Last night, I was feeling poorly and realized by ten o'clock that I would have to call in sick. This is something, as a teacher, that I try to avoid at all costs. I dashed out some lesson plans and left my house shortly before seven the next morning to drop them off.

Driving home, I was surprised by how busy the roads were! Normally, I'm tucked away in Room 33 at that time and am not familiar with the hustle and bustle of parents taking their children to school. As I drove down Norris Road, slowing down for an oncoming red light, I saw a school bus coming to a halt across the street. As I was slowing for my red light, the bus was coming to a stop. Suddenly I heard loud honking and looked over, seeing the bus driver glaring at me. By now her Stop sign is out, but I'm also at the red light.

Up came a motorcycle cop behind me, like a shark out of deep waters. When the light turned green seconds later, I pulled up and over to the side of the road, thinking surely I am not getting a ticket... The scene happened so quickly, between the bus coming to a halt, me slowing for the red, and her honking - which obviously was a signal to the officer to pounce.

Sure enough, I received a ticket. He also seemed pleased to tell me I would be required to go to court for this, since "children were involved." This uniformed man behind mirrored glasses didn't listen or care for what I had to say. The sound of the overeager bus driver was all the registered in his ears.

So, here's a warning to save you time and money: apparently even if the bus is pulling to a stop and the sign is in the process of coming out, you'd better put on your brakes.

It would have been easier to just go to work today and spread my germs.

*Yes, I understand the importance of stopping for buses - I've been a teacher for eight years and worked in a Sunday school department for nine years. Kids and their safety are a top priority for me.

The past few days, I have happily been making a cup of tea in the morning and enjoyed the hint of Fall in the air. Walking down the hallways at school, I've picked up on a slight change in the weather - and I love it!

This weekend, my husband and I are embracing the onset of Autumn with some hardcore Fall Cleaning around the house. Yesterday, we spent over four hours working in the flowerbeds and then carried our energy inside to do some deep cleaning. Today, we'll just make it up as we go, but by golly, we're cleaning some more after church!

I'm also armed with my Apple Spice and Pumpkin Harvest candles, which have been burning like the Eternal Flame.

The tiniest change in the weather has put me in a whimsical mood and by bedtime, I'll have the fall goodies out of storage and sprinkled around the house. That will make waking up Monday morning just a little more appealing. That, and my cup of Earl Grey.

I could just be overexcited by the onset of my favorite season, but is anyone else nesting - or just excited about Autumn knocking on our door?