Autumn really arrived as I left my office for the last time today. An impatient wind and sharply colder air. On our drive home the skies were a leaden landscape, the kind of brushstroked shades of charcoal that herald winter. Against the dull gray of the sky, the brake lights glowed vivid red. It's been a cool fall, but the trees are late to change this year.

I'm heavy lidded and heavy headed and I have a miserably busy week coming up. All-day meetings tomorrow and Wednesday, evening meeting tomorrow night and all-morning meeting Thursday. All that and a head cold. I am, predictably, already in my jammies. So rather than just missing the posts (and feeling all of the ensuant guilt), I'm giving myself a bye-week. Taking a pass on posting until I get through this quagmire. I have some posts bottled up, but all of the October-themed entries (like an Oktoberfest party and our visit to Busch gardens - where we learn that Callum was really born into the wrong family) will have to wait until nearer November. Catch you on the flip side.