Autumn is here. Finally. For a while, I didn't think it would turn up, and even when it supposedly arrived (according to the calendar), it certainly didn't feel like fall. Fortunately, over the last couple of days, the weather has been more autumn-like.

Fall is one of my favorite seasons and I thought I'd share a few of the reasons why I like it so much.

Autumn means cooler weather. The hot days of summer are behind us (for the most part). The time for t-shirts and shorts is ending and the time for windbreakers, fleece jackets, and hoodies is beginning.

Autumn means comfortable hiking weather throughout the day. There's no longer the need to limit oneself to the early morning or the late afternoon for ideal conditions. This season also means mosquitoes should be saying so long for the year. One will soon be able to wander through the woods without needing to apply a fresh coat of repellent.

Autumn means the return of chicken pot pie and turkey pot pie to the dinner menu. It also means the consumption of more soup (mmm... minestrone!) and hot chocolate. One can also order pumpkin spice lattes and peppermint mochas without receiving strange looks from baristas.

Autumn means the return of some of my favorite television shows: Bones, Castle, How I Met Your Mother, and The Office. It also means the beginning of some exciting new shows like FlashForward and Glee. Of course, this particular autumn means the debut of Ken Burns' new documentary, The National Parks, which I'm enjoying thoroughly.

Autumn means fewer hours of daylight, but I don't see that as a bad thing. More time inside, during the evening hours, means more time to read (a.k.a. spend quality time with my favorite authors), write (NaNoWriMo approaches!), and play The Beatles Rock Band.

Finally, autumn means the end of baseball's regular season and the start of its postseason. This year, I'm rooting for a showdown between the Boston Red Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies.