Hello there

Is there anything more pleasing than the sound of crisp leaves racing across the pavement? There is something so unique about that sound. It is made possible by us, by the human race. Without us, across what similar surface could leaves scuttle? They might blow over a rock outcropping now and again, but really, it's not the same.
I love the country, and I love Vermont. I really really do. Driving up the road today, the mountains were finally coloring. The trees have been changing for a little while now, but even when they first start, the mountains still look green, overshadowed by the conifers that refuse to change. As the season progresses, though, there becomes a point when the horizon just bursts into color. The mountains come alive!
Alright, sure, it's cheesy. But if you live here, you know what I mean, and whether or not you'll admit it, you feel the same way.
It's a time for fuzzy sweaters and scarves, hats and gloves. It's the time of the year where you more and more often find yourself saying, "I have got to remember to start my car in the morning. Brr." Or, at least if you're out the door by 8:00, you're saying that.
But the city has it's own draw, doesn't it? Even at the crack of dawn. There is a mystery about the city. You don't know what lies ahead because your view is obstructed. The city, it forces you to look more closely in front of your face, both physically and metaphorically.
While the country inspires us, reminds us to stand in awe of nature in all her majesty, it is the city that reminds us to stand in awe of ourselves. And our cities are becoming ever more sustainable. With increased awareness of our own carbon footprints, we are taking steps to bring a little bit of country into the city. First we thought up green roofs, which help insulate a building while also providing a nice landscape. Then we thought of rooftop gardening. Now we can keep ourselves warm and put dinner (or a contribution thereto) on the table. Standing on a quiet street corner in the foggy evening, the only thing you can see in the city is what's right in front of you. The only concern to which you can attend is yourself, and the magnificent creations of man that surround you. And if you're lucky, you are smart enough to appreciate that.