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Fall has always been my most favorite time of year. The days are still warmer than I like but the evening air is cool and brisk. As an added treat the past two night have brought not only a gentle, if brief rain, but thunder storms.

Topaz Lake

Tonight, locals were treated to lightning as well. Look eastward, you can see the dark, foreboding sky and you just know Kennedy Meadows is having some rough weather. The change in weather put a welcome damper on weekend hoopla.

If you plan to be out and about after dark, remember to pack a sweater. If you forget, the Twain Harte Pharmacy carries sweaters, jackets and much more — just remember they close at 7:00 p.m., maybe even earlier on Sundays and holidays. (Call for hours and directions (209) 586-3225.)

Thunderstorms are the one thing I missed since moving from Michigan to California. If the strong winds and lightning continues, we could experience sporadic power outages. The power surged while we were ordering dinner at the Twain Harte Pizza Factory tonight, but it came right back on again. It was off long enough to reboot the computer. Time to hunt down those candles; it never hurts to be prepared.

It’s currently 61° and the landscape appears to almost glow because of the recent rains. Be sure to get outside and enjoy the cooler weather. During a thunderstorm electronics should be turned off — unplug them if possible.

Related articles

• Motherlode Area Calendar of Events (localhs.com)
• Eastern Sierra Nevada Fall Colors (sierravisionsstock.com)
• Fall Colors of Nevada City (www.sierranevadageotourism.org)

I am not depressed — really I’m not. I think I’m more frustrated, no irritated really. I guess I should preface this installment with, if you are having a really good day, don’t even bother reading this post.

Anyone who knows me very well, knows that fall is my favorite time of year. At least it normally is — now I’m not so sure. Summer is so very hot and I hate the heat but even more than that, I hate the droves of people who make their way up the hill to destroy my peace and tranquility. In past years, I’ve always considered it a minor annoyance but this year was worse.

I’d be curious to see how income faired for the Twain Harte Market this year, compared to last year. People seemed to be coming out of the wood work. It was crazy this summer. Fall is the off season, a time to unwind, enjoy the wildlife and button things down, in preparation for winter.

Last year, the house across the street was sold and the new owners spent the entire fall, cutting and sawing, making repairs and upgrades to their newest project. Then came the paving trucks, it was hell dealing with that distracting relentless noise. I was really looking forward to enjoying a nice peaceful fall but I can kiss that goodbye.

Just a couple weeks ago they pulled down the house around the corner from us. This entire week I’ve had my tranquility broken by the constant buzz of the saw. There doesn’t appear to be any end in sight. I can’t help but wonder if I’ll ever be able to enjoy my delightful surroundings.

Last fall, I ended up getting the flu for the first time in many years. I was so bad off, I spent three-weeks bedridden. It took more than three months to recover from that illness. This time I’ve caught some sort of respiratory problem. I’ve been drowning for the past two months and to make matters worse, the change in elevation is intolerable, so I’ve been forced to stay home much of the time.

As if all that were  not enough, I decided it was time to get the car ready for winter. I made the obligatory list of items that needed to be checked. We were hoping to get another couple of years out of our car, only to find out that the transmission is failing.

The thought of car shopping is more than I can bare right now. I put it right up there with getting a root canal. Not my idea of a good time. Yeah, sure it’s nice to drive around after all the searching, haggling and check lists.

On the bright side, I am starting to feel better. I think I’ve decided to quit smoking. I can’t help but think all this hacking and sickness didn’t start until Philip Morris switched over to the new FSC (Fire Safe Cigarettes). I am not alone, a quick Google search shows thousands of people up in arms over the new papers.

Just one more reason to resent our over-reaching power-hungry government leaders. I hate the intrusions into my life. Gosh, am I even allowed to say that any more? We are living in treacherous times and they are not getting any better anytime soon.

I promise I’ll have something good to write about next time. How is your fall shaping up?