12/16/2002 - 8:44AM

Friday was our office xmas luncheon, and that took up most of the day. Got there about 1:00, and we left about 4:00. Very good time, although I'm not much for fancy food. I'm a food snob in reverse, I think. With the diet I'm on, I couldn't have dessert, and that hurt, since they had pumpkin cheesecake, which is my favorite type of cheesecake. Just water and salmon for me, thanks. BLECH

Following the lunch, there was an after-lunch social at the receptionist's apartment, which just happens to be upstairs from the office. Very nice time...laid-back, just hanging out for a half-hour to an hour. Funny thing is, she's only got a studio, but it didn't feel too cramped. Talk about working within your means...all of the furniture was narrow, and fit the space perfectly. Now that I own my own place, I notice stuff like that. Yes, I also watch Trading Spaces and Changing Rooms, too.

After a quick trip home to feed Prince Ashton, I headed out to the actual after-luncheon party. Had a good time there, just chatting and munching on chicken-apple sausages. Actually had an alcoholic drink for the first time in a while, but I decided that I'd rather just drink water than drink vodka with club soda. Knowhutimsayin?

Saturday started with a trip to the gym, followed by some laundry. I headed out for xmas shopping with TW, then dinner, and finally the Denver Gay Men's Chorus. While choruses are not my cup of tea, I have several friends in this chorus, so I feel the need to go and support. Mixed bag of music, but the rendition of Silent Night at the end of the night with audience participation alone was worth the cost of admission. Amazing. As for TW, we bicker so much when we're together, but it's all in fun. Really had a good time.

Sunday was slacker day. Hit the gym early with TD, then went home to eat breakfast and be unproductive for a while. Lunch with AM was scrapped, so I actually got more laundry done, and then went for a hike around 3pm, before the sun set. Stopped at Boston Market and Safeway on the way home, and that was it. I chatted online for a couple of hours, and then went to bed. All in all, a great weekend.

As I took my hike, I had Natalie Merchant "Life Is Sweet" playing. What an amazing song. For some reason, it really hit home as I walked around the lake. Courtesy of lyrics.astraweb.com, here are some wise words for you today...

It's a pity, It's a crying shame

He pulled you down again

How painful it must be

To bruise so easily

Inside

It's a pity, it's a downright crime

It happens all the time

You wanna stay little daddy's girl

You wanna hide from the viscous world...

Outside

Don't cry, you know the tears will do no good

So dry your eyes

Your daddy, he's the iron man

Battle ship wrecked on dry land

Your mamma, she's a bitter bride

She'll never be satisfied

You know, and that's not right

But don't cry

You know the tears will do no good

So dry your eyes

They told you life is hard

Misery from the start, it's dull

It's slow, it's painful

But I tell you life is sweet

In spite of the misery

There's so much more, be grateful

Well, who do you believe

Who will you listen to, who will it be

Because it's high time that you decide

In your own mind

I've tried to comfort you

I tried to tell you to be patient

That they are blind and they can't see

Fortune gonna come one day

It all gonna fade away

Your daddy the war machine

And your momma the long and suffering

Prisoner of what she can not see

For they told you life is hard

Misery from the start, it's dull,

It's slow, it's painful

But I tell you life is sweet

In spite of the misery

There's so much more, be grateful

So who will you believe

Who will you listen to

Who will it be

Because it's high time that you decide

It's time to make up your own

Your own state of mind

They told you life is long

Be thankful when it's done

Don't ask for more, be grateful

But I tell you life is short

Be thankful, because before you know it

It will be over

Because life is sweet

Life is all so very short

Life is sweet

And life is all so very short

Life is sweet

Life is sweet

Carpe diem, folks...

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