The farm (yes, we actually have them in Gilbert!) down the street has started their Halloween / pumpkin festival. It just seems weird to me to see all those pumpkins on bales of hay amidst corn stocks and families are out in 80-90 degree temperatures wearing shorts and t-shirts and sunglasses. I mean, I come from a place where in October you’re thinking about frost on the pumpkin and a nip in the air and colorful signs all around that fall is coming. The only change in color around here that I can see is my pool going from clear to slightly green after all the rain and crap Tuesday’s storm threw into it.

Of course, you can find October here in Arizona if you want to drive to it – 2-3 hours north of here in Prescott and Flagstaff is just like driving to New Hampshire to do some leaf peeping. Tracey and I are planning on doing that in a couple of weeks – maybe not to Flagstaff, but perhaps to Prescott there’s this great little hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant that serves pretty damned good enchiladas and margaritas.

I think it’s a sign of the economy that, unlike last year when there were 3-4 houses in our subdivision all decked out for Halloween, there are none – zip, zilch, nada – with decorations up this year. Can’t say I can’t blame them. Maybe it’s just that everyone is angry, disenchanted, and fearful about the way this country is headed. I’ve talked with the most liberal of liberals and even they’re just as angry as Republicans and independents. And that I lay right on the doorstep of President Obama. Rather than appeal to the better angels of our nature, he’s polarized this country by setting one class or group of Americans against another almost incessantly since he took office. As a result, people everywhere are worn out, tired of all the bickering and bad feelings, and sick to death of what’s going on in Washington.

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Pool temp: 75 degrees