Ahh, the unofficial end to summer is finally here. I am by no means a summer person. I like the idea of the beach (mainly flipflops) but don't really enjoy going. I went once this summer and, well, burned -- badly.

I am a mountain person. More to the point, a snowboarder. I've lived in Vermont and fallen down some large slopes out west. It's getting to be time to screw the bindings back on my boards and wash the sweaters. After sweltering through this summer, I'm looking forward to some trips to the Pocono's and then some north and out West again, maybe.

Anyone else with me? Who likes to scrape down the icy slopes of PA? What are your favorite spots?

The Barclay Friends Festival of Gardens will be on Sept. 8. I'm writing a preview piece and went out and saw a couple of gardens yesterday.

I had no idea what was behind some of the homes around Everhart Park -- little oasis that almost make me want to move from the city back to the burbs. Almost, but not really.

I even have a backyard with my apartment. But it is in no way close to the little gems that some of these people have. Mine wouldn't be included on a tour. Thinking about it, I am a 25-year old guy that works full time and that's probably why my grill is nestled in the weeds.

Here's a picture of one of the gardens that will be on the tour.

If you aren't taking part in the tour and want to share your garden, send me a picture and I'll see what I can do about getting it on the Web site.

Driving through West Chester seeing all the students going back to school, doesn't make me want to go back, at all -- ever. Waiting inline to buy books, actually showing up to classes, supposedly doing the work and having a job, meal tickets. No thanks. Just having a job is tough enough. I do keep waiting for summer break though, it just never comes anymore.

I just spent a little bit of time speaking to some West Chester residents that have a very relaxing backyard garden. Water fountains, flowers, trees, a gold fish pond. Retirement seems like such a good idea, but at 25 I don't think I'd get away with it.

Unless someone has an idea ...

It's nice to know that eating obnoxiously hot foods is alive and well in West Chester. It's nice knowing those brave souls have no need for their tongues but I would do it too. Here's a picture that I enjoyed ... check out the sweat.

West Chester Resident Kevin Olver is off to see if he can eat more "homicide hot wings" than NFL legend and former Chicago Bear William “The Refrigerator” Perry in Baltimore.

DLN photog Amy Dragoo took this photo at Wings to Go here in West Chester.

Have any pictures of you eating odd, hot or weird food? Send 'em to me. Or your favorite heat generating recipes and we'll see if we can get them on our Web site.

Think you can eat hotter than Kevin? What are your favorite wing spots in the region?

test post test post test post test post test post......hahahaha just kidding. This is my first post just to say hello -- Hello.

If you read this ... be sure to check out my story on band camps in this weeks Chester County Living section. Students from all over the county bravely marched back to school early to expand their lungs and play their hearts out. If you are a student that did too and I didn't come to your school -- let me know how it went.

And it is the weekend ... if you know of something good, a band playing, a happy hour, free doughnuts be sure to share. It doesn't have to be in Chester County either. As we're connected by the Internet, we're also connected by the interstates.