It suddenly turned cold this week. Turned cold and started raining. Not the hard, quick rain we tend to see in the summer. Flash floods that swell and then disappear as quickly as they start. No, this was cold, steady and slow. It was nature saying, "Winter is coming, deal with it."

An old leak in the wall opened up with this long, cold rain. There were drips from one part, but another section became a bit of a waterfall. It went on all night as the rain kept coming and the wind picked up.

A half inch of rain officially. We're working our way back to normal amounts of rainfall for the year, but we'd need a few more nights of this to really catch up.

I had to start wearing sweaters and long sleeved shirts to work. Even into the first days of November, I was still in short sleeves. It was nice, even though I knew it was almost over. When the sun starts to go down right when you leave work, it's getting colder.

When it starts to get cold, people actually are nicer. I think there is a sense of independence when the weather is nice. You don't feel like you need help when you can stand outside and feel warm. When it gets colder--especially at night--everyone starts to huddle together. Interdependence replaces cold resolve.

There is usually a bit of a scramble to hook up when it starts to get colder. Find someone to keep warm with at night. One friend called it the "warm blanket" syndrome. This is what you're really looking for. Because on the coldest of nights, it doesn't matter how many blankets you have. None of them keep you warm like another warm body.

For the first time in a few years, I haven't really felt this kind of desperation. I'm not really looking to find someone to fill time and body heat with this fall. Maybe I'm looking for something more, but I think, really, I'm not looking for anything. The desperation is gone. Replaced by the knowledge that even if I don't find a warm blanket for the cold months, it's not going to kill me.

So the layers of clothing start to pile on. I have to think about the environment of where I'm going--do I need a t-shirt, sweatshirt or sweater and a jacket? Can I get by with just a shirt and a jacket? Should I wear a ton of clothes to work and peel off the layers as I get warmer during the day?

It's not a huge concern, but the thought process occurs in the early morning when I'm standing in front of the closet. Those couple of seconds every morning when I have to make up my uniform for the day.

I chose my defenses and move confidently into the brisk morning.

Winter is coming. The battle to stay warm has begun. Much of my arsenal is in place. And I expect to have a successful campaign this year.

Matt Worley has slippers shaped like lions for his feet.