Well- according to Kendra Adachi, at least! Her Fall Playbook covers September, October and November, and I’m here for it.
I’ve been feeling incredibly scattered lately… I blame this guy.
Well, whose idea was it to get a kitten, anyway? Mine. All mine. I’m enjoying every chaotic minute, but today- Wednesday, my day off work- I decided it was time to pull it together. I took myself to Starbucks with my planner and Fall Playbook.
You may remember that SHU gave me all four of Adachi’s seasonal playbooks. I enthusiastically began the summer one, and then never referred to it again- so it was an epic fail. But I like the idea of it, so I decided to tackle the fall book, but disregard the prompts that don’t work for me, and customize it to my own use.
One thing that DID work was my “Summer TBR.” I read almost every book on it, with the exception of The Ministry of Time (migrated to my fall list) and How to Read a Book, which I changed my mind and decided not to read after all. These are by no means the ONLY books I’ll read this fall… it’s just a list of books I’m interested in and want to prioritize.
I also thought about my running. My big, main race will be on my birthday, March 21st (I’ll be turning 60- EGADS- and will be running 60 miles!!! Er, hopefully). But I need something between now and then, and I’m pretty sure it will be this:
I’m not sure I like the photo- is this supposed to convince me to run this race? Am I going to be attacked by a panther??? But it fits in with my schedule. Having tentatively picked this race, I can organize my running more, and figure out where I want to be with my long runs each month.
Lastly, I’m thinking about my trip up north to visit my son! He reports that there are FOUR bookstores within walking distance of his house. I want to visit every single one!!! He also says that everything is so expensive, he can’t believe it. Well yes- Chicago is going to be more expensive than Waco, Texas!
I’m planning to work two Sundays in September and two in October, to earn extra money which I will then spend with wild abandon on the trip! I want to buy books, take my son out for dinner and go to Trader Joe’s (ALSO WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF HIS PLACE!!!) to stock him up with food- all without worrying or feeling guilty about how much it costs.
I feel a little more like myself, now that I’ve set some intentions. And I’m super excited for the next few months- it’s my favorite time of the year, even though we won’t see “fall” weather down here until… well, possibly never, ha ha. Sometimes we have a disappointingly warm winter- but we can start hoping for a slight cooldown around the end of October.
Are you excited for fall? Are you doing any specific fall planning?
Top photo by Marilee and The Sea on Unsplash
17 Responses
I love fall. It is hands down my favourite season.
Like you, I have been feeling SO scattered. Especially the last few weeks where we didn’t have any set plans but the kids were still off school. But today is officially the First Day of School and I have said goodbye to both my kids and now I am ready to get my planner out and get on top of things!!!!
I’m so excited for you to go explore with Paul in a new location. Sticker shock sucks; it is crazy how much more expensive certain places are than others. I’m sure you’ll carve out some new favourites in terms of cafes for your Earl Grey and bookstores.
And I can see how a new kitten would throw everything a little off kilter, especially as the other cats adjust to having a new feline in town!
Elisabeth, that’s the best feeling- when the kids go to school and you can finally have time to yourself! I’ll bet the house is nice and quiet. I hope you’re having some lovely fall weather!
Once school starts, it’s fall. I am loving the cooler weather, and I saw a tree with a few orange leaves on it last night, so the colors are starting.
Having a baby animal in the house is adorable but so disruptive. For the first few months that we had Doggo, she would lose her little puppy mind and basically go crazy at night. It’s called “witching hour” – the witching part is correct, the hour part is not. There were a lot of tough nights back then.
My fall bucket list is all about biking and hiking! Hubs and I have a few more segments of the bike trail left to do, and then it’s hike, hike, hike. I want to do all of the trails at Mohican state park (the place with the ladder on the trail), go back to New River Gorge in WV, and take on Red River Gorge in KY. Travel wise, I’m going to NS in ONE WEEK AND ONE DAY!!!!! and I”m hoping to make a mid west trip as well. TBD.
YESSSSSSSS to the plan to work a few extra days and then make it rain on your CHI trip!!!! Also yes to the 50k training run for your 60 mile race!!!
i know that kittens are about 100 times easier than puppies! But he’s still a rambunctious little boy and into everything. Last night we closed the bedroom door to keep all cats out (which is the ultimate goal) and he was mewing sadly at 5 am. But- I did sleep well until then!
You are going to have the best fall ever! Gah, I cannot wait to hear all about Nova Scotia.
I’m excited for fall weather ( 44°F this morning!! Bring a sweater to Illinois with you!)
The good thing I’m planning for – hosting two German exchange students for three weeks. They will go to the high school with my son during the day, Then I’ll be chauffeur and plan fun things to do. This is not my Forte, but I’ll figure some things out. ( apple orchard on the list….) The menu will challenge me, as one is vegetarian, but four of my adult kids are, so they’ll send me recipes.
Fifty miles? Being chased by a puma/cougar would certainly improve your time!
Have fun planning your running schedule!
Ha ha… yes, maybe I’ll finally run faster! And… you are definitely a trooper. You have a lot on your plate as is, AND you’re hosting two exchange students??? I’m sure it will be fun, and exhausting. Good luck with it!
How exciting to have another race to look forward to! When I did my first ultra in preparation for an even longer ultra last year, I knew things were getting serious haha! I’m currently planning the same for my upcoming 125 miler in May — I’m signed up for a 60K in January but I need to find something closer to race day too.
I feel the same way about fall! I’m excited for it but it still feels so far away. Though it has actually been not quite as hot here this week — only in the 90s — and we’re supposed to get rain the next couple of days, plus the low temps have been in the 70s which has made my morning runs more pleasant, so it’s giving me hope that fall is actually coming!
125 miles!!! Will that be a distance PR for you? And yes- I guess I’ve come a long way in the last couple years. 50K started off being my big dream race, and now it’s just a “training run” for the real one.
Only southerners can understand how “only in the 90s” makes sense. But- if your morning runnings have been 70s with low humidity, that’s pretty nice! Fall is definitely coming- just not as soon as we would like.
My current distance PR is 52 miles so yes, the 125 will be a huge new PR! It seems overwhelming to think of how long it is so I try not to do that hahaha!
I have 3 sets of aunts and uncles that live in Venice, FL! I got to see all 3 of them last weekend at my uncle’s memorial. That is an interesting race photo, but the coloring of the cat sort of makes me think of Foxy so maybe it’s a sign??
I can see how prices are much higher in Chicago, especially the affluent area of Chicago he lives in, compared to Waco! COLA really differs across the nation! Of course the places I most want to live have the highest COLA – go figure. That is awesome that there is so much that is walking distance from where he lives. That is the ideal kind of neighborhood for me! Our is pretty walkable with grocery stores, the library, Starbucks, and a few restaurants. But he’s in an even more urban area so has access to so much!
The kids are both back in school (hooray!!) and it is very fall-like outside this week. I actually had to wear tights with my dress today! It will warm back up next week, though. I’m not quite ready for such cool temps! This fall I’m looking forward to going to the pumpkin event with the boys at the zoo. I also love going for scavenger hunt walks when people have their Halloween decorations up. I make a list of 5 things for them to find and it makes the walks extra fun. I’m also looking forward to my 10 mile race which is about 10 days away!
I am dying with jealousy of the four bookstores in walking distance! I know, I don’t live in a big city, but it’s pretty much a bookstore desert around here. Makes me sad.
So glad you’re putting the playbooks to use!!!
I’m just hoping for NO HURRICANES (or even close calls that close school etc).
And, WALKING distance to TJs sounds insanely amazing, I am jealous!
I am the opposite of excited about fall, to be honest. I am wearing a dress and a cardigan and I’m cold and I’m so upset about the cooler weather. I’m just not ready. BUT. I did just put your birthday in my calendar. It’s the first blogger birthday I’ve added to my calendar, but I’m going to try to be better about including them and sending out cards. Yay! That IS exciting in my world.
It has been unseasonably cool here for end of summer, until yesterday which was quite warm again but with lower humidity. I desperately need to get organized as well, but everything I start in this area I just forget about – I’m going to have to start leaving notes stuck all over the house for myself like movie amnesiacs.
I loved The Ministry of Time. The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell? Ye Gods, it is beautifully, beautifully written but I almost needed therapy after finishing it. Have kleenex ready, or perhaps an IV.
Yay for son visits with bookstores nearby!
It’s cool that you have the option of working extra to make extra… And I love your plans for your visit–it all sounds great. Bookstores! Paul time! TJ’s!
(We have a TJ’s within walking distance, but we rarely walk because it’s just too far to carry stuff home.)
I do not do any fall planning. Aside from what tailgates I will attend and when parents’ weekend is at whatever college and what nights we have volleyball games – all 3 girls play volleyball rn. I’m dying at the cougar or whatever – yikes, does that make me want to run? I mean, I guess I’d want to run AWAY from that scary animal with sharp teeth.
I am excited for fall! Mostly because I’ll get to enjoy some fall-like weather when we’re in London the first week of October. That will be such a great change from this heat and humidity. And I love having all of my fall decor + fall candles out!
You have a great fall planned. Mine is going to be BUSY since I have the London trip and then when I come home, it’s time for my move! AHHH!