Break from Blogging

Over the past few weeks, I've been on a break from blogging. In anticipation of a visit by my best friend (from out of state), I whipped the yard into shape. I weeded, planted, trimmed, and hauled about 10 lawn and leaf bags' worth of trimmings to the alley. It still looks a bit like a "before" picture, but an unusually cold spring has put everything behind, and the yard is designed to explode into blooms in summer.

I've also been painting. The last time I painted the living and dining rooms was almost 15 years ago and it was time for a fresh coat. I didn't finish, but I'm off to a good start.

Since my friend arrived, we've been cycling around Denver, shopping, dancing, clubbing, drinking, and eating gourmet food (her generous description of my cooking, and honest assessment of most of the meals we've eaten at restaurants--from a hole-in-the-wall Mexican place on Federal to a high-end Italian wine bar on Wynkoop). We've even had time to do some online value investing and visit our new acquisition: Gamestop.

I wish I'd had the energy to do all of this in my 20s and 30s. (I'm 42.) I credit the change in my diet (low-carb, high-fat, no grains) and taking a gaggle of minerals every day for my increased energy. That's mostly what I changed in the past year and a half. (Well, that and buying smaller pants.) Not having to spend much time working out helps, too: I have the time and energy to dance and garden instead.

When we visited Gamestop, it struck me that they deal in fantasy: regardless of what your fantasy is, they have a game for you to play it out. Now, I love games--if I had an Xbox or Nintendo or Wii and a few games, I'd be up until 3 a.m. playing them. Not good when you have to be on a bus at 7 a.m. to go to work. But over the past year, I've been able to accomplish things I very much wanted to do--fixing up the house and yard and having good times with my best friend. No Sims, Monopoly or dancing games needed.

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