my first new england autumn. sam and i took a road trip to new hampshire for some "leaf-peeping" in the appalachians. supposedly, all the rain and warm weather this year meant that the leaves weren't as vivid or red as usual. crisp temperature drops cause the most striking color change, plus the rain tends to shake leaves off the trees before all of them finish changing. still, the scenery was stunning...if the weather returns to normal, i can only imagine how brilliantly colored the foliage will be next year.

kip dropped by for a weekend visit (hooray!), and sachin and sheila both joined us for a nostalgic night out. all of us go way back, in different ways. ah, the good old days...

what can i say, the man's my senator! i got to attend a luncheon with him and bug him afterwards. *swoon*