Avoiding autumnal apathy

October 26, 1:28 PMPortland Twenty-Something ExaminerAli Reingold

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Fall in the park.
Photo by me

I can explain why I haven’t written an article in a week and a half. I can explain. There’s a very good reason, and once you hear it, you will understand and empathize and forgive the long absence. Very simply: I’ve been lazy.

Yes, the summer is most definitely over, which means the rains have set in. It’s not particularly cold or anything, but it’s been raining pretty regularly, and when the sky is overcast and water is pouring gustily down from the heavens, it can be hard to motivate. Instead, I feel more like sitting around with a cup of tea and reading, or sitting around and watching a movie, or just plain sitting around. Besides, I’ve been busy; there have been parties to attend and Craigslist housing listings to browse and jars of peanut butter to eat. The day has only so many hours.

We can expect the rains and the feelings of lethargy that go along with it to continue for about six months, but we mustn’t let that get us down. And so, I present to you my tips on how to avoid the autumnal apathy, free yourself from the fall-time funk, and power past the precipitation.

1. One of the best things about fall is the food. When the leaves start to turn and there’s a crispness in the air, you know it’s time for soup, baked goods, and all things pumpkin. Dolores has what I might term a pumpkin fetish and becomes almost disturbingly excited at the prospect of pumpkin butter, pumpkin bread, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin ravioli, pumpkin ice cream, and steak.* Nor do I blame her. ‘Tis the season, and it’s a delicious one, so get cookin’.
2. Find an awesome, cozy bar where you can spend several hours hanging out and drying off. Like, say, an English pub with an extensive beer selection and a dart board. This bar is the Horse Brass, and we love it.
3. It’s amazing what a good pair of knee-high leather boots can do for your mood.
4. Sometimes the rain lets up and the powers that be give you a gorgeous, sunny, slightly brisk Saturday. Take advantage of this day. Go for a long bike ride. Meet your friends in the park and romp around with a frisbee and a rugby ball and a kickball (just be careful not to hit/throw/kick these items directly into the man playing the bongos at a nearby picnic table). Play horseshoes with your U-locks and a game Bootsie knows that involves making stealthy ninja moves. Eat pizza in the park. Take pictures of the yellow-leaved trees. Don’t go inside until your hands start getting numb. And you should probably wear flannel.
5. Become friends with people who have a hot tub. It’s one of the best things Dolores and I have done of late. If you can, convince said people that you actually enjoy their company and not just the hot tub. This will make it more likely that you are invited over to use the hot tub.
6. Chili cook-off. Enough said.
7. Story-telling is a wonderful thing. Gather a group and read out loud to them. Or, if you don’t like being the center of attention and listening to your own voice as much as I do, you may be one of the listeners, reclining somewhere with eyes closed (or, as the case may be, interrupting the dedicated reader with inane and unnecessary comments that ruin the flow of the reading. GUYS.).
8. Don’t let the rain keep you from going out. While a house party with a keg, black light, and living room dance party is an excellent and fun way to spend an evening (and it’s just like college! Woooo!!!), sometimes live music is the only thing that will truly relieve you from a long work week. Mississippi Studios is a nice venue that usually has something worthwhile going on and is normally not too expensive.
9. Who says sleepovers are for kids? When friends crash at your house after a long night, you might not play truth-or-dare, but you will end up comparing dreams the next morning (Bootsie was chased by drug lords, for example) and making a delicious brunch. We’re talking potatoes, eggs, bacon, and yes Dolores, pumpkin butter. It’s a great way to slide into the next day. Although inevitably, that day won’t really begin until 2pm. And that’s okay. Because sleepovers are fun, and my Little Mermaid sleeping bag will tell you so.**
10. Finally, let’s not forget that rain is good, and it can be fun to run around in.

So embrace the weather, drink your chai, carve your pumpkin, and enjoy the Portland Fall.

Trying to choose between peanut and pumpkin butter and probably ultimately settling for both,
Your Portland Twenty-Something

*Admittedly unrelated to the pumpkin fetish, but you should see what happens to this girl when the possibility of steak is brought up.
**Whatever happened to you, Little Mermaid sleeping bag? You were so awesome!