The leaves are starting their journey to the ground. Oranges, reds, and yellows pop every day as the temperatures start to head towards those applicable to snow. This is my time of year, the time that I first experienced on Earth and the time that always gets me stoked.

This year while I roll around in the Fiesta, I am going to take as many shots as possible. In particuliar, I am going to chronicle the shift in colors of my big maple in the backyard. Here is the first shot of the series.

Last night I sat down with a pair of scissors and finally cut off the admittance bracelet from the emergency room. It had been just under a week since the bracelet had been secured to my left wrist. In my mind, the bracelet came to represent a departure from reality and a quest for adventure. Despite the obvious cheese factor, it was slightly painful to acknowledge the end of the journey.

For whatever reason, many of my more meaningful trips have been marked by injuries of varying degrees. On my first major overseas adventure, 8 months in New Zealand, I managed to severely sprain my ankle within 2 weeks of arrival. Since then I have visited ERs the world over and figured out ways to overcome any ailment in order to maximize the experience.

In the overall scheme of things, a few stitches in a finger are pretty minor. But maybe years later, I will look at that scar and recognize a pivot point in how I approach life. Or perhaps it will just be a reminder of a dam good trip. Either way, the end of this chapter has arrived.