I’ve emerged from my temporary illness largely unscathed. It was good timing, too. I was a groomsman in the wedding of one of my best friends. I know he’s not reading today’s blog because he’s enjoying his honeymoon at The Happiest Place on Earth. So at this point, to extend more well-wishing seems kind of like throwing money into a fountain – you know it’s benefiting someone, you’re just not seeing the effects.

Regardless, all the best to Nick and Erin. My good friends.

More on my recent cold: I was well enough to stand upright at the wedding this weekend, but I’m finding that when I have to blow my nose, amazing science occurs.

Take for example being able to breathe perfectly through your nose one minute, but yet when you go to blow your nose, stuff won’t stop coming out. It’s like I’m performing a magic trick, or something. I swear I have extra chambers in my head that must go unused 90% of the year. I can’t fathom where else this stuff is all coming from.

Beyond that, I marveling at the changing of the seasons. Fall is always my favorite time of year. I love to watch the leaves turn. All that yellow and orange. It’s like the trees are on fire. Why can the leaves be this beautiful the rest of the time? I’m getting a little sick of green.

Of course, in a week it will be all over. For some reason, I remember fall lasting much longer when I was a kid. Just goes to show – even Mother Nature is against me. I should have never expressed my preference for fall out loud…

I suppose I should talk about today’s strip. I’m finding that’s something I’ve overlooked the last few times.

Right now we’re are gripped with Soprano’s fever. It’s much like the fever I experienced last week, but saucier. Ironically, we didn’t have HBO when the show took off. We became fans after watching the collected seasons on DVD – a present we gave to my Dad a few holidays back. Since then we’ve been hooked. And of course, we had to sign up for the Home Box Office when a new season was unfurled.

I hate to be one of those people who insists to others that they need to get pay cable for the benefit of one show. It’s kind of like saying you need to shop at Sak’s Fifth Avenue because they have the best socks. Most people I know are satisfied with the TV they get for free. Alternatively, they find nothing wrong with their current choice in socks.

But The Soprano’s is good. Very, very good. I can’t describe it adequately other than it is very involving. I feel engaged in these stories as they are told. It’s like watching a very smart movie condensed into a hour. After watching it, I feel a little bit better knowing that I didn’t get hoodwinking into watching 8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter on ABC. Nothing against John Ritter, but we all know that show sucks.

I think I’m satisfied with that. More later if there is time.