Written by Resident Blogger, Daphne

As I was busy tending to my fall lawn maintenance, I saw a woman an what appeared to be her teenage daughter going door to door.  At first I figured Jehovah Witnesses but their attire didn't fit (sweatshirts and jeans).  When she approached me, it dawned on me, it was election time!  She was talking to a list of "undecided" voters. Well, I have decided and I won't get into that but I was glad to see her out and providing an example to her daughter to be involved in our country's political process. 

All I can say is we owe it to ourselves as American Citizens to be informed and to make a choice one way or the other.  This is important, soldiers have died protecting our freedom.  I can own a home and rake my lawn because of the country we live in.  The election is around the corner, get informed and make a choice.

Written by Resident Blogger, Katherine

We’ve all done it – we’ve all had it done to us. You’re outside – you see a neighbor. Maybe you’re in a rush and are worried saying hi will lead to an hour conversation. Maybe we’re so deep in thought we can’t notice someone standing 25 feet in front of us. But seriously – is it that hard to say a simple hello to a neighbor?

We have a client that designs neighborhoods – housing communities that become a neighborhood. They’ve figured out a distance from one’s porch to a sidewalk in which, they claim, it is scientifically proven that you physically feel compelled to say hello.

Is that the kind of society we’ve become? Architects need to design the desire to be gracious into the neighborhoods they create? Something for us all to think about.

Katherine blogs for the all-natural snack, Buffalo Nickel Wingers

Have you ever worn biking shorts?  I've seen lots of guys in them, skinny biker boys.  I've been putting a lot of miles on my hybrid road bike this summer and usually 10 miles into the ride, let's just say indelicately that you can start to feel numb in the female parts.  My boyfriend thought it was time that I got some anatomical shorts.  I was prepared for the tight fitting in the butt part and didn't think that part looked too bad, after all I have been riding since Spring, BUT (here's the warning) if you ever want to feel really bad about yourself, go on, try those black spandex puppies on!  It's when the spandex waistband cuts into my mushy middle that the wind in my supposed fit sails blew out.  What the?  I am a size 6, most people describe me as slim, but after 2 pregnancies of 9 lb babies, that muscle tone never did come back (my youngest is 11).  The rollage frightened me.  So much so, I took them off and had a cookie to console myself. 

Now you may ask, what does this all have to do with suburb life?  My neighbors will see me!  So the relief is, it's fall, I have the winter to work those hapless abs into something that doesn't hang over the edge of those shorts!