Fall in Houston

When you live in this part of the country, I take it that 70 degrees qualifies as autumn. So I acquiesce. I did not adorn myself in the full fall look: sweater, jeans, boots with a heel — but I did wear tennis shoes with my cropped pants and a three-quarter sleeve Tshirt.

The weather is lovely. Perfect. It was 50 this morning at the bus stop; yesterday was only in the 60s (so I was outfitted in fall finery, boots included). I love the slightly cooler temps, the slight nip in the air mornings. The swimming pool is definitely off limits; you'd have to much braver than I to touch that water. But the hot tub is a different story ... I love fall (or whatever facsimile of it we get here). I love jacket weather with sunshine; I like to wear long sleeves and jeans, leather jackets but no hats and gloves. I think I am going to like this part of the year.

And I think I will love this about Houston; I am happy to bid snow farewell. Forever; we can visit Colorado if necessary.

We checked out First Church yesterday, down in the museum district. It's only 30 minutes from here. Northwoods was 45 minutes; Northwest was 20 or 25. I think this is a fair trade off. The church is older, well-established, with over 500 members, a well-run youth group. We liked the people at Northwest, but the youth group was not well organized, and the RE program wasn't what the girls wanted. The service was good, and most importantly, Alison is happy. Emerson apparently is also well run, lots of great stuff for kids, but they are so together that they don't necessarily participate in the Houston cluster youth activities, and that is important to Alison. Yesterday she said she actually prefers the First Church youth group to Northwoods. Sounds like things are progressing the way they should.

Plus, church in the museum district means that we can turn Sundays into outing days. Yesterday meant a trip to the IMAX at the Museum of Natural Sciences. Enjoyed by all, it was a movie on ancient Greece. Lots of options for future outings: the zoo? MFAH? Children's Museum? The possibilties abound.

My work — the paid kind — is mostly done. I think I have turned in my last stuff for the fall magazine, so now I have a couple of weeks off, save for some PR duties — lunch this week, for example. Eating lunch I can handle.

The new season is holding lots of promise. With each day I try just a little harder to feel as if this is truly my home. Progress. The steps I take are infinitesimal, but measurable none the less.

Here's to the change in the weather; may it mean a change for me as well.