Signs of Summer's End

Last night I noticed a tickle in my throat, and today I clearly have the cold that's going around. I won't blame anyone (though I may cast a suspicious glance at excessor), and it's been almost a year since I had one, so no complaints.

Meanwhile, it's cold in the morning and I have to wear sweats to stay warm. My summer outfit of either nothing or flimsy shorts and sandals won't be reappearing until July next. I no longer break a sweat at the gym (that's the good part of winter.) I've shut off the solar heat to the pool and cut the filter pump time down to 6 hours a day; cold water means using much less chlorine, and I can relax my vigilance against the threat of algae for another year. Soon the winter storm winds will blow tons of pine needles and leaves into the pool, and I'll be spending time removing them -- the entire water surface can be covered by a mat of needles after a storm.

We're expecting to take bids on replacement windows over the next few weeks. The high cost won't be recovered from heating bill savings, but the reduction in noise (from rattling windows and the occasional airplanes taking off from Moffett Field) will be enough to make it worthwhile.