It took a few weeks, but the cold of late fall has finally decided to arrive.  This has been an unusually pleasant late summer and early fall – in fact, we’ve become quite spoiled.  The temperatures are now in the 30s in the morning and 50s-60s in the late afternoon.  Really, not bad temperatures, but cold compared to our pampered 70s.

Now we just need to start gearing up so we can ride our bikes in colder weather.  Got some gear the other day – here’s hoping we can try it out soon.

By the way, the photo was taken by me with my iPhone after leaving work one day.  What a breath of fresh air to step out of the ER and find this sight waiting for you.

If it’s not the neighborhood squirrels destroying something, it’s the local woodpecker.  This guy has put several holes in our home over the past 2 years.  The latest is the one in the picture shown here.  This hole was created at the point where our television cable enters the master bedroom – 8 feet up the side of the house.  What you see in the picture is the back end of the cable outlet as viewed from outside the house.  That’s right – the woodpecker was all but in our bedroom!

The yellow stuff in the picture is expanding foam from the hole I filled last year.  Little bugger….

A hearty thank you to the fellow brothers and sisters in arms.  I read the other day that a veteran is someone who has handed over a blank check stating “payable in the amount up to and including my life if needed”.  I’m thankful that I did not lose anyone close to the battlefield, however I’m truly grateful for those that did pay the ultimate sacrifice for each of us.

I am proud to be from a family of veterans.  Both of my grandfathers served in World War II.  My father served during Vietnam.  My sister also served for several years in the mid-90s.  During my 12 years in the United States Army, I served in Desert Storm.  One can truly say it’s in our blood.