Take advantage of unseasonably warm autumn days (11/07/05)

I have a bad case of cabin fever today. It is all I can do to stay in this chair and type while there are crunchy leaves to shuffle through and crisp fall air to inhale.

Sometimes I think we are all trying to self-destruct. Our jobs force us to sit in front of mind-numbing machines that are prone to taking “breaks” and freezing up at inopportune moments. If our bodies were as reliable as computers then the human race would have died out a long time ago.

What we need are jobs that enable us to stay inside in inclement weather while allowing us to work outdoors when the weather is glorious. We need work that requires us to use our muscles as well as our minds. In other words, get me out of here!

OK, I’m much better now. Did you ever have a day like this? Of course you have. We all have days when we would rather be playing than working. It is easy to work inside on cold, drizzly days. I am extremely grateful that I no longer have to go out in the rain as part of my job. I have no problem staying indoors when the weather is nasty. However today is one of those times that it takes every bit of will power I have to stay in this chair and do whatever it is that I get paid to do.

The skies are brilliant blue with wispy white clouds. There is just enough chill in the air to remind me that today is unseasonably warm. The newspaper has been threatening high heating bills for the past several months therefore I am very grateful for every day that we can open the windows and turn the heat off.

When I get home tonight I plan to take a walk then if it is still warm maybe I can do some last minute weeding. I usually wait until spring to clean up the garden and flower beds as I think denuded soil is a bad thing. The last time I pulled all the thistles out of the flower beds I ended up covered in seeds from the golden rod and white snakeroot that attacked my jacket. I even brought a few lady beetles into the house with me for the cat to play with.

I gave up mowing the grass a long time ago. I have never liked mowing. I don’t like the loud noise the mower makes and the vibration in the handle is irritating. The last two times I ran the lawn mower I broke it. The first time a wheel fell off and the second time the handle fell apart. It is by mutual agreement that I don’t even attempt to cut the grass anymore.

So I content myself with piddling around in the flower beds and the gardens. There is always trash to be picked out of the bushes and a thistle or two to be removed from the red and yellow gaillardia. It is more of an excuse to be outside than anything else.

It won’t be long before my work day is over and I can get out in the fresh air. The best thing about being outside is seeing all the other people who are out and about taking advantage of the last few wonderful days of fall before the rain and cold sets in.

When the weather changes for the worse my idea of escape will be a new book and a cup of hot chocolate. Until then I intend to take advantage of the wonderful weather while it lasts.

Please note that this was written last week when it was nice out and not today when it is dreary. Today is a day when I have no problem at all staying inside.[[In-content Ad]]