Today feels a little bit like Christmas. It’s hard to say why. The wind is loud and steady and the sun is bright and yellow and it’s the first really cold day of the year. And by really cold, let’s be clear that I live in California – it was maybe 50 degrees or so. Anyway, last night I pulled my electric blanket out of the closet, and though I am not sure where I packed away my winter clothes, I have decided it is definitely time to find them.
This morning A. and M. and I went to the police bike auction, and then got completely overwhelmed and confused and left before bidding even started. We were pretty sure all the hundreds of people there were going to be bidding on the same 5 bikes, and it turned out that if you missed the viewing period (which we mostly did), then you were kind of out of luck, as otherwise you’d be stuck just listening to meaningless numbers called out from the back of a mass of people.
Anyway, we moved on to the farmer’s market, where I bought potatoes and asian pears and some sort of squash shaped like a swan and we warmed ourselves up with foamy drinks at the espresso stand.
Then A. and I decided to go swimming. We’ve been planning it for a while, but for some reason today – cold and bright and feeling a bit like Christmas – was the day. I just found a swimsuit on sale and have a cap and goggles for the first time since I was a child, and I have to say that the aesthetic of seeing clearly underwater in a warm pool on a cold day was really lovely. The pool is outdoor, by the way. We’ll see how much I love swimming when it is 38 degrees and dark and raining. But for now I am quite impressed with the whole experience and determined to go again tomorrow, even though it left me pretty much wiped out for the day. I’ll gain stamina with time, right? I should mention also, I guess, that I don’t really know how to swim. But one has to start somewhere, and if A. goes with me then at least we can share a lane and I won’t feel bad about being slow or occasionally swimming into her.
In other news, after a late-night phone consultation with my dad A. and I tried to make vegetarian chicken and dumplings, and I do not recommend chickpea flour. FYI.
Anyway, just had sort of a pretty day and wanted to share. Hope everyone is enjoying whatever fall brings them wherever they are. Sharpens your senses up, I think. Makes you feel like you might remember or discover something really important at any moment. Well, at least if you manage to transition without falling into a head cold, in which case everything gets muddled up. =P I am mostly staying clear – bit of a sore throat, but I’m on the offensive.
Love to all of you, as always, Shosha