My Boring weekend

I had to request an extension on my taxes. I started investing last year and the tax rules for the type of investing I was doing were revamped. Most all accountants & tax experts I sought out recommended filing an extension as they did not understand all the changes and needed time to get through the records. I did not even receive the tax documents I need to do my taxes until a day or two before taxes were due. I have been taking an hour or two on week nights & weekends to get closer to finishing my taxes but I needed to stay in for hours and work on it which is what I did this weekend. I ditched out on retreat my church was holding and stayed in all weekend so it was not a fun weekend! (I did get out to run a bit and got out Friday & Saturday night). I did manage to get a lot of records reviewed & a major spreadsheet completed. Despite all the work I got done this weekend the most important thing I learned is be organized & keep my records up to date so next year I don't procrastinate and wait until the last minute!

My Iowa Vacation

I spent a few days on vacation in Iowa. I know, I know, I know...not the most ideal vacation spot, I should save more money and make it to a beach or a touristy place next time, (insert jokes about my vacation here...)...it sounds funny and I don't blame anyone for laughing about that first line. It was not my first choice to go for using vacation time and enjoying a few days off work.

My Uncle on my father's side of the family lived in Vinton Iowa for years and moved to a new town about 10 years ago. I had not been out to visit and see their new home. They were visiting Denver a few weeks ago and I expressed an interest in visiting them so we were able to set up a date and I was able to get out to visit them with in a couple weeks.

It is one thing to get to know people by talking with them or hearing their stories and spending time with them. It is an entirely different experience to get to know someone by seeing where they live and how they live. After this trip it was the how they live aspect that was clear to me and I was very grateful for being able to visit them and see how they live.

I did all the things one would expect to do in a smaller town in Iowa. We talked about College foot ball games, played a few board games, helped cover up plants in gardens, ate meals made from fresh vegetables out of a garden, I saw their neighbors, visited a farm, a local store, and a local church. I did get the full experience...except for seeing the leaves change colors (supposedly when they change colors it is a full rainbow of vibrant colors). The most fun was just hanging out with family and talking and trading stories. Maybe everything else was icing on the cake for me or just the background for interactions? I am still sorting out what I enjoyed and why but until then, I can say it was a fun time and I am glad I took the time to visit my family.

Patch Adams

Today Patch Adams was speaking at the University’s Auraria campus in down town Denver. I had not watched the entire Patch Adam’s movie and have engaged in minimal study on him. After listen to him I do find him to be an extremely interesting fellow.

He advocates choosing to be happy no matter what happens to one’s self. He does view all emotions as normal and to be enjoyed but he is adamant about being happy. He advocated community and in his medical opinion the three greatest threats to health are loneliness, boredom, and fear. He touted community & happiness as the most acceptable cure for these ills.

I wish I could have stayed for the question and answer session but I had to get back to work as I have a busy week ahead of me. I encourage anyone who might be interested, if you get the chance to listen to a Patch Adams lecture, definitely get a seat.

I am a fantasy football geek

I have been involved in fantasy football leagues for eight years now. I had never been an avid football fan and never able to really connect with other guys in the sports discussions. Being involved in fantasy football leagues had helped me learn about sports and able to know enough I could follow discussions and contribute some. It seems like most men I know who follow sports eat, sleep, and breathe sports trivia which I do not follow enough to keep up with many guys. It has been a fun learning experience but I am not crazy about it like most guys. I enjoy following players but could see myself spending my time in other pursuits. I have committed to this year so at least one more year in a fantasy football league. It maybe my last year and it may not (especially if I win...then I will want to play in 2013 to see how well I can finish compared to this year).

House sitting

I spent the weekend house sitting near Park Hill, one of my favorite neighborhoods in Denver. I was making a list of restaurants to try out but did not get around to visiting any. I wanted to save some money & have some me time. At least I picked out a few places to visit the next time I on that side of town.

Why

I have this blog and I write in it seven or eight times a month. I always tell myself I will blog more consistently and with more content and put more of my thoughts out there for the world. Then I fail to do all the things I was thinking of doing...why?

Weekend news

I spent last weekend house sitting at one of my regulars. This particular place has a big screen TV with a subscription to every TV channel on the planet. It always a treat to stay there as I can catch up on movies I have not seen. This weekend I caught a lot of boxing matches. I realized how much I miss boxing as i have been watching UFC fights on FOX or their pay per views for years. I was entertained with the fights & talent on the boxing shows so I may have to start watching boxing again.

Brief frustrating side note, my favorite Hawaiian restaurant is on this side of town and I usually get sick the day after eating their food. I thought I figured out what item on their menu was making me sick but after eating left overs on Sunday and getting sick on Monday I realized I have not figured it out. Next time I visit there no left overs!

I have wanted to run a 10k this year as this is the first year since my ankle sprains that I feel healthy. I was planning on running in the Boulder Boulder in May but I ended up getting off my schedule and could not continue training in a timely fashion before the race. I heard of another 10K in early October and have been training for it. I ran 4 miles this weekend and while it was tough I am glad I am on track for the training schedule for this 10K. I hope to complete a 10K in early October! The last 10K I ran was eight or nine years ago.

Indulge Wine Bar

I have taken up my habit of exploring my neighborhood and finally gotten around to exploring a wine bar in Golden called Indulge. I had been to their original bar in Highlands ranch and the one in Golden is their second & newest location. The atmosphere is perfect for a date, hanging out with friends, or chilling if you are by yourself (which worked for me). Their have 50 wines on the wine list and a decent menu with options for meals, desserts, and appetizers. Lucky for me they are easy to get to from my place! I am sure I will be spending quite a few nights trying as many items on their menu as I can!

If you are in Colorado and want to check out a nice wine bar, I recommend Indulge. Visit them online at: http://www.indulgewinebar.com/

Evenings exploring lakewood

I like to be out at night and I am not sure why. I know I like seeing the full moon and like having less traffic to deal with and not having to deal with lines in grocery stores as they are not very populated at night. I also like seeing the city from a different point of view, less light & less noise.

There is a park not far from the place I rent. It is basically a huge hill and it is on a hill so I can see most of the city lit up at night. I like to walk along the street some nights and see the city lights twinkling under the dark blue sky. It is a great place to have some quiet time to reflect & think. I have been here three years and finally thought I should hang out in the parking lot of the park at night.

It was a great view of the city and it was on a clear night with a full moon. I almost did not want to leave. I lay on the hood of my car staring at the sky and enjoying the weather, which was perfect. I probably won't be able to do that again in the next few months as it will cool down at night. I loved it and it was beautiful! The only bad part was realizing my head would leave a smudge on my car windshield for me the next day. Next time I need to wear a hat or put something against my windshield.