Growing up in Vegas, I never knew fall.  It’s a running joke that Vegas has two seasons: hot and hotter (har-har).  I’ve since exchanged that one for the good old “If you don’t like the weather in Reno, wait five minutes.”

No, neither of these are very clever or funny.  In fact, I’m not sure why I even wrote them here.  I should just delete them, but oh well.

The point is, Reno has a fall.  And it’s gorgeous.  (If you don’t believe me, take a walk through the university once the leaves have changed).  Trees!  They’re amazing!  I have my job to thank for this recent realization.  But I just never ever realized how beautiful trees are.  My favorite part is when the leaves start to turn from green to yellow to orange to falling.  And it seems like, no matter what happened the year before, they always change before you know it.  You don’t remember WHEN that tree out in front of your office window turned yellow, but you swear it was green just the other day:

one of the beautiful yellow trees, surrounded by greenies, in front of my downtown office

As always, I’m not sure where the summer went, or why I didn’t savor the warm weather while it was here (except that when I look back, I did this year, more than ever), but to me, there’s nothing better than fall.

Needing a coat on the morning drive, but leaving it at work because it’s so nice out; changing into a hoodie immediately after work; heated blankets; sleeping in flannel jammies and those colorful socks my dad bought me for Hanukkah a million years ago;

they're deer jammies until november, when it's okay to wear reindeer jammies

and beautiful days for bike rides to the cupcakery

bike ride + a basket full of cupcakes + the river = a good evening

are all reason I love fall.

I am sad though, because as the weather gets cooler and the days rapidly grow shorter, I’m finding less time to ride my bike.  Which sucks.  But we’re going for a ride tonight, and hopefully at least a few more before it really is too cold.