Equinox, take me away

The summer has finally passed, and with it, another season of trying experiences here in the Old Pueblo. I won't get into the specifics, but suffice it to say my and BeanSS life over the past few months has been a shit storm of epic proportions and I'm happy that autumn is finally here. But enough of that.

On the plus side, it's been an exceptionally good month for bird sightings at home. I hypothesize that poor monsoons (aka "nonsoons") stress the ecosystem, driving migrants away from traditional routes along rivers and further into the water-subsidized habitats in the city. It's not the best thing for birds, but it does increase the diversity of species I can see in or from my yard.

Bike commuting remains a focus. I reached my usual 100-rides per year goal earlier this month and should turn over 1,000 miles pretty soon. My last non-utility ride was the typical meet-Veelz-at-Sweetwater jaunt, only we're both rocking the multi-speed drivetrains these days. My backyard weight lifting is no longer an exercise in heat stroke avoidance and the dogs are getting in on more walks in the cooler temperatures.

Another thing I take as a sign of fall is a reduced number of mosquitoes, but a seeming increase in the aggressiveness of the few that I do encounter. I'm a bit of a bleeding heart. I mourn the many animals I've killed for science or mercy, but I give absolutely no quarter to these blood-sucking, disease-vectoring, nonnative dipterans.

That's enough for now. Stay gold.