Randomness

I love the rain. I LOVE the rain. It makes me feel like everything is going to be OK; like there will definitely be a tomorrow, because with rain comes new life. Plus, it smells good. Our roof has leaked since last spring. I really cannot afford to redo the whole thing right now with the baby coming. I finally got up there a few weeks ago and patched it good. Today, it's been raining like mad but we're nice and dry in the house. Praise Jesus for the technology of roof patch.

Halloween was a couple of days ago. Isn't Halloween strange? You put on a mask to hide your identity and then you go knock on random doors and you're like, "Yeah, this is my mask. Do you have any candy?" Isn't that bizarre? I decided to research the history behind Halloween. While I couldn't find any connection to the candy, I did find out a bit about the scary masks. Originally, Halloween was a Celtic tradition--and wasn't called Halloween. But it happens when it does, Oct. 31st, because that is generally when the Summer and Fall Harvest turns to the dead of Winter. And, traditional belief was that, at this time, the "veil" between the dead and the living is at its thinnest. Anyway, it eventually spread to other regions and evolved into holidays like All Saints Day, Day of the Dead, and Halloween. So, I get it. But the current tradition, while fun and fine with me, is bizarre.

Was cleaning out the garage today, in order to make room for my work van, as well as my wife's Subaru. I think I'm a pack rat. I've brought home so much in left over finish materials from various job sites, that half of the garage was useless until today. I finally moved it all out to my shop. I also hung up our bicycles--3 of them--which made more room. Our "2 car" garage is sort of lame, though it's the only garage I've ever had. Even when it's tidied up a bit, it BARELY fits 2 vehicles. Well, I'm thankful to have a garage anyway. Certainly better than nothing. And my van appreciates being kept in a warmer, drier environment.

What's with our unborn child? I mean, what is so great about my wife's uterus that he doesn't ever want to leave? Doesn't he know that he's going to have a lot more square footage on the outside? Also, there are a few people who really want to meet him, not the least of which are me and my wife. (Well, technically, she knows him pretty well by now). I wonder what he'll look like. If he has my wife's curly hair, I want him to grow it pretty long--like a big Napoleon Dynamite afro. My wife hates the idea. But I always wanted long hair and my mom was always trying to sneak up on my mullet with her scissors. So, I think I'm going to let this kid have all the hair he wants. I wish I still had lots of hair. I hope I still have a few strands of hair on my head when our kid graduates from high school; I'll be 51!

Went on a bike ride yesterday; likely the last one of the season up Payson Canyon. We're so lucky to have such amazing trails a mere 30 minutes away. It's been a great year for riding. I didn't make it to any of the races I had planned on doing. But I feel like I've added a few more skills and gained some more confidence in my riding and in my bike. My bike kicks ass. I think I should post a picture of it.

I love this time of year. Fall. Leafy. Cool. Colorful. Not dying. Just going to sleep for a few months. As the foliage and trees shed their leaves, we can also shed some old, unnecessary part of ourselves. Simplify ourselves making ourselves better, more efficient. Our country is shedding some old things, hopefully some old ways which only weigh us down now. Here's to hoping America's future will be brighter, more colorful, more joyful, more honest, more loyal to her people, more American.