A Colorful World

Nature is beautiful. During the fall, it brings the countryside engaging colors, pleasing smells and breathtaking scenery.

I love how the leaves choose the day that summer fades into fall (despite the actual calendar day). It's the day the leaves change from greens and browns to oranges, reds and yellows, and when the clouds and fog lightly cover the mountain tops. The day when it becomes a little bit tougher to exercise outside, because the cool air makes it harder on your lungs and muscles.

There are times when I'm walking around outside that I kick myself for not having a camera on me. But when I do, there's no doubt I'll take a million pictures, trying to get the perfect shot of the prettiest trees. My favorites are the ones that are completely covered in vibrant, red leaves, and the ones that are partially yellow and red. Trees like these make a two-hour drive to the mountains or a run around the park more appealing.

Fall air has the best smell, too. Especially after it rains, which it has been a lot lately in Atlanta. The smell reminds me of bonfires, camping trips and holidays of the past, and excites me for those to come.

I find myself trying to get outside as much as I can this time of year, despite my wanting to snuggle up by a fire, because I know that soon winter will be here. Although winter brings beauty of its own, the smell will be completely different, and the leaves will be no more. Plus, I can just snuggle up by a fire then -- when it's too cold to play outside. Hopefully this year the south will actually get some snow. Then maybe we can follow up a colorful autumn with a white winter -- instead of a brown, dead one.

Some feel that beauty is hard to find in ordinary places, but I say you just have to know how to look at it, and distinguish it from the rest.

In the words of Grey Livingston, "Beauty comes as much from the mind as from the eye."

Football Frenzy

Crisp, autumn air is here, and that can only mean one thing. Football season. I don't know what it is, but there's something about this time of year that brings a smile to my face. Maybe it's the gathering of friends over cold beverages, or the dressing up in the colors of your alma mater. Whatever the case, whatever the team, whatever the score, the weekends never fall short of amazing.

I've only sat in three SEC stadiums thus far -- Jordan-Hare, Sanford, and Neyland (Auburn, Georgia and Tennessee consecutively for those who don't know). The weird thing is, I attended a game at Sanford before I was in college, Jordan-Hare all throughout college and Neyland once I'd graduated from college. Even so, no matter the stadium, or really even who I sat next to, the experience was unforgettable.

Tailgating is an experience all it's own. I'm sure it's the same with any school, but there's something to be said when you walk into that overcrowded amphitheater on Auburn's campus, where the music's blasting and the beer flows like the Chattahoochee. When you look around and see those orange and blue tents, surrounded by people and animals alike, you can't help but love being on the plains.

And then the band starts to play. Everyone gets silent, and you feel the goosebumps rise on your arms as you start to jump and scream the fight song. This, besides academics of course, is what college is all about. Sitting in that stadium with your best friends around you, cheering on your favorite football studs.

Then, by the time it becomes freezing outside, even in the south, the season comes to a close. But we all go on with our lives, and start the countdown until the first game of next year.

The best part about football is that it never gets old. Even after college is over; when you go to the games, it's like you never left. The teams always surprise you, and there's new players and new rankings every year. And the match-ups are just as exciting as the season before. I've come to realize that I will probably forever attend Auburn football games.

Fact: I love football.

Fact: You may not, and I'm sorry.

Warning: There will probably be additional, and possibly more specific, blogs about Auburn football.

So, two words can sum up basically this entire blog, but what fun would that be? I'll just add them now ... War Eagle.