Bored yet?

Looking at all the fancy new templates being used by my friends has finally prompted me to live up to a long-ago statement that I would ease up on the orange and "pretty up" my blog a bit. I've finally succumbed to the lure of widgets, either slowing down page loading for the sake of gimmickry OR creating a cutting-edge new look which appeals and excites (depends on your point of view :)

In any case, I've set it up so the main links and content get loaded first, so the new toys don't get in the way of my entertaining writing... And if they don't work, it's not my fault.

I hope y'all like it!

Life gets in the way

I've been having too much fun to blog the past couple of weeks, but a lonely lazy Friday night gives me time for an update on goings on in the excitement-fest that is Ber-T's world:

S-Club's 30th on the 5th was heaps o' fun, and because of the Shenani-dogs I even talked to people who weren't wearing orange! I ate way too much junk food, amazed youngsters with my long public service career and my Sunday walk was taken care of as I left the party at 1am to get home a little before 2, meaning a sleep-in and day of laziness were my reward.

(Wed the 9th) It's iPod time! I managed a half hour walk in winds strong enough to nearly tear my beanie from my velcro-stubbled head, before deciding that, new toy or not, I was going back home.

(Friday the 11th) I left work and headed to Civic rather than home, with no actual plans (Em would be proud) except the vague hope of seeing some friends. I tried visiting K but he'd already gone to the pub, so I propped up his business by purchasing a handful of comics, and organised impromptu drinks with B and The Boy. A pint of conversation later I returned to Impact, this time meeting K, who looked frantically around for escape before resigning himself to an OK Corral dinner and a second King O's pint with me. He ran screaming for an imaginary bus, which he assured me was his via a shouted over-shoulder goodbye, around 10 and I rode my own flexibus home with a smile borne of a satisfying week.

(Wed 16) A rare catch up with Redhead Kingpin (the first time since Fishy's wedding), then an awesome chat over tea/coffee with Liv, before meeting up with B for Thai dinner (vegetarian massumun, at least that's how the menu spelt it, but I remain skeptical) and it was off home to once again relish the joy that is hanging with friends.

Vegetarian

Since my health has been going so well, and I'm enjoying what that feels like, I'm trying out a vegetarian diet. As much as anything, it's to force myself to eat more vegetables, as my tuna and rice habit made me lazy in my food preparation, settling for tinned and processed goods.

So far, over 10 days with no meat, I'm still feeling really good. Coping fine with full work weeks, partying till 2am on Saturday in the cold, and my regular walks. Compared to my gluten-free diet, it's actually a breeze.

I've known for a long time what I need to do to be healthy, but have simply fooled myself into thinking I don't have time, or energy, or whatever, to do those things. Walking is one, getting rid of Coke is another (10 weeks and counting without a drop of cool, black gold). I've had almost no red meat for 2 years anyway, so cutting out chicken and tuna was the next step to try, and not much of a burden (so far).

So even if I don't stick with "cold turkey" (reverse no-pun not intended), I should at least have supplemented my diet with appropriate amounts of veges, and will eat less meat.

Oh for some patience!

Aaargh! Got home at 5.30 to find that my iPod was available from noon at my local post office, but since it closes at 5.30 I have to wait till 9am tomorrow to grab it :( Still, should make for a fun day off, playing with my new toy :)

July - month of walking

As this handy graph shows, I managed my second best month, despite being washed out a number of times, it being very cold, and me wanting so much to return to being lazy.

I've even managed my best ever start to a month by walking this evening after getting home from work.

New toys

Toy #1 - LG Digital Video Recorder
160GB hard drive, twin HD tuners, timeshift, etc. Why would I fork out lots of cash for a new device to tape the nothing that is on TV? Why? ... I've made a huge mistake...

Toy #2 - 60GB Video iPod
Finally sick of issues with my much-abused three year old MP3 walkman, I've succumbed to the lure of the pretty black item below. It should be in my hands early next week.


Pretty :)