I HAVE NEVER FELT BETTER.

It's absolutely unbelievable - Kirky and I finally decided to change our eating habits (read: diet) and are starting out on The Atkins Diet. We're just finishing up the first phase called "Induction" where you're supposed to limit your carbohydrate intake to only 20 per day. Because it takes a lot for your body to burn carbs, the excess often becomes fat. And since your body spends all its time burning carbs....the fat just stores up. So the theory is, as best as I can tell, is that if your body doesn't really have any carbs to burn....then it starts buring stored fat.

So far I've lost about 8 pounds and my energy level has been fantastic. Previously, after every meal I always had this "coma" feeling of being foggy in the head and my body just sapped from energy. Looking back on what we ate, I noticed that it was about 85% carbs. It's amazing what a little change to your diet can do. And that's the main reason I'm dieting - apart from a need to be healthier; energy. Some day I plan on having a child and I want to be able to keep up with it. As it is, I huff and puff around the house. Also, I haven't done any of the physical stuff I enjoyed doing as a kid - camping, hiking, bicycling...I miss it.If my energy level continues, perhaps I'll be able to be more active.

Earlier today my wife headed

Earlier today my wife headed off to a friend's house and I had planned to read up on a new tarot book I bought this week (Kirky had bought me my first tarot deck - a Rider-Waite, for my recent birthday). However I was flipping through the channels and noticed PBS' "Frontier House" was on. I had caught a short bit last night before heading out to dinner and was intrigued by this MetaFilter thread. So I told myself I'd just watch a little bit. Well, that "little bit" quickly turned into the full 6-hours of the series broadcast on my local PBS station. It was amazing. At first, I bought into the hype from MeFi that this was just another Survivor set in the year 1880. But it wasn't - it was so much more, a life-changing experience for all involved.

It got to the point where between infrequent commercials I was cleaning up and preparing dinner. As the hours passed by, my life seemed to take on more meaning. The show really made me realize the things I take for granted and made me long for my Boy Scout days of camping trips or playing in the gulleys and creeks of our old 10 acres worth of Southern Maryland land. For the first time in a while we've discussed camping and I think it's high time we go on a trip together - I think it would be fun and a very inexpensive way to get away from the rush of every-day life.

I've also been making a point to practice guitar one hour a day or so. Actually, I've been shooting for one hour a day in the evenings but I've only been doing that once a week. My mother and I along with a friend-couple from Maine went to the New England Folk Festival a few weeks back. WOW - it was amazing. Dancing, singing, raucous merry-making and off-the-cuff musicianship and jamming. I had a wonderful time and even picked up some other birthday gifts: a new pair of bones and the strumstick - a cool backback-size guitar that Jennifer Kimball plays. It uses 3 dulcimer strings and no matter what your fingering, you always play a major chord.

Anyway, back to the original topic. If you have a chance, buy, rent or watch the full 6 hours of "Frontier House". You won't regret it - especially if you hold the earth and the core joys of life dear as I do.

I know, it's been AGES

I know, it's been AGES since I posted anything - which is quite strange considering I have more than ever to talk about. I have been chatting up friends with my thoughts and views but somehow I feel a need to recenter myself back to BrainStream to allow me to keep record of everything. That is, after all, its purpose.