Autumn is such a weird time of year for me. I get very homesick for what I consider real fall weather -- interesting skies, rain, cold winds, leaves changing colours -- that sort of thing. Northern California is not completely doomed for that, as we do get some rain and cool weather, but the last week or so has been far too sunshiney for my taste. We also get fog, which I never had in Oklahoma, and which almost makes up for the lack of changing leaves.

This is also the time of year I start thinking about Christmas, and thus by extension about Catholicism. You can see why The Sparrow hit me at the right time, I'm sure. I was already thinking wistful thoughts about Christmas and Advent and cold weather and snow. Going to mass on Sunday was amusing, although it wasn't as useful an experience as I'd hoped. Despite thinking about Daylight Savings Time for several days before the actual experience I forgot to reset my clocks, and ended up quite confused for all of Sunday morning. Hopefully this coming weekend will be better.

Shopping with Rachel (my other Sunday activity) was extremely nice. I bought a lot of clothing -- three tunic tops (purple, dark grey, blue-grey), two leotards (red, black), an excessively fuzzy sweater (brown), and a broomstick skirt (burgundy). Rachel bought two of the fuzzy sweaters, both in black, and a sweatshirt. After we'd completed the acquisition phase we sat around at Cinnabon, eating too much sugar and talking until the last possible moment, then swooping back to Temple Square to drop Rachel off at Trip's, where Jeremy was lying in wait. They went off to Berkeley; Trip, Tara and I went to dinner, after summoning a Jim. Nice evening, all in all.

I've finished reading Polgara the Sorceress, borrowed from Rachel. Utter mind-candy, but enjoyable. Technically fairly flawed, but I didn't expect a tightly-woven story. I'm definitely glad I read it.

Much preparation to do prior to this weekend. Earl arrives on Wednesday. Czr and Rachel and I are going shopping on Tuesday night to try to work out Halloween costumes. I need plastic pants. Where on earth am I going to find them? Plus I need to send out coherent directions to my birthday party, which is happening on Saturday night.

OryCon in two weeks! Yay!