Hi There, New Canaan: I'm Your New Local Editor [PHOTOS]

If you see a lanky blonde snapping pictures of your homes and businesses from a white, 1992 Mercedes-Benz 190e, fear not! It's just me, your new editor for New Canaan Patch! Allow me to introduce myself.  

First off, I'm a southern gal, born and raised in New Orleans until I was 17 (Careful, this means I may hug you if we've met more than twice). Growing up, I wanted to build spaceships. I wanted to be an aerospace engineer...then I found out about all that math...

I think everyone knew I would be a writer before I did. My upbringing was as literary as it gets. 

"Look it up." - that's what my mother would say after intentionally using a big word in conversation. I would have to wait an entire car ride home to rush inside and flip through the giant, bright red Websters dictionary just to figure out what 'precocious' or 'acerbic' meant. She did this almost daily. Thanks, Mom.

My older sister, Erica, went through novels like most kids went through magazines. Mom would fill the house with Caldecott and Newbery Award winners and she'd fly through one a day. I'd pick up the books she finished, which meant, at the tender age of nine, I wasn't picking up on any Communist undertones and just thought Animal Farm was about the scariest farm on the planet. 

Fast forward a decade and some of the toughest, most intriguing journalists in the field were at the University of Connecticut, putting up with my tardy, disorganized self long enough to knock out the bad habits and mold me into a decent purveyor of news. 

And now we're at present day. New Canaan is many things. It is flawless homes and pristine lawns. It is an impressive nightlife and trendsetting ladies. It is manicured pooches and a tremendous education system. It is rows of independent businesses and energetic residents and so much more. Most importantly, though, New Canaan is synonymous with dedication.

Never have I found a town with residents quite so fiercely passionate and protective. New Canaanites truly own their town and take responsibility for it. There's a no nonsense, pick-your-feet-up-and-do-something-about-it attitude here that I like. The surface is gorgeous here, but the heart of it has me excited to hear what everyone has to say.

I'm eating, sleeping, breathing New Canaan lately and I've compiled a few photographs to show you what a newcomer has absorbed in a few short weeks. 

I can't wait to meet everyone, so, please say Hi! Seriously, just walk up to me! And while you're at it:

- Tell me your experience with Patch so far. What was your impression of Patch before me?

- What do you want to see more of on Patch? What would you like to see less of? 

- Never assume I'm too busy to hear your story ideas. I love hearing what you have to say!

- What does Patch mean to you?

Thank you for reading and thank you for creating such a great town to work with. You rock. See you soon!