But I'm not ready to wear shoes!

It's November.  Where did the first ten months of the year go?

I actually like November.  I got married in November; my second child was born in November, and Thanksgiving is in November -- all events and occasions to celebrate and enjoy.

What I don't like about November is the weather.  The blue sky days of October are past; November's skies are often gray and gloomy.  The chance for a warm day (over 50 degrees) is pretty slim.  Almost all of the trees have lost their leaves, and the ones that remain are dull and brown.  Really about the only color one can count on in November comes from containers of hardy mums and the few pumpkins and gourds that manage to survive after Halloween.

Tonight I went shopping at Target (where else?) and got more than a few odd looks from people as I walked around the store in my soccer slides, sans socks.  At least my toenails are painted an appropriately fall-themed orangey bronze.  I know I should surrender and start wearing real shoes with socks, but I can't quite give up the hope that the weather won't be so cold and the sun will shine warmly enough for me to pretend that winter's not right around the corner.