It sure looks like Fall out here at the tiki bar – the grass has been cut down to nub and brown in preparation for the fall seeding next week – but man is it freakin’ hot out here! It’s nearly October and we’re still over 100 degrees. This sure has been one long hot summer…

Which reminds me, R.I.P Paul Newman, one of the true all-time greats. I always enjoyed Newman’s movies, my favories being “The Long Hot Summer” (where I fell in love with Joanne Woodward) and “The Sting”. “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” was OK and I didn’t think “The Verdict” was as good as everyone else seems to think, but what do I know?

…Oh, Tracey chimes in to say her own Newman favorites are “Hud”, “Cool Hand Luke”, and his Caeser salad dressings.

What a week to have rented a house on Nantucket – a nor’easter followed by the fringes of a hurricane. I am SO totally jealous of those people right now.

Sure meterological Fall started the other day but around here the season only truly begins when the first 6-packs of Samuel Adams Octoberfest appear at the local Fry’s. The tradition here is to enjoy the very first one in an icy-cold Newport Storm pint glass. Knowing that Hurricane Kyle isn’t far from the Coastal Extreme folks will only make it taste better.

Saw the Presidential debate last night and here’s my quick review: neither Obama or McCain hurt themselves where it counted most: keeping their individual bases intact. I don’t claim to know what Independents think or even look for in candidates, but my sense is that McCain sounded more authoritative on foreign policy and Obama idealistic on the economy. Which one plays better at this time? My sense is that, if things didn’t seem so dire, Obama would have the edge – people would be more willing to give him a spin – but McCain’s experience would be more comfortabloe to those feeling the jitters. But then again, what do I know?

Where does the election stand? I still think it will go down to the wire, with people making up their minds once and for all in the final 2-3 days. The only thing preventing this scenario will be one of the following: a) Sarah Palin fares poorly in her debate against Joe Biden; b) there’s a cataclysmic collapse of the economy; c) a terrorist attack or something very big happens overseas. Chances of one of these things happening between now and election day: 90%.

But again, what do I know?