Let's Pretend It's Fall

This weekend was a pretty Fall-ish weekend minus the not so cold weather; but hey, it's Florida.

So, for Florida, it was a good Fall weekend.

Yesterday, after having some family friends over, our family took a trip to Starbucks where I got (I bet you'll never guess) a pumpkin spice latte (enter surprise face here).

Then, we went to Walmart and picked up several items and frolicked around in the Fall themed and decorations aisle.

Afterwards, we came home and my friend came over and we played a card game while eating warm, dutch apple pie and joking around.

I was also wearing my hiking boots because I had to.

I just had to.

Then we all went to a friend's football game which is always a Fall thing to do.

I have good memories associated with football and Fall.

Now, while it wasn't quite cold, it was cool.

It was a nice evening filled with a few breezes and a fun time.

Today started off with church and then a huge dinner/lunch time and then a nap.

I guess those weren't quite Fall-like activities but they were fun nonetheless.

Then I went to downtown St.Pete with my parents where we dropped my little sister off to Nutcracker rehearsal while we strolled on down to Starbucks to get $3 grande Fall themed lattes and as we did so, we recalled memories of past Falls and planned other fun Fall themed activities.

We also stopped at a local market up there and got some new things to try and I got macarons which I oddly love.

It was a pleasant walk and when we walked in the shade, it felt like it could pass as Fall.

Now, I'm in my room and playing the Harry Potter soundtrack and I lit my pumpkin scented candle and enjoying this moment because these are moments that make me happy.

Today was a good day and this weekend was a good weekend and although Florida doesn't have much of a Fall, I think it all has to do with what you make of it.

It may not have changing leaves and crisp weather, but it still has pumpkins and Fall decorations and football and seasonal coffees and nice walks and memories.

So, let's pretend it's Fall.

Spencer Reid Appreciation Post

There's a fictional character.

His name is Spencer Reid.

And he deserves an appreciation post.

First,

because of his hair.

Well, hair and eyes.

But we're not stopping there.

That's just looks.

 There's also the fact that he works at the FBI and he's insanely smart.

Like INSANELY.

He's basically a walking encyclopedia.

He knows everything.

He's just that awesome.

He has a rather LARGE heart.

He's compassionate and loving.

But he doesn't just base love on looks either.

Even though I don't have pictures for it, I just also want to point out that he's super good with kids.

He also took a bullet for a random stranger once.

Because he's just that nice.

You've got to love a guy who reads.

You just gotta.

He's got a rough past, but it doesn't harden him.

If anything, it makes him more relatable.

And endearing.

He is a bit emotional and sensitive, but not overly.

Just the right amount which makes him understanding.

He's also super cute in sunglasses.

Other fun facts that add to his awesomeness:

He loves coffee.

He values his friendships deeply.

He always wears cute ties that are also always crooked.

There's more, I am sure, but I think that's a good list for now.

Let's also point out that the actor, himself, is quite awesome.

Let's give it up for the one and only; Matthew Gray Gubler.

 Maybe one day I'll find a Spencer Reid.

Maybe not.

We are the ants but ants can carry more than you know

One time I used to be descriptive but then the summer breeze ate up my imagination and my weary bones made me want to use my brain less.

But my pinecone head is growing into a pine tree now instead and life is blooming even though spring is long gone.

Just show me a handful of dust and I'll build you a sandcastle out of it.

Because we are the dreamers, the word shakers, the paintbrushes making art with the colors our eyes soak in and our minds tell us about through the pictures of day to day life.

Let us speak.

Hear us roar.

And stand with me.

No sitting anymore.

No more blank stares.

Get up and stand with me and we can climb those snow covered mountains.

You are real and that is beautiful. Most people aren't and that is tragic.

I want to be authentic; that's where the magic occurs.

I hope you live a life you're proud of...

You know what's great about life?

It's never too late to make changes to it.

You're never past the point of too far gone.

If you find yourself living a life you do not like; don't keep living it that way.

You can make a change.

And even if the change is different and scary to you; just remember that if you don't like your change, you can always change again.

Life is a learning process.

It's meant to be changed and changed and changed again.

I don't think we'll ever know how we're supposed to live it right off the bat.

And how we live it at 8 years old is going to be different from how we're supposed to live it at 16 years old and different from how we're supposed to live it at 22 years old.

But don't get stuck.

Don't ever get stuck in the mentality of thinking the life you are living has to stay the way it is even if you hate it.

Even if you're miserable and think there is no other way.

There's always another way.

In the book "The Outsiders", there are many characters and there is a lot going on and a lot of it sad. But the one character that made me sad the most is always the character Dallas Winston.

If you haven't read this book, I really hope you will sometime.

If you have, well, you know who I'm talking about then.

Anyways, this boy breaks my heart the most because he doesn't care about his life.

He thinks he doesn't really have one and therefore, does whatever he wants.

He thinks he can't be hurt if he doesn't care.

But, the thing is, he does care about this other kid in the book.

And that kid *spoiler alert* ends up dying.

When that kid dies, Dallas goes a bit crazy and starts up trouble and basically gets himself killed.

The book sort of suggests that he knew he was going to get killed and that's kind of what he wanted.

That's what breaks my heart.

I think Dallas Winston didn't believe that he could change.

He didn't believe his life could change.

He was stuck in this rut and his life was meaningless to him.

In the end, he didn't care about living because he didn't think it was worth living.

He caused trouble with the cops and got arrested a lot because he didn't care.

I think everybody else in the book cared.

I think they realized they could change the way they lived their lives if they needed or wanted to.

Some of them didn't think they needed to and were very mistaken by thinking that.

But Dallas, I think he didn't think he could.

Of course, none of this is written in the book and these are just my thoughts so I don't know if it's necessarily true.

But I write this because I think it's important to realize that your life can change and you can change.

If you don't like the path you're on, you can walk a different path.

It's never too late to choose the right one as long as you are living.

Dallas wasted his life.

That's what is so sad to me.

But, you don't have to waste it.

You can live more and you can be more.

Do you hear the violins? They are weeping and you are sleeping.

The taste of charcoal fell upon my tongue whenever the rain drops fell down upon the rooftops. “Why is the light always grey?”, I asked. No one ever answers me. Maybe because grey was what everyone felt when the cold rust sets deep into our bones. “I’ll look away”, I said. “I’ll look away.” That’s the only thing you’re good at anyways my brain told me bitterly. Then, the light turned white like the teeth of my childhood smiles and for once, I looked up. And I thought out loud;

"Maybe I should do this more often."

It's easier to understand things when you let your heart be broken instead of fighting against what is already happening.

Don't you know?

I didn't.

But I do know.

You should too.

I hope you will know soon.

There's art in my soul...hey, what's in yours?

There is art in my soul,

and it comes to life when my fingers tap,

fluid,

flowing,

like tree sap.

Art pours,

it paints,

it dances,

it sings,

it breathes,

it exists,

so,

onlooker,

let

it

be

Let what you see be soaked up in your memories,

let it change your vision,

let it change your perspective,

let it change who you are,

let it shape the way you live.

There is always time to make revisions.

Don't try to ignore the art that like dust attacks,

even if it simply lies still such as clothes upon a rack,

there is more beauty to it than what it is,

beauty in the snap, the crackle, the pop, and the lasting fizz

of

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