into the 50's. But by lunchtime, it's a sweltering 85 again. Layers become a girl's best friend (unless a girl happens to work in an office with three men who consider an arctic environment perfect working conditions; then said girl is dressing in sweaters year round anyway).

Last week on my way to work I heard a DJ announce that we would be having perfect football weather that weekend - sunny and 85. Sunny and 85? That's perfect for football? When I think "football" I also always think "cold". Maybe some flurries. And ok, I know, the football season has started in New Jersey now, too and it's still warm there. But before too long every athlete in the northeast from pee wee up to pro will be wearing layers under and over their uniform. Fall sports are supposed to be played in the cold. In college, we played two games in Kentucky one year. It was raining and 40 degrees the whole time. And I loved it.

Next month the trick-or-treaters will be out (some of them anyway; Halloween's not so popular here in the Bible belt. Last year Jamie and I bought a bunch of candy and had exactly 0 visitors. I purposely bought candy we don't like to keep us from eating it all. I think we still have it). I remember having to plan Halloween costumes that allowed for warm clothing to be layered underneath. Around here, kids can just wear the fairy costume leotard without a sweatshirt stuffed underneath.

I can't say my new state of residence is better or worse than my home state, but I can say it's definitely different.

Here's a fine example of Jamie's and my inability to leave our home states behind: this was last December, we'd just returned from purchasing our first Christmas tree. It was pretty warm that night, even for Georgia. Certainly not hoodie and hat weather, dumb Jersey girl. And not tank top weather either, crazy Florida kid (to be fair, he had a long sleeved t-shirt on when we were out). Be sure to check back this December to see if we've adjusted our wardrobes in time for Christmas tree shopping 2008!

A Long Weekend

Most mornings when we wake up I beg Jamie to call in sick and stay home. And then I can do the same and we can spend the day together instead of working. He never says yes. Slavedriver. But about a month or so ago when I was once again whining about going to work, we agreed that we would pick a day and take off just to relax and have some fun together. So this past Friday, we played hooky (well actually we both told our bosses well in advance we wouldn't be there) and did just that.

We slept in a bit and then drove up to Lake Burton. We didn't have a plan when we got in the car, but we were spending the night at his grandparents in Toccoa so we headed that general direction and ended up following the signs to Moccasin Creek State Park. Which is really not a park so much as a bunch of campsites on a lake. But it's a beautiful area and the drive to the park is really pretty. It reminded me a little of Wisconsin - lots of cows and hills and pretty views.

At Moccasin Creek State Park we rented a canoe and paddled around Lake Burton for about an hour. It was pretty windy so rowing was tough (at least that's what Jamie said. I really just sat in front and dipped my paddle in once or twice to look like I was helping), but it was really nice. There are a lot of pretty houses on the lake and we paddled around and checked those out. Then when we got back, I hopped out first and tried to pull the canoe up on shore. I was doing good, but Jamie couldn't keep his balance and fell out into the lake. Bwahahaha!! He surprisingly was not at all upset with me, mostly because I managed to keep his precious blackberry safe and dry. His clothes, however, stunk like nobody's business. I'm not sure I will ever be convinced to swim in that lake if the water makes a person smell that foul.

The lovely Lake Burton


Jamie - dry and happy

Canoeing duo (I spent a good portion of our time holding the camera up and taking shots of both of us. I think I did a pretty awesome job. This is just one of many fine examples).


Jamie post-swim. No longer dry, but still looking pretty happy.
Right now he's thinking: "She's so lucky she didn't dump my phone in the lake..."

After canoeing we drove around some more and enjoyed the scenery and then headed over to Toccoa. We met up with Arri outside of the gym on campus and she invited me to practice with the girls soccer team. I did and it was fun, but I am definitely old and out of shape and no longer a college athlete. Jamie meanwhile went to hang out with his extended family and then met back up with us for dinner at Arri's house before the volleyball game (which Toccoa won easily). We spent the rest of the night visiting with Jamie's family and then watched the girls and guys soccer teams play on Saturday (girls won, boys lost) before heading back home.

It was nice. It was relaxing. And now it's over and we're back at work :( But our church small group starts back up tonight AND The Office returns on Thursday. So this should be a pretty decent week!