season change (today, 2010)

I have bad news... for me, at least.

Somehow, my computer reloaded its iPhoto or something and my thousands of pictures over the last year or so are missing. Completely MIA. I talk about it in this way because it happened a week ago, and part of me clings to this tiny glimmer of hope that it isn't all erased. It is heartbreaking, in a way. In times like these, I wish I knew more about computers. Maybe all I need to do is simply hit some combination of "control + squiggly icon + fn"? Probably not. I don't even know the terminology...

I thought about this page twice today. This could mean a few things: 1. it has been forever since I posted anything of substance, which is embarrassing when you consider its name; 2. I thought about it in the way you remember an old friend who you knew so well for a short amount of time before he disappeared: fond but fleeting good memories; or 2. fall is approaching (well, here, as of this minute actually), which means winter follows. I always write more in the winter. Here's hoping.

Speaking of fall, as I write this, I hear rhythmic breeze against my window and I can't wait to see what awaits me when I leave for work tomorrow. Leaves are undoubtedly blowing from their stems and scattering in a matted mess across the cobblestones, along with the ceaseless rain. Fall in Minnesota always brings a monsoon season of sorts, but I haven't seen flooding like this in quite some time. Today, as I saw the river water rise hourly, I was reminded of the way catastrophe (or at least, impeding doom) can bring together communities. A few hours ago, in the dark, I leaned against my railing and watched the above scene as the sky was dark and the water even higher. Townspeople, high school kids, and college students walked across the bridge, stopping with frequency to take pictures. One brave student, along with his friend, propped up a tripod and rolled up his jeans to wade in the water. He didn't get far -- at this point, the water is coming in waves over the stone wall. The strobe-light effect of so many camera flashes made me realize how big a deal this must be. The riverside bar, Froggy's, was sandbagged at 4PM today and that probably didn't last until now. Sadly, tonight is Thursday night karaoke at Frog's. The painful irony.

It is also painfully ironic that after three solid days of travel (including two consecutive 5:40am flights followed by some harrowing hydroplane driving), I am still awake. Adrenaline keeps me awake on nights like this, but from what? I'm not sure. Fall travel season causes me to wake up in the middle of the night and stare into the darkness, wondering what I forgot to arrange for a flight, car rental, high school visit, college fair, interview... the list grows. Even as I wrote this, I logged onto my work email and wrote myself a reminder email for a call I need to make in the morning. Is this symptomatic of a workaholic, or just the excitement of this season of work? I will come to the realization as soon as it's over for another year.

However monotonous, cold, and damp the transition into the colder months in Minnesota may be, I appreciate the side-effect of coziness. I love summer for wonderful, lively days outside, but in more ways than one, this raw cold weather makes me feel alive.