Don't Fall Behind

Well, we're here again, aren't we? Has it really come and gone? I can't even bring myself to type the words...but nevertheless, here they are: summer is over. And with that stale and stagnant statement come promises of a less enjoyable lifestyle. But, I'm forced to ask why? Why does the fall always catch such a bum rap? Fall certainly isn't the worst season of all- that, without a doubt, is winter, and that's another blog on another transitional day. No, fall is more like a country dirt road than the desolate white dessert of winter. The road can be lonely if you put your head down and just truck along, but if you take a look around and embrace the changing journey, you'll find lots of fun things are still happening. Your summer dreams of months packed solid with entertainment are not dead. Here are some of the many redeeming qualities on which you can focus your attention to keep your spirits high as the temperature plummets.

First and foremost, sports are alive and well. Football is about to kick off, which means fantasy fans across the country are all gearing up for the season. Who's going to be the best sleeper pick? Will Brandon Marshall stop complaining and start playing up to his potential? How will Cutler do in Chicago? How will Orton do in Denver? Will Forte and Slaton build off their stellar rookie seasons? or will they plateau like so many other rookie sensations. Will Moreno be a pro, or just another college stud gone average player? Although summer offers great weather to play football, for those people in the autumn of their athletic careers, fantasy football is the only place to live out your dreams of making it big on the gridiron.

Baseball is still in full swing as well. The beginning of fall means the playoffs and the World Series are just around the bend. And even though my Mets are long out of the picture, I still love the thrill of baseball in October. The smell of falling leaves mixed with pine tar, grass stains, beer, and peanuts-it's a potpourri of America's finest I can't help but enjoy.

Holidays, too, are at a premium in the fall. Labor Day has just passed giving us the opportunity to catch up on some much needed time for fun, and leaving us with a shortened work week.

For those party lovers and miss-ers of the all-American college rager, Halloween is coming up, and even though the weather is getting colder and colder, something tells me the outfits will continue to get hotter and hotter. It's a phenomenon I can't explain, but then again, I'm not complaining. Halloween was once my least favorite holiday, now I wait in anticipation for it all year. Forget those summer parties, sweating out on the roof- give me wacky costume parades and a chance at the unthinkable. That's when the real fun begins.

But if that's not your slice of pie, Thanksgiving is there to round it all out with some good, wholesome fun- games of touch football, time spent with loved ones, and the best cooking mom can offer.

So for all of you moping around these early days of fall, cheer up! and think about all the fall has in store. Forget about summer. It's over, it was hot, and I'm sure it was fun, but it wont be back for a long, long time. This is the beginning of something new, and what does that always call for? A party. So quit kicking those leaves around the backyard and crack open a can of spiked cider. It may be getting colder, but remember, the only way to stay warm is to keep moving fast!