WAUSAU - Remember about a month ago when I effectively argued, based on facts, science and logic, that September in Wisconsin is the best month ever, anywhere?

Well, I feel a little sheepish now because I was wrong. Oh, I stand by all the essentials laid out in the argument: Great weather, sports, coffee and beer. All rock solid reasons to love September.

It's only the conclusion that isn't quite right. Therefore, I stand here today humbled, head bowed, Brewers hat in hand and admit that September in Wisconsin, while very, very good, is not in fact the best month.

October is.

So here is — and I mean it this time — why October is really the best month in Wisconsin:

1. Colorful leaves! When I wrote that September piece, somehow or another I had in my mind that leaves changed to their fall colors in the ninth month of the year. Sure, that poor little maple on my block on Wausau's southeast side turned a kind of orangish-reddish last month, but it's always been quick on the draw. Most of its comrades around town are sticking to green, but more and more color is popping up each day.

Even northern parts of the state, like Ashland and Barron counties, won't see peak fall colors until the second week of October, according to TravelWisconsin.com's Wisconsin Fall Color Report.

If you live on the Wisconsin Riveriera in southeast Wisconsin, you can expect to see peak colors in the third week of October.

2. Sports! The Brewers made the playoffs. (Honestly, I don't know if I can watch that one tonight. I want them to win so bad.) The Packers have gotten off to a great start and are certainly on the road to win the Super Bowl come February. And the Badgers are so good, maybe they'll go to the Super Bowl, too. (Editor's note: Keith Uhlig is not a sports reporter. There is no chance that the Wisconsin Badgers football team will play in the Super Bowl.)

But there's more! The Milwaukee Bucks preseason starts Oct. 7 in Chicago, and their preseason home opener will be Oct. 9 against the Utah Jazz. Welcome back, Giannis Antetokounmpo! We've missed watching you jump over your opponents. We all want to offer you the supermax extension. (Shh. Don't show this column to the NBA. I can't afford a $50,000 fine.)

3. The weather! Well, it's really, really good. Average high temperatures tend to be comfortable during October days, according to Weather Atlas. Daytime highs generally range from 57 to 62 degrees. The nights are chilly, with average lows ranging from 45 to 32 degrees. I don't know about you, but that is perfect for me.

OK, you probably should plan ahead and be prepared for some inclement weather. October has an average of 16 sunny days, meaning that just under half the month is cloudy and raining. That's all good, because the cool nights are perfect for cozying in under flannel sheets, or sipping a hot drink next to a fire. And it helps acclimate us all for the winter ahead.

4. Food and drink! Halloween is the last day of October, so any chocolate or other candy you eat in the last two weeks of the month doesn't count at all! (Editor's Note: Keith Uhlig is not a nutritionist. Halloween candy calories do count.)

Meanwhile, Oct. 8 is National Pierogi Day. I am of German/Norwegian/and a bunch of other stuff heritage, so I was late in discovering the Polish dumpling delicacy. It wasn't until, like, 2005 when I first went to the Our Savior's Parish Polish Fest in Mosinee that I tasted my first true pierogi. It was awesome, and if I had to choose only one food (desserts don't count) to live on for the rest of my life, I would choose pierogi. Luckily, we have tons of people with Polish backgrounds here in Wisconsin, so pierogi are easy to find.

Oh, and by the way, Oct. 27 is National American Beer Day. Wisconsin is part of America, and it produces the best beer in the USA. So really this is National Wisconsin Beer Day.

But the biggest news on the food front is NATIONAL CHEESE CURD DAY. If you don't partake in a cheese curd on Oct. 15, you might be kicked out of the state. According to the online National Day Calendar, National Cheese Curd Day was submitted by Culver's, Wisconsin's homegrown restaurant chain, and the best fast-food burger joint on the planet. (Get outta here with your In-N-Out Burger, you Californians. You can't even get cheese curds there.)

5. Outside play! October is great for the kind of outdoor stuff I love to do: Notably running, cycling and paddling a kayak. Sure, you have to contend with cold nights and chilly mornings. Put on a pair of gloves and go out! The cool temperatures mean that mosquitoes, ticks and other pests are gone. You can essentially set aside worries of heat exhaustion, too. And you are in good shape from all the work you've been doing in the summer.

It's worth noting, however, that the weather in October can change fast and it can become furious. That's fun because it keeps your mind and reflexes sharp! But always know where the nearest coffee shop is — I've found drinking a mocha latte is a great way of waiting out a rainstorm.

Also, if you hunt or fish, this is your time. Did you know that Louis Spray of Hayward caught the largest muskie on record on Oct. 20, 1949? And there's a lot of controversy swirling around it. I plan on learning a lot more about that in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.

RELATED: September in Wisconsin is the best month anywhere. Fact.

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Contact Keith Uhlig at 715-845-0651 or kuhlig@gannett.com. Follow him at @UhligK on Twitter and Instagram or on Facebook.