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2 NOV 04: FALL FALL-IAGE

(BLOGGER'S NOTE: We promised a politics-free blog for Election Day, and the Adam Johnson story seems too close for us to mention it. Come see us Wednesday about that - and we'll have Big Blog Question results then as well.)

Monday felt more like May 1 than November 1 -- but it certainly is starting to look like fall. A sunrise jog on the Riverwalk found one small area near the Trade Center covered with tiny leaves. I'm not sure which comes first there - the burning away of the dew, or the blowing away by work crews.

It takes a bit of caution for a jogger like me to head down Broadway at this time of year - because leaves can be spread across the sidewalk in the Historic District. If residents don't have time to clear the path, maybe they can tip a prison inmate to do the job for them.

My concern about leaves on the sidewalk is that they might be slick, and a runner like me might slip from a lack of traction. Or then again, maybe I'm getting so old and my pace is so slow that it doesn't really matter....

Look down along the Riverwalk and you might see leaves - but looking up Monday, you might have had a surprise. Holiday wreaths already are hanging above the walk downtown! Are Columbus State University art students that bored?

I'm assuming the wreaths went up along the Riverwalk before Monday morning - which means Christmas wreaths were in place before Halloween. Why don't we put these two big days together, and use a wreath to hang a witch or something?

A few people told me Monday this start of the Christmas emphasis "gets earlier and earlier" every year. Well, perhaps it only seems that way. Years ago, the downtown Atlanta Macy's store started putting up a Christmas display in mid-September. Sadly, I can't remember if the economy was slumping that year or not.

The change of seasons was especially on display at pharmacies Monday. The Halloween candy was marked down 25 to 50 percent. The Christmas candy already was on shelves - probably with the same expiration date, only costing twice as much.

(At least the Eckerd Drug store on Wynnton Road realized something was missing - and had ONE stand mentioning Thanksgiving....)

E-MAIL UPDATE: This note came in response to Monday's pop quiz - but we don't think it falls under Election Day politics:

Speaking of romantic rumors.... I think I saw that pretty mystery woman Bobby Peters is supposed to be dating about 2 weeks ago on his front porch. She looked like she could be a model or something. She had long brown hair and was extremely beautiful and we could tell she wasn't there on business. I
wonder what she sees in Peters?! But it definitely was NOT Linda Pierce.

P. Owenby

Thanks for the tip, P. These are the times when I wish I could give away free web-cams to every reader....

Are we absolutely sure this mysterious woman wasn't at Judge-Elect Peters's house "on business?" After all, they could have been doing some estate planning - joint estate, in this case.

(Long brown hair, huh? Hmmmm - I think that eliminates Amy Giuliano....)

What does this mysterious woman see in Judge-Elect Bobby Peters? It could be many things. The man has a great sense of humor, a fun personality - and perhaps before long, a pretty good city pension.

Now other selected shorts, from a Monday warm enough to wear some:

+ Rick Boren became Columbus Police Chief, after 33 years on the force. Some of us can remember when he went by "Ricky" Boren. If he was in Russell County law enforcement, he still might have that name....

+ Columbus Police warned three recent homicides could be related -- and they advised people NOT to offer rides to people they don't know. At last! I can turn away a beggar, without feeling any guilt.

+ Employees at Goldens' Foundry at the edge of downtown staged a one-day strike, in a dispute about overtime pay. If the managers give workers too much, they might have to change the name to Tins'.

+ A check of the Columbus Yellow Pages confirmed the downtown hotel across from the Trade Center is becoming a Marriott, instead of the current Wyndham. I'm not sure what's delaying the official change. Perhaps a shipment of The Book of Mormon hasn't arrived yet.

(You may not know the Marriott hotel chain is owned by Latter-Day Saints members, and a Book of Mormon is placed with a Gideon Bible in every room. I'm not sure how far this will go in downtown Columbus - but the coffee at Houlihan's Old Place soon could be a lot weaker.)

+ The Opelika Library began a one-month program, where you can pay fines by donating items for military "care packages." Patrons even are invited to drive up from Lumpkin with their brass knuckles - because they might come in handy during fighting in Fallujah.

+ Instant Message to the CVS store on South Lumpkin Road: About that sign on your front door -- either you don't know how to spell "gallon," or you don't know the Spanish word for milk is "leche."

COMING WEDNESDAY It's Election Day, and I'm stuck working extra hours at the office....

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© 2003-04 Richard Burkard, All Rights Reserved.