Fall! Fall?

So, it's officially Fall now, with the first day of the autumnal equinox being, well, yesterday. Not that you'd know it. Because here in Sacramento, it's hot. Like, 98 degrees. And no, that's not a 1990's-era boy band reference.

So instead of sweltering away in the the valley dust bowl, I went last Friday afternoon to (where else) San Francisco. What a change! As it always is. It was cool. No, cold. I actually put on pants at one point. Um...in place of shorts. I swear I wasn't wandering around in my underwear. Not that that would seem much out of place there. It shouldn't be out of place here, it's so hot. 

But as usual, it was a lovely day by the bay enjoying the fresh coastal air. I hit Ghirardelli Square for my usual Nob Hill Chill, hit the Sports Bar on Columbus Avenue for a $4 happy-hour beer, and generally just tottered around the city trying not to look like a tourist. I shouldn't be, after all the time I've spent there. I'm practically a local. In my mind anyway. I could get used to that weather, anyway.

It was even so cold that on the way back towards my car, after dinner at a sit down pizzeria, I stopped and got a hot chocolate at Starbucks. A large hot chocolate. Quite a step up from my normal medium-sized order. Starbucks, incidentally, has moved into one of the little container shops that have been erected a little ways down from Pier 39. I'm not sure if anyone is aware of it, as there was no one in the store but me.

Unfortunately just a little while later, I spilled almost the entire hot chocolate while trying to get a nice photograph of the antique fishing boats. There's a small window at dusk where the light just pops on your photos, turning things otherwise commonplace in something almost ethereal. And you just have to stop what you're doing and take advantage of it. Even if at great expense. But I blame the wind for my mishap, in all honesty. 

So, the hot chocolate was a loss. I drank maybe a quarter of it before The Accident. A seagull made off with the lid. I have no idea what he intended to do with it. One man's trash is another bird's treasure, apparently. The cup, I salvaged for the nearest trash can.

And the walk of shame back to my car was otherwise uneventful. Actually, I don't think anyone actually saw me spill it. Except for a homeless man camped out on the boardwalk. He muttered something incomprehensible to me. I didn't stop to try and interpret. 

It was dark by the time I started for home - the downside of the fall season is its increasingly shortening days. It's now dark when I get up at 6pm, and dark long before Connor's bedtime at 8:30pm. And hot in-between. But we did get some rain at the beginning of last week. Yes! Actual moisture from the sky! It does in fact exist, and has not fallen into the realm of legend. At least that is a sign, of sorts, that the Fall is nigh. Hopefully, just around the corner. 

If nothing else, I'm so ready for the daytime temperatures to drop below 90. Where are you Fall!